Reid Detmers #48 of the Los Angeles Angels walks past a centerfield wall tribute to former Angels Garret Anderson, who passed away at the age of 53 prior to a a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Angels ground crew honor the former angels Garret Anderson, who passed away at the age of 53 with his initials I side a emblem in the centerfield grass prior to a a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Rob Rohm pauses outside Angel Stadium to pay respects to Garret Anderson in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels, died at the age of 53.
Rohm said he thought Anderson was one of the greatest Angels of all time. “I think his number should be retired”, he said. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A brick outside Angel Stadium in Anaheim commemorates the first season Garret Anderson started on opening day for the Angels. Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels, died at the age of 53. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rob Rohm pauses outside Angel Stadium to pay respects to Garret Anderson in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels, died at the age of 53.
Rohm said he thought Anderson was one of the greatest Angels of all time. “I think his number should be retired”, he said. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rob Rohm pauses outside Angel Stadium to pay respects to Garret Anderson in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels, died at the age of 53.
Rohm said he thought Anderson was one of the greatest Angels of all time. “I think his number should be retired”, he said. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Garret Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels and finished as one of the all-time greats in franchise history, has died at the age of 53. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Travis Ascheri, 13, of Long Beach, gets his cast signed by former Angel Garret Anderson during the Angels’ Moving Day event at Angel Stadium on Thursday, February 11, 2016. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register)
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Angels.Moving.Day.0212.kjs — Photo by KEVIN SULLIVAN / Orange County Register — 2/11/16
Angels Moving Day
Moving Day is a 365-mile drive from Angel Stadium to Tempe Diablo Stadium, slated for Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. PT in the Angel Stadium parking lot (beyond left field, near Tunnel B).Moving Day will feature a variety of activities for Angels fans of all ages, including the following:
2/11/16
Angels stretch as th video board shows a memory of former Angels Garret Anderson, who passed away at the age of 53 prior to a a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Garret Anderson (16) of the Angels during a game at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim on August 29, 2008. The three-time All-Star outfielder, who played 17 Major League seasons, is the Angels’ leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), runs batted in (1,292), doubles (489), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796) and grand slams (eight). (Photo by Joshua Sudock, Orange County Register)
Portrait of Garret Anderson of the Angels during Angels Spring Training 2006 at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe on Thursday February 23, 2006. (Photo By Kevin Sullivan / The Orange County Register)
Vladimir Guerrero, left, and Garret Anderson high-five at home after Anderson’s 2 run home run in the 6th against the Twins at Angel stadium on August 27, 2004. (Photo by Andy Templeton, for the Orange County Register)
Angels centerfielder Garret Anderson (16) makes a running catch on a hit by the Indians’ Travis Fryman in the 4th inning of a game at Edison International Field of Anaheim in Anaheim on August 16, 2002. (Photo by Mark Avery, Orange County Register)
Garret Anderson of Angels the during Angels Spring Training 2006 at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe on Monday February 27, 2006. (Photo By Kevin Sullivan / The Orange County Register)
Patricia Raburn pauses outside Angel Stadium to pay respects to Garret Anderson in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels, died at the age of 53. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Angels’ Garret Anderson runs by a freshly painted ALDS logo at Angel Stadium during the Halos practice Tuesday, September 30, 2008. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register)
Garret Anderson (16) of the Angels makes a sliding catch of a Minnesota Twins fly ball to end game 3 of the ALCS at Edison International Field of Anaheim in Anaheim on October 11, 2002. (Photo by Mike Blake, Reuters)
Garret Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels and finished as one of the all-time greats in franchise history, has died at the age of 53. Garret Anderson of the Los Angeles doubles in two runs against the New York Yankees in the first inning Tuesday night August 21. 2007. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
The Angels’ Garret Anderson shares a laugh with teammates during a game against the Kansas City Royals at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Tuesday June 26, 2007. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register)
Angels fans line up at Edison International Field of Anaheim to purchase tickets beneath a mural of Garret Anderson in Anaheim on October 3, 2002 for the possible American League Championship Series to start next week if the Angels beat the Yankees in the division series (Photo by Chas Metivier, Orange County Register)
Garret Anderson (16) of the Angels is congratulated by teammates as fans cheer after he hit a two-run homer to make the score 13-3 against the Mets at Edison Field on April 30, 2003. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register)
Mickey Hatcher of the Angels and teammates welcome Garret Anderson (16) to the dugout after he scored on Howie Kendrick’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim on Thursday August 17, 2006 at Angel Stadium. (Photo By Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register)
Tim Salmon, left, and Garret Anderson high-five after the Angels defeated the Oakland Athletics 2-1 at Edison Field Monday July 28, 2003. The two combined for the Angels only 2 RBI’s. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register)
Garret Anderson of the Angels doubles during the 3rd inning of game seven of the 2002 World Series at Edison Field in Anaheim Saturday, October 27, 2002. (Photo By Daniel A. Anderson, Orange County Register)
Former Angel Garret Anderson, left, laughs next to owner Arte Moreno during his Angels Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Saturday, August 20, 2016. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register)
Garret Anderson (16), Darin Erstad (17) and Alex Ochoa (18) of the Angels congratulate each other as the game against the Twins ends at Edison International Field of Anaheim in Anaheim on October 12, 2002. (Photo by Paul E. Rodriguez, Orange County Register)
