Kenneth Gene Caminiti (April 21, 1963 - October 10, 2004) was an American third baseman who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Houston Astros (1987-1994, 1999-2000), San Diego Padres (1995-1998), Texas Rangers (2001) and Atlanta Braves (2001). 7 YEARS AGOMLB3:28. share. At 3:36 pm, a 911 call was made while Caminiti was going into cardiac arrest. Caminiti's Astros improved their record each year from 1991 to 1994. With the San Diego team, he achieved several milestones and reached his career highs at that time by hitting .302 with 26 home runs and 94 RBI in 1995, which increased to .326/40/130 in 1996. Preliminary news reports indicated he died of a heart attack, but the autopsy results stated that acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates caused his death, with coronary artery disease and cardiac hypertrophy (an enlarged heart) as contributing factors. "[12] While he remained productive, injuries limited Caminiti to 137 games with the Astros between 1999 and 2000. Ken Caminiti's family and 1998 Padres teammates watch a video tribute to him. However, in 1988, Denny Walling, whom Caminiti had largely replaced the previous season, was named the Astros starting third baseman, and Caminiti started the season in the minors, playing with the Triple-A Tucson Toros of the Pacific Coast League. He grew up along with his brother Glenn, and a sister, Carrie. First Baseman; Follow. Skipping Triple-A, Caminiti was called up and made his major league debut at age 24 with the Houston Astros on July 16, 1987. Moving on to his family, he was born to his father, Lee Caminiti, and his mother, Yvonne. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Caminiti, who . During their tenure, he depicted a career statistic of 983 runs batted in, 239 home runs, and a batting average of .272. FAQs - How many overseas players per XI? He might have had a completely different football career as he was invited to many all-star games after his season in high school. Born In: Hanford, California, United States, children: Kendall Caminiti, Lindsey Caminiti, Nicole Caminiti, place of death: New York, New York, United States, See the events in life of Ken Caminiti in Chronological Order. Caminiti and Romero met four years earlier when both were patients at the Smithers Center, a drug rehabilitation facility in midtown Manhattan. Good. This made him struggle with the Texas Rangers, so he was released and finished his career with the Atlanta Braves. You can get more detailed information about his career and awards from hisWikipediapage. SAN DIEGO -- The Padres posthumously inducted Ken Caminiti into the team's Hall of Fame on Saturday night, before San Diego's 9-7 win over the Phillies. In addition to all of the awards he has won, he was elected into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame in 2016, which is quite an achievement for any player playing any sport in the world. By Nick Canepa. During the call, he was already going into cardiac arrest. "That's about it.". He died of a cocaine and heroin (a speedball) drug overdose on October 10, 2004. Caminiti struggled with substance abuse throughout his career, including steroid use. $16.87. She said there were no arguments and nothing unusual in Caminiti's demeanor. While on steroids, he hit more runs in the second half of that season than he had ever done in any season prior to that. In an exclusive report by Sports Illustrated, Caminiti says he used the steroids the year he hit a career-best .326 with 40 home runs and drove in 130 runs for the San Diego Padres. By all accounts, California native Ken Caminiti was a determined, generous guy, a skilled third baseman, and major home run hitter. He even tested positive for cocaine when he was in the prohibition period, which showed his struggle to stop using drugs. "My first thing, I went to look in the bathroom to see if there was anything, but there was nothing in the bathroom," Gonzalez said. Ken Caminiti Signed 1988 Donruss Baseball Rookie Card #308 Beckett Slabbed Auto. "Sometimes it was so bad that she would actually strike Ken," Ethington said, "and being the gentleman he was, he never hit back.". Similarly, he is a Christian, and his zodiac sign is Taurus. Romero said Caminiti told her he was coming home, but he never showed. He also played third base for the Indios de Mayagez along with Wally Joyner in the Puerto Rico Winter League. He was named the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) with San Diego in 1996, and is a member of the Padres Hall of Fame. His 2000 season was ended by a wrist injury in mid-June, and Caminiti left the team in early September to enter a substance abuse rehabilitation center. Caminiti is the Padres All-Time leader in slugging percentage (.540) and OPS (.924). Kenneth Gene Caminiti (April 21, 