Former MLB pitcher Jose Lima died on Sunday, May 23 after suffering a massive heart attack at his home in Pasadena. His wife, Dorca Astacio, reported that her 37-year-old husband had been out dancing with her on Saturday night and was perfectly fine.
Astacio called 911 early Sunday morning because her husband was thrashing about in what she first thought was a “nightmare”. Paramedics arrived and transported the patient by ambulance to Huntington Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to his agent Dan Evans.
According to Lt. Chris Russ, the circumstances of death are being investigated, which is routine when sudden death occurs.
Lima was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic and began his major league career with the Detroit Tigers at age 22 in 1994. He was traded to the Houston Astros, where he had a 21-10 pitching record in 1999, the best of his career. He was an All-Star selection that year.
It was “Lima Time” whenever the right-hander pitched. He was known for flamboyantly celebrating his victories in the face of opponents.
Lima was eventually traded back to the Tigers in 2001 and his career declined. Over the next five seasons her played for the Mets, Royals, and Dodgers. His MLB career record was 89 wins, 102 losses, and 980 strikeouts. He retired from the MLB in 2006 and played baseball in Korea and the Dominican Republic until 2009.
Lima attended a game at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, receiving a rousing ovation from the crowd when he was introduced between innings. He was reportedly preparing to open a youth baseball academy in Los Angeles this summer.
His former teammate and friend Jose Cruz said, “I’m in shock. He was a very happy man. A lot of people loved him. And he was a great pitcher, a competitor. I had so much fun when he threw. He enjoyed the game. I was a fan of his. He was a good man; he was a good friend.”
More photos and videos after the jump. Dorca Astacio contacted ESPN directly with the news of her husband’s passing – check it out on the first video below:
Photos: PicApp – Zuma Press