Angels’ centerfielder Garret Anderson grimaces after hitting an fly ball in the 3rd inning Thursday night against the Oakland A’s at Edison International Field of Anaheim in Anaheim on September 12, 2002. (Photo by Mark Avery, Orange County Register)
Garret Anderson of the Angels catches a fly ball in the stands in a game against the Yankees in Game 1 of the playoffs at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on October 4, 2005.(Photo by Eugene Garcia, Orange County Register)
Anaheim Angels’ Garret Anderson, who hit the game winning, three-run double, runs with the World Series Championship trophy after the Angels beat the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the World Series in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002. The Angels won the game 4-1 to win the best-of-seven series. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Garret Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels and finished as one of the all-time greats in franchise history, has died at the age of 53. Garret Anderson,16, of the Anahiem Angels during spring training in Tempe,Arizona March 26,2002. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Garret Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels and finished as one of the all-time greats in franchise history, has died at the age of 53. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Garret Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels and finished as one of the all-time greats in franchise history, has died at the age of 53. Garrett Anderson of the Los Angeles Dodgers smiles during batting practice before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Ballpark at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, in Glendale,Arizona. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Anaheim Angels manager Mike Scioscia, top right, and 2002 World Series Most Valuable Player Troy Glaus, top left, hold the championship trophy as they parade down main street at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002. Joining Scioscia and Glaus on the float are players Troy Percival, bottom left, David Eckstein, bottom right, David Kennedy, behind Percival, Garret Anderson, behind Ekstein, Darin Erstad, third from top left, Tim Salmon, below Mickey Mouse, and vice-president and general manager Bill Stoneman, second from top left. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Tim Salmon shares a laugh with former teammates Darin Erstad, left, and Garrett Anderson, after being inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on August 22, 2015. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan / Orange County Register)
Former Angel Garret Anderson smiles while talking to the media before being inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame at Angel Stadium on Saturday. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register)
Garret Anderson (16) of the Angels scores after Torii Hunter singles to left field in the third inning during the first game of the playoffs against the Red Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register)
Garret Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels and finished as one of the all-time greats in franchise history, has died at the age of 53. Garret Anderson of the Los Angeles Angels takes batting practice prior to a game against the Milwaukee Brewers during spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona March 4. 2007.(Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Garret Anderson with his family (Photo By Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register)
A man photographs the Angels Wall of Fame as Angel hall of famer Garret Anderson passed away at the age of 53 prior to a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A jersey, bobblehead, and a ball signed by Garret Anderson, a beloved former Angels player who died Thursday at 53, are on display in a case in one of the corridors at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A bobblehead of Garret Anderson, a beloved former Angels player who died Thursday at 53, sits in a display case in one of the corridors at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels stretch as th video board shows a memory of former angels Garret Anderson, who passed away at the age of 53 prior to a a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Reid Detmers #48 of the Los Angeles Angels walks past a centerfield wall tribute to former Angels Garret Anderson, who passed away at the age of 53 prior to a a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Garret Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels and finished as one of the all-time greats in franchise history, has died at the age of 53.
“The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said 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.
“Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond. 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.”
The Angels will honor Anderson by wearing a memorial patch with “GA” — as he was commonly referred to — on their jerseys for the remainder of the season. There will be a moment of silence and tribute video before tonight’s game against the San Diego Padres.
The Orange County Coroner’s Office was to perform an autopsy on Friday, April 17, on Anderson, said Sgt. Lizbeth Gwisdalla, a Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman. The cause of death won’t immediately be determined because the results of toxicology tests can take weeks, Gwisdalla said. There was no preliminary determination as to whether this was a natural death, the sergeant said.
Dan Cupido, a retired Riverside County chief deputy coroner, said Friday that it’s not unusual for an autopsy to be performed after a death under these circumstances. He said that Anderson’s relatively young age, and possibly a lack of knowledge by authorities of his medical history, likely factored into the decision to do the autopsy. Whether Anderson was under a doctor’s care was not immediately announced.
The three-time All-Star outfielder, who played 17 major league seasons, is the Angels’ leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), runs batted in (1,292), doubles (489), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796) and grand slams (eight).
Tim Salmon, a teammate of Anderson’s for 10 years, held him in high esteem, on the field and off.
“I think about the person, the man and, you know, and that’s kind of what life is about,” Salmon said. “All the accolades of what you do out there, they’re meaningful, but it’s really who you are as a person and the people you come in contact with, and (when) they walk away, what do they think? I think that’s the biggest thing. And Garret was … Garret was the best. … He was just true all the way to the end and I was just grateful we were friends and grateful we had time together.”
