RIP Jose Lima: The colorful right-hander and his unforgettable one season with the Dodgers

He was a piece of work, and I mean that in the most favorable way.

It’s hard to imagine a moment when Jose Lima wasn’t colorful, when Latin music didn’t seem to burst through his every step, when energy didn’t beam from him like the proverbial thousand points of light, when he wasn’t full of life.

Until now, of course. Sadly, until now.

Lima, only 37, died in Los Angeles on Sunday of an apparent heart attack.

His tenure as a Dodger was brief, just one season, but it was memorable and historic. And for Lima, a last hurrah.

Lima came to the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee in 2004, his career seemingly over at age 31, his 21-win and All-Star season with the Astros in 1999 feeling like a lifetime ago.

Yet he not only made their roster, but ultimately their rotation. And hr not only joined the rotation, but became one of their more effective starters.

The Dominican went 13-5 with a 4.07 earned-run average in 2004. Though he no longer had the same power of his youth, he won with guile and experience and determination.

He pitched and walked and almost breathed with a rhythm that seemed infectious to most Dodgers fans. He once sang the national anthem before a home game at Dodger Stadium. His band played at the Dodgers’ annual Viva Los Dodgers celebration.

But the highlight of his year with the Dodgers, and perhaps his career, came in the playoffs when he pitched a five-hit shutout over the St. Louis Cardinals for the Dodgers’ first postseason victory since their 1988 World Series title.

By the ninth inning, the Dodger Stadium crowd was chanting his name.

"Though he was taken from us way too soon, he truly lived his life to the fullest and his personality was simply unforgettable," said Dodgers owner Frank McCourt in a statement. ``He had the ability to light up a room and that’s exactly what he did every time I saw him.’’

Lima returned to the Kansas City Royals in 2005, but was out of magic. After a few starts the following year with the Mets, he was finally out of Major League Baseball.

There would be a stint in South Korea, a run with the Long Beach Armada in the independent Golden League and winter ball in the Dominican Republic, but the career of the dynamic right-hander that Dodgers fans knew was over.

Living in L.A., last month he had joined the Dodgers alumni group. He was preparing to make appearances on behalf of the team and a return musical appearance this summer at Viva Los Dodgers.

He attended Friday’s game, and when introduced between innings, received a warm ovation.

One last moment, for Lima Time.

--Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Starting pitcher Jose Lima works against San Diego in 2004, earning his 10th win of the season. Credit: Damon Winter / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Someone]

I knew Jose Lima and I am both shocked and saddened. He will be missed by many. He was a wonderful person and a great father who loved his kids. The last time I saw Jose he was in the gym on the phone with his kid saying "I love you." and I was touched that a guy so big and masculine was not afraid to say it and didn't care that everyone was listening. That is a true man. Jose was funny, charming, humble, kind and handsome. I'll never forget his beautiful bright green eyes. Anyone who ever met him before knows what I mean. Jose had a fire in his eyes and I will miss seeing that...but I feel honored to have known him if only for a short time. My condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

[Dallas]

So sorry to learn of Lima's passing, esp. since seeing him Friday night; full of the usual smiles, good nature & wonderful character.
I send my sincere thoughts, condolences & prayers to his loved ones, friends, fellow players & all who knew him.
Rest in eternal peace, Jose.....

[KoufaxFan]

Met Jose Lima in beautiful Vero Beach Dodgertown in 2004 when he was just a non-roster invitee at the time & it quickly became Lima Time. A wonderful person. I even had a Dodger jersey with his name on it & he was shocked I had one when he was just a non-roster guy at spring training. He gladly signed it. RIP; it will always be Lima Time!

[whitneymuse]

Oh, man. the Lima-time man is now gone. condolences to your family and the remembrance of your wind up and pitches for the blues fans. I reiterate the sentiments of the person who knew you and said what and who you were; glad LA got one last time to say thinks to you and that you heard it in your ears, too.

[These Dodgers Suck]

Normally I wouldn't be shy about reminding everyone about his purported drug use (to include steroids),
but since everyone is in deep mourning I'll just stay classy ... :0)

[paul lang]

like KoufaxFan, we too saw Jose Lima down at Dodgertown. if it was 2004, then my boys were 10 and 12 when they were lucky enough to get autographs from Tommy Lasorda and Mr. Lima. Who?, they wondered, but i remember tracking him from RI, as he became one of the Dodgers' top pitchers that summer. thanks for sharing this tribute to a brief life so exuberantly led.

[OldBrooklynFan]

My condolences to the Lima family and may he rest in peace.

[KoufaxFan]

To TDS: by saying you were not going to mention Lima's failings you go ahead & do. Classless. We all have our shortcomings; let the man rest in peace. If anything he added more fun to the sport we love to watch & follow. My condolences to his family.

[X]

RIP Lima!

[Tom Landreau]

I remember going to a game the year he was here. Had seat down left field line. before the game he was out there exercising. When he got done he went over to sign autograph,well in no time big old line of autograph seakers. Which is not news when a player take the time to sign autograph. But instead of hurring along he grab a chair and sat down and keep signing and posing with the fans young and old.

[Peaches]

Jose was a fun player to watch. I loved his enthusiasm. My heart goes out to his family.

[Kenn Cunningham]

I was Jose Lima's first pro manager in 1990. Even then he was full of enthusiasum (sometimes too much). He was the kind of guy that was funny if he was your teammate and a hotdog if he was an opponent. He was a fun kid to be around and I regret his passing so soon.

[Jeff]

I went to see the Dodgers in St. Louis in '04 and stayed in the same hotel as the team. Once inside their hotel, most players avoid fans like the plague. Not Lima. After the game, he sat in a chair in the lobby, signing autographs, posing for photos, joking with fans, laughing. I've never seen a player do anything like that either before or after. Truly one of a kind.

[Juan Carlos Ortega]

First of all my condolences to Jose Lima's family and friends.

I was fortunate to have seen another side of Jose Lima. The musician side. I was so very fortunate to have shared the stage with Jose Lima back in 2004. Right after he had pitched an awsome game for the Dodgers he still had the energy to come down and perform at the Conga Room. We were all amazed.

He had his own merengue band in the Dominican Republic. Our band was at the Conga Room that night and he just showed up unannounced with other players and his band members. Between the first and second set, someone in his entourage asked if he could come up and sing a few songs, and gave us a list of about twelve songs he was prepared to do. We knew two, so those were what he did.
I remember how full of energy he was. I thought to myself, this guy is not only a star in baseball but a star in music as well.

What a great night! I'll never forget it and we will never forget him. Everytime I play a merengue I'll be thinking of him.

Rest in peace Jose....

[SMOOTHTAY38]

RIP JOSE....YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED