Jose Lima and Lima Time at Dodger Stadium
Jose Lima gave the Dodgers the first play-off victory in 16 years! 16 Years! Imagine that!
It was 2004 when Jose Lima went to Vero Beach as a Spring Training invitee and he gave us that incredible playoff performance against the Cardinals in 2004.
Jose Lima was a joy to watch and we Dodger fans love that he always had time to sign autographs for us and pose for pictures. If you were at the stadium, you could easily get his autograph and take your picture with him.
I will never forget that game nor your singing and dancing performance at the VIVA LOS DODGERS festival and you singing the National Anthem.
This picture is from May 15, 2004. There I am with my hand-made scorebook. Jose Lima would sit there and pose for pictures and sign autographs on days that he was not pitching
We will never forget you Jose Lima!
Vin Scully made a comment that “Young and Old, we all will get our time and it was Lima’s time”
I wore my 2004 playoff hat to Sunday’s game at Dodger Stadium. I was at that game for our first playoff win in 16 games. I remember I wrote “LIMA TIME” in my rally towel and when I exited I got interviewed by KCAL Channel 9 and also the Spanish station Channel 34.
The following day, Lima was again signing autographs and I regretted that I did not take a copy of the Sport Section with me from the LA Times. There was a beautiful picture of him there that I still have somewhere in my house.
Jose Lima was at Dodger Stadium Friday night. He was shown on the Dodger Vision and we gave him a big round of applause and a standing ovation.
He had recently joined the Dodger community crew and had just opened a baseball academy in Pasadena. I ran into Ben Platts of MLB.COm and he told me that he was supposed to go to the academy and interview Lima.
What a great addition he would have made the the Dodger Community group!
Rest peace Jose Lima. Our thoughts and prayers to you, your family and friends.
.
Dodger Blue World 
Really nice pic of you and Lima, Emma. So sad that his young life was cut short like that. Condolences to his family, friends and fans.
– http://janeheller.mlblogs.com
That picture brought back so many memories of 2004 Jane.
What a great picture to cherish and remember him by, Emma.
His spirit will live on in DodgerTown…
Rob
http://bluecrewfan.mlblogs.com/
That is a great pic of you with Lima. I was just reading an article about him the other day. It is quite a shock for him to leave this world at 37. That is scary young for anybody.
http://raysfanboy.mlblogs.com/
Ron,
I am glad I was able to find it. Jose would sit there even on hot days. He would just have a bottle of water there and continue signing autographs and talking with the fans.
.
RFB,
that is why we have to enjoy life while we have it.
Wow. That is really cool Emma. I’ve missed Lima Time since he left the game. I wish his family and friends the best.
–Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
http://mtrredstatebluestate.com
great pic glad you got to meet him and understand the real down home Lima that was often over looked by his crazy antics. i honored him on my facebook and was sad to hear this tragic news
http://pittpeas.mlblogs.com
Thanks Jeff and Matt.
Hall of famer Dodger broadcaster Jaime Jarrin said this during his broadcasting : “Hay que sacarle jugo a la vida y no dejar que la vida te saque el jugo” which means “You have to squeeze the juice out of life and not let life squeeze the juice out of you.”
Cool pic of you and Lima… 37 is definitely way too young, very tragic….
-peter
Phillies Outside
Thanks Peter,
The stadium has changed a lot since then. There are extra dugout seats now and the colors of the stadium are back to what they used to be when Dodger Stadium first opened.
Jose was one of the good guys. So sad to lose him at such a young age. Other players could have learned a lot from his appreciation of the fans and how he treated people. He will be missed :O(
Jenn
http://philliesphollowers.mlblogs.com/
It’s really sad. He was one of the good guys.
Gee ~ I wonder what the inside of that scrapbook looks like?
mike
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
Jen,
I was looking forward to him working with the Dodgers Alumni. He would have been so good working with kids.
Mike,
Is not a scrapbook, is a binder for my scoresheets that I was using at that time. Now I just buy it at Big 5 Sporting Goods.
that’s a great photo thank you for sharing!
He was so good to the fans and was such an eccentric character. I love how he was just so happy and light hearted all the time.
may he rest in peace
http://mimi.mlblogs.com
Emma, thank you for reminding us how ballplayers can be accessible to us and provide us with the deepest memories of the game. Lima was one of those guys. As crazy and extroverted as he was, Lima’s zest for life will be remembered above all.
That photo of the both of you showed his zest perfectly.
En paz
http://heirloom.mlblogs.com
Mimi and Randy,
He always had a smile for us when talking to him and always had time to pose for picures. If it was hot, he just grabbed a bottle of water and a towel and put it over his head.