Man dies in apparent suicide at Angels’ New York hotel

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The Angels’ six-game trip to New York and Toronto started on an ominous note Tuesday morning when an unidentified 39-year-old man jumped to his death in an apparent suicide at the team’s New York hotel, Le Parker Meridien on 56th Street in Manhattan.

The incident occurred at about 8:15 a.m. EDT, according to an Angels team spokesman, and at least two players, pitchers Jered Weaver and Matt Palmer, were in a coffee shop across the street when it happened. Weaver did not want to talk about it.

According to the New York Daily News, police said the man plunged from the 42nd floor of the hotel, the roof-top pool area, and landed on W. 56th St. The man was not a guest of the hotel but came in and asked to take a look at the hotel’s pool.

Because the man landed near the hotel entrance, most of the team’s traveling party, including coaches, players and broadcasters, saw the aftermath -- the police activity, the body under a sheet -- on their way to the team bus, which left for Yankee Stadium at 9:15 a.m.

‘It’s obviously traumatic when you witness something like that,’ Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said before the game in Yankee Stadium. ‘These guys understand it’s a privilege to play baseball. When something like this happens, it reinforces that.’

-- Mike DiGiovanna in New York