Garret Anderson, a long-time MLB outfielder, passed away at 53 after a heart attack. He was a three-time All-Star and a key player for the Angels, with a career total of 2,529 hits.
Key points
Garret Anderson passed away at 53 after a heart attack
He played 17 seasons in MLB, mainly with the Angels
Anderson had 2,529 career hits and won a World Series in 2002
He was a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger
Inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016
Garret AndersonLos Angeles AngelsAtlanta BravesLos Angeles Dodgers
SAN DIEGO - AUGUST 4: Garret Anderson #18 of the Atlanta Braves smiles before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on August 4, 2009 in San Diego, California. The Braves defeated the Padres 9-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | Getty Images
SAN DIEGO - AUGUST 4: Garret Anderson #18 of the Atlanta Braves smiles before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on August 4, 2009 in San Diego, California. The Braves defeated the Padres 9-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | Getty Images
Long-time MLB outfielder Garret Anderson passed away earlier this week after suffering a heart attack. He was 53.
Anderson played 17 seasons in the big leagues, spending 15 seasons becoming a franchise icon for the California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels before ended his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his penultimate campaign, he was a member of the 2009 Atlanta Braves.
Anderson was a three-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger and won a World Series championship with the 2002 Angels. He was also runner-up in the 1995 American League Rookie of the Year award and earned votes for the American League Most Valuable Player three times â including a career best fourth-place finish in 2002 when he paced the A.L. with 56 doubles, the first of two seasons he led the league in that category,
For his career, Anderson compiled 2,529 hits, 287 home runs, 522 doubles and drove in 1,365 runs. He retired after the 2010 season with 23.9 fWAR and a 100 wRC+.
While Anderson, who debuted in 1994, wasnât a Hall of Fame player, he was a solid big leaguer for more than a decade with several seasons of high-level offensive output. In five consecutive seasons from 1999 through 2004, he connected on 20-or-more home runs with no less than 80 RBI â including four seasons with more than 116.
He wasnât the star of those Angels teams that also included Jim Edmunds, Troy Glaus, Tim Salmon and Darin Erstad, but he was a floor-raising professional who lengthened the teamâs line-up while playing in 150-or-more games from 1996 through 2003 and exceeding 141 games played in nine-out-of-10 seasons from 1996 through 2006.
The left-handed hitter is still the Angels all-time leader in games played, hits, doubles, extra-base hits, and RBI, among other statistics. He was also selected the Angelsâ team MVP four times.
His lone season in Atlanta was a later-career pit-stop, playing in 135 games â 124 of which came in left field as part of a loose platoon with Matt Diaz. He hit 13 home runs and 27 doubles for the Braves that season while slashing .268/.303/.401 good for only a 83 wRC+ in his first season playing outside of the Angels organization.
It wasnât the year that many hoped Anderson would have provided Atlanta when the Braves signed him after the organizationâs failed courtship of free agent outfielder and future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. â a deal that multiple baseball writers across the country had said was happening â only for Atlanta to be spurned by Griffey, Jr. when he opted to return to the â his original franchise â for the final two seasons of his playing career.
The highlight of Andersonâs time with the Braves came on October 1, 2009 when a seeing-eye single made its way through the infield for his 2,500 career hit in Atlanta against the .
Anderson, who was also the MVP of the 2003 All-Star Game and 2003 Home Run Derby winner, would go on to broadcast Angels game after his playing career concluded.
He was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016.
Q&A
What were Garret Anderson's major achievements in MLB?
Garret Anderson was a three-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger, and won a World Series championship with the 2002 Angels.
How many hits did Garret Anderson have in his MLB career?
Garret Anderson compiled a total of 2,529 hits during his 17-season MLB career.
What teams did Garret Anderson play for in his MLB career?
Anderson played primarily for the California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels and also had stints with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.
When was Garret Anderson inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame?
Garret Anderson was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016.