1963 - October 10, 2004) was an American third baseman who spent 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Houston Astros (1987-1994, 1999-2000), San Diego Padres (1995-1998), Texas Rangers (2001) and Atlanta Braves (2001). Ken made his major league debut when he was just 24 years old on July 16, 1987. [20], Caminiti also had a long struggle with cocaine, having been arrested in March 2001 for possession and sentenced to probation. In 1999, he signed a $9.5 million contract with Houston and returned as a free agent to play for two more seasons. Good began . During his 15 years as a pro baseball player, Caminiti played with the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, and Atlanta Braves. Although he was plagued with injuries throughout. 1 of 2 In a post titled "A Message To The Pecan Grove Community on Medium, Caminiti, the daughter of late Houston Astros legend Ken Caminiti, calls out Pecan Grove in Fort Bend County for its . In addition, he signed a $9.5 million contract with Houston in 1999 and returned as a free agent for two additional seasons. Besides, he had a slim body that weight around 60 kg. He was seen as one of the most successful baseball player of all times. "He came over and gave me a bear hug like you wouldn't believe, and as he was hugging me, he says, 'Well, I let you down. He starred in football and baseball at Leigh High School in San Jose, California, where he graduated in 1981. "Next thing I know, he came out of the bathroom. "So out of the blue moon, he just calls me and tells me, 'I'm coming over.' Kenneth broke into the major league with Houston in 1987 and was traded to San Diego in 1995. Talking about his family, he had his parents Yvonne and Lee Caminiti, and his sibling, Glenn, and Carrie Caminiti. Watch. The Ethingtons describe Caminiti as a surrogate son. In September 2004, he tested positive for cocaine, and on October 5, 2004, just five days prior to his death, he was taken to a Houston court for violating his probation. In July 1987, he made his major league debut with the Houston Astros. Ken Caminiti Stats, Fantasy & News. She called Caminiti's travel agent at noon, and learned that Caminiti had canceled the plane tickets for that afternoon. ], Caminiti was married to Nancy Smith from November 14, 1987 to December 10, 2002. frame from Scottsdale, AZ who attends Saguaro. The program was eliminated in May of that year and Caminiti was forced to leave after completing most of the program. In 2004, he returned to baseball as a spring training instructor with the Padres. Ranking UFC 285 fights: What's the No. Moving on to his family, he was born to his father, Lee Caminiti, and his mother, Yvonne. Also Known As: Kenneth Gene Caminiti Died At Age: 41 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Nancy Smith (m. 1987-2002) father: Lee Caminiti mother: Yvonne siblings: Carrie, Glenn children: Kendall Caminiti, Lindsey Caminiti, Nicole Caminiti Baseball Players American Men Height: 6'0" (183 cm ), 6'0" Males Died on: October 10, 2004 He was the youngest of three children. Throughout his career, Ken struggled with substance abuse. He was real positive. He was a switch-hitter with a batting average in his career. He was in and out of the jail for drug abuse and often failed drug tests. Further injuries in late July forced the Astros to shift Bell to first base in late July, and Caminiti was brought up to play at third base. Caminiti also used to use cocaine, which even led him to be arrested once for the possession of cocaine. Their utilization of leisure time for sports was one of the things that drove Ken to become a professional baseball player. $66.00. ". He attended San Jose State University where he played baseball for the Spartans in 1983 and 1984. $0.48. He was the 1996 National League Most Valuable Player. Born on April 21, 1963, the baseball player Ken Caminiti was arguably the worlds most influential social media star. Media coverage of Caminitis death was almost completely overshadowed by that of actor Christopher Reeve, who died the same day. Honored with an induction into the Padres Hall of Fame, he had gained the respect of his teammates for his accomplishments as a player and for his passion for the game. Somehow, Cammy's broken-down body allowed him to perform at a high level one more time. "Then, when [Silva] told me, 'It's Ken Caminiti,' I said, 'You're damn right it is.' The powerful story of Ken Caminiti, who changed baseball forever as the first player to confess to having used performance-enhancing steroids In Playing Through the Pain: Ken Caminiti and the Steroids Confession That Changed Baseball Forever, writer Dan Good seeks to make sense of MLB MVP Ken Caminiti's fascinating, troubled life. As for the reason for the separation, it is still not confirmed. Nearly 18 years