Jose Lima, who was one of the first big success stories in the history of the independent Atlantic League , died Sunday morning of a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles, according to When Jose Lima went directly from the Newark Bears to the Kansas City Royals in 2003, he became an instant Atlantic League legend. (Courtesy of NewarkBearsnews.org)
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He was 37.
Lima, who was 89-102 during a 13-year major-league career, won a career-high 21 games and was an All-Star for the Houston Astros in 1999.
But he struggled in each of the next three seasons and was completely out of affiliated baseball by 2003.
The personable right-hander resurrected his career with the 2003 Newark Bears.
One of Lima’s first actions after his much-anticipated arrival at Atlantic League spring training in Homestead, Fla. was to climb a tree, grab a coconut, crack it open and drink the juice. The sight brought laughter from the crowd of onlookers and offered a glimpse of his reputation as an unpredictable character.
On the mound, however, Lima was no joke. He went 6-1 with a 2.33 ERA in eight starts.
That fast start earned Lima a contract with the Kansas City Royals. He reported directly to the major-leagues — a rarity for players signed out of the independent minor-leagues — and justified the Royals’ decision by winning his first seven decisions.
Lima’s success also proved the value of the Atlantic League, which was founded in 1998, to major-league clubs and veteran players.
After a short stint with the 2006 Mets, Lima returned to the Atlantic League in 2008 and made 11 appearances for the Camden Riversharks. He pitched to a 4.98 ERA but was unable to get back to the majors for a second time.
The Dominican Republic native spent last season in the independent Golden League.
