N.Y. pathologists deny report Caminiti died of an overdose
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
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Photo Gallery: Ken Caminiti's career

The New York City Medical Examiner's Office is denying a report that preliminary results of the autopsy on Ken Caminiti show that the former National League Most Valuable Player died of a drug overdose.


A story posted on ESPN.com late Thursday stated that a New York City police source told ESPN that the former Houston Astro died of an overdose.

Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the Medical Examiner's Office, said that after the story was posted, she awoke the pathologist who performed the autopsy. He said the tests are not complete and no cause of death has been determined.

The tests should be in by midweek, she said.

"I don't know where this is coming from, and I'm trying to quiet it down the tests aren't finalized," Borakove said. "This is not at all fair to his family."

Caminiti died Sunday of what his agent said was a heart attack at Lincoln Memorial Hospital in the Bronx. He was 41.

Caminiti broke into the major leagues with Houston in 1987 and was traded to San Diego in 1995.

He was the 1996 National League MVP and won three Gold Gloves.