after he died of a drug overdose, a possible source. Scroll Down and find everything about him. He told his lawyer that he wanted to mentor young players and make them aware of the impact of alcohol and drug abuse, and help them to avoid the mistakes he had made. Playing Through the Pain: Ken Caminiti and the Steroids Confession That Changed Baseball Forever - Ebook written by Dan Good. Three days later, he signed with the Atlanta Braves, who moved him across the infield due to the presence of Chipper Jones, and attempted to use Caminiti as a power-hitting first baseman. They found Ken Caminiti 10 years ago this week, found him in a boarded-up, rat-infested hellhole in the decayed Hunts Point section of the Bronx, found . Two people who knew Caminiti said he described Romero as the love of his life, but others painted a far different picture. In 1994, he was admitted in a treatment center due to his alcoholism; in 2000, he was again admitted in a rehabilitation center. He, too, had a brother named Glenn and a sister named Carrie. Men's Ken Caminiti San Diego Padres Authentic Brown Road Jersey. But Ken Caminiti offered much more than his celebrated baseball career and tragic end due to substance abuse. As per his wiki, Ken Caminiti stood at a perfect height of 5 feet and 11 inches tall. In football, he was invited to many all-star games after his senior football season. In the early afternoon of October 10, 2004, Caminiti was in the apartment of a friend in The Bronx, New York City. CourtsideTweets 7K subscribers Subscribe 112K views 8 years ago http://www.courtsidetweets.com This has to be the greatest play by a third. The program was eliminated in May of that year and Caminiti was forced to leave after completing most of the program. Silva said he saw neither drugs nor much money in Caminiti's possession. In 2016, he was posthumously elected into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame. On Sept. 14, Caminiti was arrested again after testing positive for cocaine. ". "He lived around the area, so I said, 'Let me call a friend.' Ken Caminiti was a gritty, larger-than-life Major League ballplayer most notably for the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres in his 15-year big league career that ended in 2001. 2023 Wiki Biography & Celebrity Profiles as wikipedia, Amjad Javed Wiki, Biography, Age, Net Worth, Family, Instagram, Twitter, Social Profiles & More Facts, Surendra Prasad Yadav (Heaven) Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth, Andrew Zydney Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth. Romero said she and Caminiti spent the next two days relaxing, shopping and visiting her family. 29. Free shipping. They have seven grandchildren, including three from Ken and Nancy, who became high school sweethearts after meeting in the ninth grade and were married from 1987-2002: Kendall, 23, Lindsey, 21,. Was: $75.00. Ken Caminiti, a commoner of a ballplayer if ever there was one, sat there across from me at his Houston-area home in May of 2002 and without regret dared essentially to expose one of the. They were married from November 14, 1987, to December 10, 2002. Birthdate. Caminiti was born in Hanford, California on April 21, 1963 to Yvonne and Lee Caminiti who had another son, Glenn and a daughter, Carrie. While on probation, in February 2003, he again tested positive for cocaine, and was ordered to attend the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-operated treatment program, which he did. Leaf Art of Sport Ken Caminiti Museum of Materials 4/5 . Select from premium Ken Caminiti of the highest quality. Imperfect Caminiti still terribly missed. Ken Caminiti, full name Kenneth Gene Caminiti was born and raised in Hanford, California. $89.95. "He was distraught and I had to go out there and intervene.". On October 5, 2004, Ken was admitted to a Houston court because he had violated his probation. He was named the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) with San Diego in 1996, and is a member of the Padres Hall of Fame. We'll watch the football game.' He graduated from high school in the year 1981. "His ultimate goal was to get rid of all the drugs and be clean for 2, 2 years, and then -- he told me this himself -- he wanted to start courting his ex-wife and see if they could get back together again. $0.75. He also played third base for Puerto Ricos Indios de Mayagez in the Puerto Rico Winter League. Although Ken Caminiti is no longer with us right now, he was a very rich baseball player of his time, perhaps one of the richest too. "He looked familiar to me at first," Gonzalez said. 1 reason Jones vs. Gane is a can't-miss? With liters of intravenous fluid received alongside a Snickers bar, Caminiti hit two home runs in the victory over the Mets. