Ken Caminiti | Speedball Overdose Death

On October 10, 2004, Ken Caminiti was pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital in New York City at the age of 41. The official cause of death was ruled cardiac arrest due to cocaine and heroin intoxication.

Before his death, Ken Caminiti enjoyed a long career as a professional baseball player in Major League Baseball. The majority of his career was spent playing third base for the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres, where he won his first and only MVP award.

Outside of his on-field reputation as a power-hitting slugger and prolific third baseman, Caminiti had a long battle with substance abuse. His struggles with alcohol, painkillers, and steroid abuse were well-documented.

About Ken Caminiti

Born Kenneth Griffin Caminiti in San Jose, California, Caminiti attended the local Leigh High School and San Jose State University. 

He was drafted with the 71st overall pick in the 1984 MLB Draft, and made his major league debut 3 years later with the Houston Astros. Caminiti would remain a steady, productive player until 1995, when he was traded to the San Diego Padres.

Accolades

A year after the trade, Caminiti won his first and only National League Most Valuable Player Award. That season, Caminiti hit 40 homers and totaled 130 runs batted in, or RBI, both career-highs. 

His offensive and defensive prowess at third base was honored with an appearance in the All-Star Game and a Gold Glove award, and he hit 3 home runs during his first time playing in the playoffs.

Caminiti would never replicate the success of his historic MVP season, but he remained a productive player in the years that followed. 

Final Years & Retirement

He played for 2 more seasons with the Padres, and spent time with the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, and Texas Rangers until his retirement in 2001.

After his retirement, Caminiti worked as a hitting coach for minor league and major league teams. Outside of baseball, he married his high school sweetheart Nancy Smith. They remained together until 2002. Caminiti then had a relationship with Maria Romero until his death.

How Ken Caminiti Died

In late 2004, Caminiti was released from a Houston county jail after violating his probation. He and his girlfriend, Maria Romero, then visited Romero’s son in Queens, New York City.

Accounts from the day of Caminiti’s death vary between Romero and others who interacted with him that day. 

Firsthand accounts state that Caminiti spent the day with friends and met with various known drug dealers in the Bronx. By 3:30 that afternoon, Caminiti had collapsed and 911 was called. He was pronounced dead within the night at Lincoln Hospital.

Caminiti’s official cause of death was ruled a cardiac arrest due to cocaine and heroin abuse, also known as a speedball drug overdose.

In 2016, the Padres posthumously inducted Caminiti into the Padres Hall of Fame. He was the first third baseman from the organization to hold the title.

Ken Caminiti’s History Of Substance Abuse

Caminiti was outspoken about his struggles with substance abuse. He started using marijuana and alcohol at a young age, and became addicted to crack cocaine in the 1990s.

He was also the first MLB player to admit to injecting steroids, which was documented in a landmark 2002 Sports Illustrated article. His Padres teammate and all-star closer Trevor Hoffman praised Caminiti for speaking up about the MLB’s steroid issue.

Caminiti’s former teammate Craig Biggio maintained a close relationship with both Caminiti and his widow, Nancy Smith. In an interview with Bleacher Report, Biggio praised Caminiti’s attitude and gentle demeanor despite his long-term mental health struggles.

After his retirement, Caminiti was arrested on four separate occasions for cocaine possession. His final arrest occurred in 2004, after he had violated probation for testing positive in a cocaine drug test. He served four months in a Houston jail before his release and subsequent death.

Did Ken Caminiti Attend Drug Rehab?

Caminiti attended drug rehab programs multiple times, including an inpatient treatment stay in the 1990s. He also checked into rehab for alcoholism in 2000, and attended mental health counseling from the MLB a few years before his death. 

A book about Caminiti, published in 2022, suggests that rehab and therapy helped the MLB All-Star come to terms with the sexual abuse he experienced as a teen, and how this childhood trauma contributed to his drug and alcohol abuse.

Recovery Is Possible

National League MVP and three-time all-star Ken Caminiti was a significant part of MLB’s steroid era, a time in baseball defined by rampant drug abuse. Off the field, he struggled with drug abuse and addiction for many years, a struggle which ultimately claimed his life.

Substance abuse can be a long-term, difficult battle even with professional help. However, a personalized addiction treatment program can help improve your outlook, reduce patterns of high-risk drug use, and help make recovery possible. 

To learn how we treat cocaine and heroin addiction, please contact us today.