Los Angeles Angels Hall of Famer and power-hitting outfielder Garret Anderson died suddenly at his California home, the organization said in statement on April 17.
An official cause of death has not yet been publicly disclosed. Anderson, 53, died following what was described as a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, according to TMZ Sports.
“Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” the Angels said on X. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire Anderson family.”
A Los Angeles native, Garret was a fourth-round pick by the Angels during the 1990 MLB draft where he played 15 of his 17 major league seasons starting in 1994. He spent one season each with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.
A two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger, Garret played a pivotal role in the Angels’ 2002 World Series win over the San Francisco Giants, securing their first and only championship.
“The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” said Angels owner Arte Moreno in a statement.
“Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.”
In 2003, he became the second player in baseball history to win the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game MVP honor in the same year.
“Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” Moreno said. “His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife, Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family.”
Garret retired in 2011 finishing with over 2,500 hits and 287 home runs in his career. He was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016, where he was formally recognized for his impact on the franchise and big-league career.
“I was a good teammate,” he said during the ceremony at the time. “And being a good teammate goes a long way with a lot of people.”
“If you go out and respect your teammates and pull for ‘em and give ‘em tough love when you have to, it goes a long way. ... So that was the biggest compliment for me, people saying I was a good teammate.”
The Angels are facing off against the San Diego Padres Friday evening, where a moment of silence will be held for Garret, along with a special video tribute. For the remainder of the season, the Angels will also continue to honor Garret by wearing a memorial patch on their team jerseys.