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Darius Days Bio: Family, Contracts And Net Who Is Aaron Rodgers Wife? We have everything there is to know about Ken in this article by the great Ken Caminiti. He was also arrested a number of times with drugs in his possession. [21] Caminiti was also getting mental health therapy from the MLBs Employee Assistance Program, owing to childhood trauma from sexual abuse in middle school, which he had recounted to others participating in rehab sessions that he believed was the driving force into abusing substances (serving as a way to try and turn his mind off from the memories).[22][23]. Caminiti died of a heart attack in the Bronx,. Many Padres players attended the event. However, later in their marriage, there were some differences in opinions between the spouses, which made them struggle as a couple. Media coverage of Caminitis death was almost completely overshadowed by that of actor Christopher Reeve, who died the same day. From June through August, Caminiti was in Tampa three times. Personal touch and engage with his followers. As for his early career, he started playing for the Spartans in 1983 when he studied at San Jose State University. During his second tenure with Houston, he could not give his best due to several injuries. Preliminary news reports indicated he died of a heart attack, but the autopsy results stated that acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates caused his death, with coronary artery disease and cardiac hypertrophy (an enlarged heart) as contributing factors. He met Maria Romero, a mother of three, in 2000 when both were patients at the Smithers Center, a drug rehabilitation facility in Manhattan. He was estimated to have a net worth of $12 million US dollars at the time of his death. "He was lonely," Burns said. A Beloved Figure. No one contacted by ESPN could substantiate that the couple were engaged. After his retirement, he honestly admitted to using steroids while playing matches in the 1996 season. Ken Caminiti was born Kenneth Gene Caminiti on April 21, 1963, in Hanford, California. He played sports like football and baseball quite often and was also on the high school team. Since he had violated probation three times before, he was sentenced to 180 days in jail, but was released as he was given credit for the time he had already served. His birthplace is Hanford, California, and he is therefore of American nationality. The driver told ESPN it took 25 minutes to reach Hunts Point, a section of the Bronx notorious for drugs. We just went over there.". On October 10, 2004, Ken Caminiti died of non-communicable disease. On Tuesday night in Anaheim, with the Angels trailing, 7-5, and mounting a. "He loved her and the kids dearly and this is where he wanted to go.". But his move to the minor league was not permanent as he played for the Houston Astros from 1987 to 1994. Ted Lerner, the billionaire real estate developer whose family bought the Washington Nationals in . With his large number of social media fans, he often posts many personal photos and videos to interact with his huge fan base on social media platforms. His remains were cremated and interred at the Cambo ranch in Texas, co-owned by Ken with former teammate Craig Biggio. But he ended up doing direct shoulder lifts and damaged the weakened shoulder, Dave Moretti said. It culminated with the team securing a downtown ballpark following their 1998 World Series appearance. But five years later, his stellar athletic career ended in scandal. I just think she was the only person that he thought he could trust.". The switch-hitting Caminiti also became the first player to ever have three games with a home run from each side of the plate,[5] remarkably having entirely done so over a single four game span. Kendall, Lindsey, and Nicole were the couples three daughters. 69 SS/RS full custom Camaro 98 ISCA Grand Champion "[Caminiti] went to use the bathroom while Angel went to buy some chicken," Silva said. Caminiti played professional baseball for 15 seasons, beginning with the Osceola Astros of the Single-A Florida State League in 1985. He was slowed by injuries during his second tenure in Houston, and after struggling the first half of 2001 with the Texas Rangers where he hit just .232, he was released and finished his career with the Atlanta Braves, who moved him across the infield in an effort to fulfill their desire for a power-hitting first baseman. I said, 'All right. Ethington said Caminiti told him he was traveling that night to see Maria Romero's son, but promised that he would return to pick up his dogs, two yellow labs named Casey and Candy, from Ethington, and take them to Montana for a hunting trip. