ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) \u2014 Garret Anderson, the multitalented outfielder who became the Los Angeles Angels\u2019 career hits leader and led the team to its only World Series title, has died. He was 53.<\/p>\n
The Angels announced Anderson\u2019s death Friday morning without immediately disclosing the cause or location.<\/p>\n
Anderson reached the majors with the then-California Angels in 1994 and played for the club until 2008, primarily as a left fielder. Known for both his superb swing and his no-nonsense professionalism, Anderson was a fixture in the heart of the Halos\u2019 batting order for his entire tenure, becoming the franchise\u2019s career leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), RBIs (1,292), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489) and grand slams (eight).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise\u2019s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,\u201d Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. \u201cGarret 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Angels<\/a> will wear a memorial patch this season bearing Anderson\u2019s initials, the team announced. The club held a moment of silence for Anderson at Angel Stadium before its game against the San Diego Padres, and both teams lined up on the field to watch a video of Anderson\u2019s career highlights.<\/p>\n \u201cBeen talking to teammates that played with him this morning, and just hearing the great things they said about him,\u201d three-time AL MVP Mike Trout said. \u201cSeeing some of the numbers this morning, it was incredible what he brought. Nothing but great things people were saying about him. The baseball family lost a good one.\u201d<\/p>\n Anderson was a three-time AL All-Star who finished as high as fourth in the AL MVP balloting during his 17-year major league career. He won two Silver Slugger awards, and he memorably won both the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game MVP award in 2003 in Chicago.<\/p>\n His 272 career homers are third in Angels history behind Trout<\/a> and Tim Salmon. Only Trout has scored more runs<\/a> in an Angels uniform than Anderson.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did everything right,\u201d said Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, whose 16-year career as a major league catcher overlapped with the end of Anderson\u2019s playing career. \u201cThere was never anything flashy. Everything that he did was just professional. When you have your kids playing the game, for me anyway, that\u2019s who I want my kids to model themselves after. Just play the game right, do things right, never bring attention to yourself. And that\u2019s the type of player he was. He was phenomenal at it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2002, Anderson batted .306 and drove in a team-leading 123 runs for the then-Anaheim Angels, who won 99 games and earned a wild-card playoff berth. The Halos stormed through the playoffs to this franchise\u2019s only championship, overcoming a 3-2 series deficit to Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants to win the World Series.<\/p>\n Anderson was a key factor in the Fall Classic, batting 9 of 32 with six RBIs. He drove in the final three runs of the series with a tiebreaking three-run double in the third inning of the Angels\u2019 4-1 victory over the Giants in Game 7.<\/p>\n Anderson\u2019s other baseball accomplishments included a 10-RBI game on Aug. 21, 2007.<\/p>\n Anderson finished his career with Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers before his retirement in 2011. He batted .293 with 2,529 hits, 287 homers and 1,365 RBIs in the majors.<\/p>\n Anderson was inducted into the Angels\u2019 Hall of Fame in 2016, and he had regularly worked for the team as a television broadcaster on its pregame and postgame shows over the ensuing decade. He lived in coastal Newport Beach with his family.<\/p>\n Anderson was born in Los Angeles on June 30, 1972. He attended Granada Hills High School in the suburban San Fernando Valley before the Angels drafted him in the fourth round in 1990.<\/p>\n The Angels said Anderson is survived by his wife, Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, and son Garret \u201cTrey\u201d Anderson III.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n