José Lima facts for kids
Quick facts for kids José Lima |
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Lima in 2004
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: September 30, 1972 Santiago, Dominican Republic |
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| Died: May 23, 2010 (aged 37) Pasadena, California |
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| debut | |||
| April 20, 1994, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 7, 2006, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–Loss record | 89–102 | ||
| Earned run average | 5.26 | ||
| Strikeouts | 980 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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José Desiderio Rodriguez Lima (born September 30, 1972 – died May 23, 2010) was a baseball pitcher from the Dominican Republic. He played for thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for teams like the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets.
José Lima was known for his exciting personality. He called all his pitching appearances Lima Time. He showed a lot of emotion on the field, which fans loved. He was also known for celebrating loudly after winning games. People sometimes called him "the national anthem-crooning, towel-waving merengue singer who moonlights as a right-handed pitcher" because he loved music and performing.
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José Lima's Baseball Career
José Lima started his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Detroit Tigers. He made his first appearance on April 20, 1994, when he was 21 years old. After playing for the Tigers for three years, he moved to the Houston Astros in 1996.
His Best Season
In 1999, José Lima had his best year. He won 21 games and only lost 10 for the Houston Astros. Because of his great performance, he was chosen to play in the All-Star Game that year. This was a big honor for him.
However, after 1999, Lima found it harder to pitch as well. He gave up many home runs and lost more games.
Returning to the Tigers and Other Teams
In 2001, Lima was traded back to the Detroit Tigers. He was later released by the Tigers in 2002. At that time, he famously said, "If I can't pitch on this team—the worst or second-worst team in baseball—where am I going to pitch?"
He then played for a team in an independent league called the Newark Bears. But in 2003, he returned to MLB with the Kansas City Royals. He started very well, winning 7 games and only losing 0 with a low ERA of 2.17. An ERA shows how many runs a pitcher allows per game. However, an injury later in the season affected his performance.
Playing for the Dodgers
In 2004, José Lima joined the Los Angeles Dodgers. This was another strong season for him. He won 13 games and had an ERA of 4.07.
One of the most memorable moments of his career happened on October 9, 2004. He pitched a complete game shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in a playoff game. This means he pitched the entire game and didn't let the other team score any runs. It was a huge win for the Dodgers.
After his time with the Dodgers, he returned to the Kansas City Royals in 2005. He struggled again, winning 5 games and losing 16.
Final MLB Season
In 2006, Lima signed with the New York Mets. He played a few games for them but did not have much success. He also played in the Dominican Winter Baseball League and the Mexican League.
Playing in Korea
For the 2008 season, José Lima went to play baseball in South Korea. He signed with the Kia Tigers, a team that had won many championships. People had high hopes for him because he was a former MLB pitcher.
Lima had some tough games at first. He was even sent to a lower league for a while. But he worked hard and came back to win two games for the Kia Tigers before he was released from the team.
Playing in Independent Leagues Again
In 2009, Lima played in the Golden Baseball League, which is another independent league. He played for the Long Beach Armada and then was traded to the Edmonton Capitals. Fans in Edmonton really liked him, and he even had a fan club there!
Personal Life
José Lima had a passion for music. He often said he wanted to become a singer, especially of bachata music, after his baseball career.
His Death
Sadly, José Lima passed away on May 23, 2010, when he was 37 years old. He had been dealing with heart problems. He was buried in his home country, the Dominican Republic.
After his death, another famous baseball player, David Ortiz, honored José Lima. In 2010, David Ortiz won the 2010 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby and dedicated his victory to his friend, José Lima.
See also
In Spanish: José Lima para niños