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/kenneth-gene-caminiti-2068.php. In 1994, 1996, and 1997, he appeared in the All Star Game. "He had lost everything -- his family, his friends, his career. We could have gone to Queens. After college, his baseball career as a professional kicked off. Despite an injury forcing Walling to the disabled list in mid-June, the Astros did not call up Caminiti, instead trading for the veteran Buddy Bell. In February, 2003, Caminiti tested positive for cocaine while already on probation for cocaine possession and was ordered to visit a Texas Department of Criminal Justice-operated treatment program. "I can't speculate or nothing, because I didn't see him do anything, so I can't say nothing. Very positive.". In the early afternoon of October 10, 2004, Caminiti was in the apartment of a friend in The Bronx, New York City. He died at Lincoln Hospital the same day. Ken Caminiti was born and reared in Hanford, California, as Kenneth Gene Caminiti. Furthermore, he is a member of the Padres Hall of Fame, which is a huge achievement. She said they had left about $400 in the hotel room the previous day. In the 1999 National League Division Series against Atlanta and batted .471 with three of his eight hits being home runs. He tested positive for cocaine in September 2004. In 1995, at the age of 32, he reached career highs at the plate by hitting .302 with 26 home runs and 94 RBIs in his first season for the Padres, winning his first of three consecutive Gold Glove Awards. In 2004, he returned to baseball as a spring training coach for the San Diego Padres. Ken was a man with an athletic build. (Nicole Caminiti) Nicole. He has a pure loving kind heart personality. "So I asked Ken outright if he had proposed to her and wanted to marry her, and he said, 'Absolutely not.' A day later, Caminiti and Romero flew to New York and checked into a Queens hotel. However, his return to Houston as a free agent and injuries hindered his performance. On October 5, 2004 just five days prior to his death he admitted in a Houston court that he had violated his probation. Caminiti was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m. Just $3 remained in his wallet. Ken Caminiti breaks into MLB Ken Caminiti made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros in 1987. Caminiti and his wife, Nancy, had three daughters, Kendall, Lindsey, and Nicole. Despite playing most of 1996 with a torn right rotator cuff, his performance earned him the National League Most Valuable Player Award. He was a National League MVP in 1996 and participated in All . After six full seasons in Houston, Caminiti was traded to the San Diego Padres after the 1994 season in a 12-player trade, along with Steve Finley, Andjar Cedeo, Roberto Petagine, Brian Williams, and a player to be named later (PTBNL), in exchange for Derek Bell, Doug Brocail, Ricky Gutirrez, Pedro Martnez, Phil Plantier, and Craig Shipley. 12-28-1994 Birthplace. It is said that he used to enjoy playing sports with his siblings and his parents, especially his father. San Diego Padres. Between 7:30 and 8 a.m., six calls were made from the phone to Romero's mother's apartment. Caminiti won three Gold Glove Awards while playing for the Padres in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and he was unanimously selected as the National Leagues MVP in 1996. Preliminary news reports indicated he died of a heart attack,[25] but the autopsy results stated that "acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates" caused his death, with coronary artery disease and cardiac hypertrophy (an enlarged heart) as contributing factors. Yes, he is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ken Caminiti was born on April 21, 1963, as Kenneth Gene Caminiti. He was unable to give his all during his second stint with Houston due to a variety of ailments. After his studies were over, he was signed by the Houston Astros as a third-round pick in the amateur draft. [3] Despite being plagued with several injuries throughout his tenure in Houston, Caminiti became a constant presence at third base over the next six seasons, averaging .263 with 12 home runs and 69 RBIs from 1989 to 1994. The reason for Kens divorce soon became the cause of his death. In his debut, he went 2-3 with a home run, a triple, and scored the game-winning run. He was born on April 21, 1963, in Hanford, California.Hanford is a beautiful and populous city located in Hanford, California United States of America. He had two total hits in the series and batted .143. Carlos Collazo. Romero said she and Caminiti had not set a wedding date, but planned to "get married, be healthy and be happy.". His admitted steroid abuse was discussed in the 2007 Mitchell Report on steroid abuse in baseball. Kenneth Gene Caminiti was born on April 21, 1963, in Hanford, California, a bustling community in Central California's San Joaquin Valley. At the time of his death, he