In a sitdown with Orange County Register columnist Mark Whicker before his induction into the Angels Hall of Fame in August 2016, Anderson offered an assessment of his career.
“People come up and say I had a great career and I say, can I give you a different perspective?” Anderson said. “I failed seven times out of 10 (his career average was .293). So I wasn’t really that good. It’s a hard game and you have to deal with failure. I was a mess in the minors. If I struck out in my first at-bat, I was done. For a good player to become better, he has to put that aside.
“I miss the one-on-one with the pitchers. I miss competing against Pedro Martinez, a guy who could make you miss. Other than that, I don’t miss anything. When it was over, I was going home to be with my family. The game was never my identity.”
The Angels drafted Anderson out of Kennedy High in Granada Hills, where he was a three-sport star, in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB draft. Anderson made his major-league debut July 27, 1994.
Anderson was a key member of the Angels’ 2002 World Series championship team, with his three-run double to break a 1-1 tie in the third inning of Game 7 against the San Francisco Giants winding up to be the series-winning hit. Anderson went 9 for 32 with six RBIs in that series, which is the Angels’ only World Series title since the franchise began in 1961.
“He’s a baseball player and he did everything right,” said first-year Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, who was a freshman at Cal State Fullerton when the Angels won the World Series. “There was nothing flashy. He never pimped home runs. Everything that he did was just professional. When you have your kids playing the game, for me anyway, that’s who I want my kids to model themselves (after). Just play the game right, do the things right, never bring attention to yourself, and that’s the type of player he was. And he was phenomenal at it too.”
Stoic and with a smooth swing from the left side of the plate, Anderson finished fourth in the 2002 American League Most Valuable Player voting with a .306 batting average, 29 home runs and 123 RBIs.
Angels star Mike Trout shared his sentiments on social media early Friday before speaking to the media before Friday’s game.
“When I first got drafted, he was a guy. So really devastated when I heard that this morning,” Trout said. “Great guy. I saw him around the ballpark and got to hang out a little bit outside the park. Just tough. I feel for the family right now. Tough.
“He was a great dude. Always a smile on his face. He was quiet. But seeing the highlights, he held every record here for such a long time. He meant a lot to this organization. He won a World Series in ’02 and that’s the biggest goal here is to get to the World Series. Just talking to teammates that played with him, just hearing the great things they said about him, I don’t think I heard a bad thing said about him. Tough day. Tough loss.”
On Aug. 21, 2007, Anderson had one of the greatest hitting performances in a game, becoming only the 13th major-leaguer to drive in 10 runs in an 18-9 victory over the New York Yankees at Angel Stadium. He went 4 for 6 with a grand slam, a three-run home run, a two-run double and an RBI double.
He won Silver Sluggers awards, given to the best offensive players at their position in each league, in 2002 and 2003, and was voted All-Star Game MVP in 2003 in addition to defeating St. Louis Cardinals slugger and future Angels star Albert Pujols in the Home Run Derby.
His 272 career homers are third in Angels history behind Trout and Salmon. Only Trout has scored more runs in an Angels uniform than Anderson.
Anderson played the last two seasons of his career with the Atlanta Braves and Dodgers before retiring after the 2010 season. He finished his career with a .293 batting average, 2,529 hits, 287 home runs and 1,365 RBIs.
“The Dodgers are deeply saddened by the passing of local native, longtime Angel and former Dodger Garret Anderson. We send our deepest sympathies to his family and friends,” the Dodgers said in a statement.
Anderson had regularly worked for the Angels as a television broadcaster on their pregame and postgame shows since his retirement and had bonded with some of the current generation of players and coaches.
“I just remember talking to him before spring training and wanting him to come around and have an influence that he could bring,” Suzuki said. “The guy is a winner. He knows what it takes to win. I wanted that type of person to hang around the club, to be around myself, to give myself tips. Anything that he saw from his perspective I wanted that around. Just a sad day.”
“He was just a remarkable talent,” current Angels outfielder Jo Adell said. “Any time you get a chance to have guys like that around the field and to be in the presence of that is really, really special. He’s, he’s missed beyond words, and we’re hanging with the family this time. We’re going to continue to go out there and play our brand of baseball and really do it for him.”
Salmon choked up while talking about a recent conversation he had with his friend that went deeper than normal chit-chat.
“I had a conversation with him last week. It was unique. It was like a 45-minute conversation,” he said. “We talked about life, and we hadn’t had that in a little while. The winter had gone by, and we really checked in on each other and what was going on (with family) … and I was really encouraged. And I sit here today and like, ‘Alright Lord, thank you for that last blessing. That last opportunity to have that deep meaningful conversation for the last time.’”
Reporters Doug Padilla and Brian Rokos contributed to this story.
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