Rip Jose Lima

[suave1477]

Jose Lima, former Major League pitcher who won 21 games in 1999, dies at 37

FILE - In this Friday Oct. 8,2004, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jose Lima looks on during a news conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Dodgers say former pitcher Jose Lima has died at age 37. The team says the 37-year-old Lima, a 13-game winner with the Dodgers in 2004, died Sunday, May 23 2010,. According to the Aguilas Cibaenas, Lima's winter ball team in the Dominican Republic, he died of an apparent heart attack. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian,File) (KEVORK DJANSEZIAN, AP / October 8, 2004)

By Associated Press
May 23, 2010 | 11:08 a.m.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jose Lima, a right-hand pitcher who was a 20-game winner and an All-Star during a 13-year major league career, died Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers said. He was 37.

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," Llenas said.

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.

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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 stop 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," his wife, Dorca Astacio, told ESPNdeportes.com.

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 and 2005, Lima had a record of 13-5, with a 4.07 ERA. In the 2004 National League Division Series, 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 Game 5 of the 1988 World Series.

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.

[cjosefy]

A sad day for any Astros fan from that time period. Here's my favorite picture of him from that time and my 1998 game used, signed bat:

[TNTtoys]

For any Jose Lima fans out there, I strongly recommend the following video: The Ultimate Blooper Collection from This Week in Baseball.

The video is a QUALITY compilation of the best bloopers from 25 years of the TV show "This Week in Baseball" and highlights some of the greatest characters of the game, including Lima.

From my recollection, the segment on Lima goes for as long as 5 minutes, and I couldn't think of a highlight reel that better depicts the fun that this guy brought to the game.

Here's a link to the video on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...4717565&sr=8-2

[LastingsMilledge85]

Lima had a blooper every fifth day while with the Mets...if you catch my drift

[mlbforeverhomer]

He is and always will be one of my favorite Astros players of all time. They did not get any better than Lima Time! He was the nicest, kindest individual that I have ever had the privilege to meet.Mr. Lima wrote the book on how a ball player should be. Thank you for all the memories.

RIP,

Clay

[sox83cubs84]

A fun guy, too young to go so soon. One of my Wrigley Field security buddies from a few years ago got a GU bat from Lima when he was an Astro.

Dave M.
Chicago area