was 41 years old. Time may go on but one thing is for sure, Ken Caminiti became the largest martyr in MLB history and his memory will live on through those that knew him best. The reason is that he would have had sponsorships and advertisements, which would work as his income too. He was born on April 21, 1963, to his parents Yvonne and Lee Caminiti. . [17][unreliable source? This article was last updated by Krishna Gurung on February 23, 2023. He started playing baseball professionally in the late 80s and played on till the early 2000s. Caminiti and his wife, Nancy, had three daughters, Kendall, Lindsey, and Nicole. He has also appeared in the All-Star Game for three years. However, following his death, his friends talked about the violence in their relationship and denied that the couple was engaged. As is often the case for younger players, Caminiti bounced up and down between the minors and the parent club until he finally stayed up with the Astros in the 1989 season. Men's Ken Caminiti San Diego Padres Authentic White /Brown Home Jersey. Ken Caminiti suffered from cardiac arrest in his friends apartment because of an accidental drug overdose. However, Caminiti struggled, batting only .176 over three weeks, and was demoted again, only returning for September call-ups,[3] and ended the season with a .181 batting average over 89 plate appearances. Ken had a successful baseball career, and as a result, he amassed a sizable fortune. Romero said she was engaged to marry Caminiti, a divorced father of three. Caminiti joins Ted Williams as a 2016 inductee, and while he only played four . Many players, including himself and Caminiti, used steroids to play many baseball games during their time. Similarly, after six seasons with Houston, he was traded to the San Diego Padres in a 12-player deal that included Steve Finley, Andujar Cedeno, Roberto Petagine, Brian Williams, and another player for Derek Bell, Doug Brocail, Ricky Gutirrez, Pedro Martnez, Phil Plantier, and Craig Shipley. On October 10, 2004, Caminiti was in his friends apartment, where he took cocaine and heroin. The NL MVP in 1996 and an All-Star in 1994 and 96-97, he was also sure handed as he won 3 gold gloves at 3rd base from 1995-97. Cam Caminiti is a 2025 OF/LHP, 1B with a 6-1 190 lb. He requested his release from the Rangers,[3] which was granted on July 2. BAT/THR. [24] At 3:36 pm, a 911 call was made while Caminiti was going into cardiac arrest. A primary outfielder, fluid mover who rounds the ball and reads hops with confidence. He starred in football and baseball at Leigh High School in San Jose, California, where he graduated in 1981. He was born and raised in California and had US citizenship. All Rights Reserved 2023 Biographygossips, Deena Centofanti Age, Husband, Salary, Net Worth 2022, Jorge Garay Age, Height, Boyfriend, Net Worth 2022, Siblings, Vernica Castros Son Michel Saenz Castro Bio, Age, Net Worth, Married, Jayden Croess Age, Net Worth 2022, Brother, Girlfriend, Frances Glandney Age, Birthday, Daughter, Smokey Robinson wife, Liza Koshy Boyfriend, Net Worth 2022, Height, Parents, Siblings. Among the first people he visited the day after his release were Albe and Deetta Ethington, Caminiti's friends and neighbors in suburban Houston. It was going all good at first as they were pretty happy with their life. He also attended San Jose State University, where he played baseball for the Spartans in 1983 and 1984. $69.99 $179.99. In addition, he informed his counsel that he wishes to train young players, educate them on the dangers of alcohol and drug use, and assist them in avoiding the mistakes he made. He was born in the year 1963, on April 21, to Yvonne and Lee Caminiti. I was freaking out. "I'd been talking with him every now and then. The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Five days before he died on Oct. 10, 41-year-old Ken Caminiti walked out of the Harris County Jail in Houston, where he had spent four weeks for violating his probation by testing positive for drugs. San Diego Union-Tribune. In 1999, Caminiti struggled throughout the regular season. However, he returned to the minor leagues in 1988 to play with the Triple-A Tucson Toros of the Pacific Coast League. His birth took place in Hanford, California, United States, and therefore is American by nationality. Rule Changes Probable Pitchers Starting Lineups Transactions Injury Report World Baseball Classic MLB Draft All-Star Game MLB Pipeline Postseason History. By TOM HOFFARTH. He seemed like a huge man even though his height was only 6 feet, which was quite average for a baseball player. In 1983 and 1984, he was a member of the Spartans baseball team. During his tenure with Houston, he was injured several times, yet he hit 18 home runs in 1994, which earned him his first All Star Game selection.