PASADENA — Police and coroner’s officials are investigating the death of Jose Lima, a 37-year-old former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher who died of unknown causes at his Pasadena home Sunday, authorities said.
Lima, a right-hander, was a 20-game winner and an All-Star during a 13-year major league career, the Dodgers said.
Lima, who won 13 games with the Dodgers in 2004, died of an apparent heart attack, according to the Aguilas Cibaenas, a winter ball team that Lima had played for in the Dominican Republic.
“Lima was an exceptional man. This is a great loss for Dominican baseball and the country,” Winston Llenas, president of Aguilas Cibaenas, said.
Paramedics responded to Lima’s Pasadena home, where he had moved earlier this month, just after 6:08 a.m. after family members reported finding him unresponsive, police and fire officials said.
Lima was in full cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived, and he was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
Because the cause of death was undetermined, police and coroner’s investigators will be investigating, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
“Preliminary investigation did not reveal anything unusual,” Russ said, but added that detectives will look into the death to rule out foul play.
An autopsy was expected to be performed by Tuesday, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Investigator Kelli Blanchard said.
In a written statement, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt spoke of Lima and his contributions to the Dodgers during his brief time with the team.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic loss of Jose Lima,” McCourt said. “Though he was taken from us way too soon, he truly lived his life to the fullest and his personality was simply unforgettable.
“His memorable contributions to the Dodgers in 2004 and throughout baseball will always be remembered,” McCourt added.
Lima had rejoined the team in the past month as a member of the Dodger Alumni Association, the Dodgers organization said in a written statement.
Lima received a “rousing” ovation when he was introduced between innings at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, according to the team.
Referring to his often colorful outings as “Lima Time,” Lima posted his best season in 1999 when he was selected to the All-Star game as a Houston Astro. He went 21-10 in 35 starts with a 3.58 ERA for the NL Central champion Astros.
In 13 major league seasons, the native of the Dominican Republic was 89-102 with a 5.26 ERA. He hadn’t pitched in the major leagues since a four-game stint with the New York Mets in 2006.
“He was a man full of life, without apparent physical problems and with many plans and projects on the agenda,” Dorca Astacio, his wife, said.
Lima went 46-42 with the Astros between 1997-2001, and he was a 20-game winner and an All-Star with the Houston team.
With the Dodgers in 2004, Lima had a record of 13-5with a 4.07 ERA. In the National League playoffs, Lima pitched a 5-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in front of a sell-out crowd at Dodger Stadium. It was the Dodgers’ first postseason win since the 1988 World Series.
“He was a good baseball player and a good friend,” Mariano Duncan, Dodgers coach and former major league infielder, said. “Nobody enjoyed the game more than him.”
He also spent two stints with Detroit and Kansas City.
“This is a shock for us because Lima was a young man who seemed healthy and nobody imagined this,” said Tomas Jimenez, manager of the Aguilas Cibaenas.
