The Los Angeles Angels announced the passing of Garret Anderson on Friday. He was a 17-year Major League veteran and 3-time All-Star.
WASHINGTON — Garret Anderson, a longtime star with the Los Angeles Angels in the late 90s and early 00s, has died at the age of 53.
The Angels announced the outfielder’s passing on Friday. No official cause of death was immediately given. According to The Athletic, Anderson died after suffering a heart attack.
“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 team said on social media.
Anderson was a 17-year Major League veteran and 3-time All-Star. He played for the Angels for 15 seasons before joining the Atlanta Braves in 2009 and the Los Dodgers in 2010.
The Angels plan to honor Anderson for the rest of the season by wearing a memorial patch on their jersey’s, starting with Friday’s homestand, according to MLB.com.
“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,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement.
In his one season in Atlanta, Anderson hit .268 with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs.
For his career, Anderson was a .293 hitter with 287 home runs. He was one of the Angels’ best, steadiest players for a generation, helping lead them to a 2002 World Series title.
His best years were in 2002 and 2003. He hit a combined .310 across the two seasons with 58 home runs, 105 doubles and 239 RBIs.
In 2009 with Atlanta, he surpassed the milestone of 2,500 career hits.
