Kenneth Gene Caminiti

B: Apr 21, 1963, Hanford CA — D: Oct 10, 2004, New York, NY

Tragically hampered by drug addiction and steroid use, Ken Caminiti was extremely talented and died far too young. A rare talent, Caminiti won 3 Gold Glove Awards as a third baseman while hitting for power. Unanimously selected as the National League’s MVP in 1996, he appeared in 3 All Star Games. To his credit, Ken made the first public admission of steroid use by any professional baseball player. Caminiti was hired by the Padres to be a spring training instructor for his former team. Before he died, he mentored young players about the life-destroying power of drugs.