Angels' World Series Hero And Taciturn Slugger Garret Anderson Dies At 53

Garret Anderson, nan often misunderstood and ever lethal Angels slugger who starred successful nan 2002 World Series, has died of a bosom attack. He was 53.

Anderson’s astir memorable infinitesimal was belting a decisive three-run double successful Game 7 of nan only World Series ever played by nan Angels. Yet consistency complete 17 seasons — 15 pinch nan Angels and 1 each pinch nan Dodgers and Atlanta Braves — was nan hallmark of nan taciturn near fielder.

“The Angels Organization is mourning nan nonaccomplishment of 1 of our franchise’s astir beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” proprietor Arte Moreno said Friday successful a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our statement passim his 15 seasons and his stoic beingness successful nan outfield and our clubhouse elevated nan Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by nan 2002 World Series Championship.

“Garret will everlastingly clasp a typical spot successful nan hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty passim his profession and beyond. His admiration and respect for nan crippled was immeasurable.”

Nicknamed “G.A.,” Anderson is nan Angels leader successful games (2,013), at-bats (7,989), hits (2,368), full bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489) and runs batted successful (1,292). And he achieved it each without fanfare.

“Garret didn’t activity nan limelight,” said Mike DiGiovanna, The Times’ Angels hit writer passim astir of Anderson’s career. “A classical lunch-pail guy. He was a superstar, he conscionable didn’t enactment for illustration it.”

Fans occasionally booed Anderson for a perceived deficiency of hustle. He didn’t dive for alert balls and connected uncommon occasions grounded to tally difficult erstwhile he deed a crushed ball.

His teammates, however, backed him without hesitation, saying he was 1 of nan smartest players successful shot and made nan crippled look easy done difficult work.

“He doesn’t dive for balls because he gets location quicker than astir guys,” halfway fielder Darin Erstad said successful 2003.

Fans shouted successful daze erstwhile Anderson made a diving drawback against nan Minnesota Twins successful 2002.

“But, see, that’s what I’m talking about,” he said. “I ne'er should person had to dive for that ball. I sewage a bad jump. I study hitters. I person an thought of wherever nan shot is going. I don’t dive because I don’t person to.”

Anderson’s understated demeanor fresh good successful an Angels clubhouse stocked pinch young, rowdy personalities.

“We person truthful galore affectional guys connected this team, Garret is simply a calming force,” teammate Tim Salmon said successful 2003. “He’s criticized for a deficiency of emotion, but I deliberation it’s good.”

For his part, Anderson possessed a wry consciousness of joke and wasn’t supra poking nosy astatine himself.

“Interesting,” he told The Times Bill Plaschke pinch a faint smile. “I utilized to beryllium called lazy. Now that we triumph a World Series, I’m called graceful.”

After Anderson retired successful 2010, he worked arsenic a tv expert for nan Angels.

Garret Joseph Anderson was calved June 30, 1972, successful Los Angeles. He attended Granada Hills Kennedy High, wherever he starred successful shot and basketball. He remained adjacent to his shot coach, Manny Alvarado.

“I’ve mislaid a handful, immoderate of them astatine a young age, but this 1 we had a narration for a agelong time,” Alvarado said Friday. “I person a ton of memories, immoderate of them from time 1 and immoderate conscionable recently. The 1 point that comes to mind he was benignant of an aged soul. A batch of awesome leaguers person a batch to study from him.

“He was very humble and ever picked up nan phone. He made it to a batch of alumni games, was very generous.”

Anderson was drafted successful 1990 by nan Angels successful nan 4th information and made his awesome convention debut July 27, 1994. vs. Oakland earlier going connected to go 1 of nan astir productive players successful franchise history.

Anderson had a agelong of 8 consecutive seasons appearing successful astatine slightest 150 games for nan Angels and played successful astatine slightest 140 games successful 11 of his 17 Major League seasons. He was inducted into nan Angels’ Hall of Fame successful 2016.

“Teammates and fans came to admit him for his consistency,” DiGiovanna said. “He was for illustration a metronome.”

In summation to his World Series Game 7 heroics, Anderson batted .300 pinch 4 doubles, 2 location runs and 13 RBIs during nan 2002 postseason. He vanished 4th successful American League Most Valuable Player voting that year.

In 2003, he became nan first subordinate since Cal Ripken Jr. to go some nan Home Run Derby champion and MVP of nan All-Star Game. Anderson batted .293 pinch 287 location runs successful his career.

His last play came pinch nan Dodgers successful 2010. At property 38 he batted only .181 but provided a settling power connected young Dodgers stars Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

The Angels will grant Anderson by wearing a memorial patch connected their jerseys nan remainder of nan season. There will beryllium a infinitesimal of soundlessness and a tribute video earlier Friday’s game.

Anderson is survived by his wife, Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey and boy Garret “Trey” Anderson III.

Times unit writers Eric Sondheimer and Bill Shaikin contributed to this story.