The Angels announced the death of Garret Anderson at 53 after a reported heart attack, and the organization issued a statement expressing deep sorrow and condolences to his family.
Per Tyler Kepner of The Athletic, Anderson suffered a fatal heart attack, and the Angels confirmed the loss while calling him a franchise great.
Team owner Arte Moreno released a personal statement praising Anderson as a cornerstone of the organization, noting his professionalism, class, loyalty and immeasurable admiration for the game.
Career Highlights And Financial Details
Anderson spent 15 of his 17 major league seasons with the Angels after the team selected him in the fourth round of the 1990 draft out of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, California.
He made his major league debut in July 1994 at age 22, and broke out in 1995 with a .321/.352/.505 batting line, 16 home runs and strong Rookie of the Year consideration against Marty Cordova.
Anderson averaged high durability in his early career, delivered a 35-homer season in 2000 and a 28-homer season in 2001, and became a central figure on the Angels team that won the 2002 World Series.
In 2002 he paced the majors with 56 doubles, hit 29 home runs and posted a .306/.332/.539 slash line, earning an All-Star selection, a Silver Slugger and a fourth-place finish in AL MVP voting.
He added another All-Star nod in 2003, won that year’s Home Run Derby and collected a second Silver Slugger award, and his postseason contributions included a key hit in a late rally in Game 6 and a bases-clearing double in Game 7 off Livan Hernandez.
Anderson finished his career with a .293/.324/.461 line, 2,529 hits and 287 home runs, and he ranks among franchise leaders in games played, hits, runs scored, RBIs and total bases.
He closed his playing career with one-year stops in Atlanta and with the Los Angeles Dodgers, finishing with the Braves in 2009 and the Dodgers in 2010.
Financially, a profile of Anderson reported career salary earnings of about $92.5 million and an estimated net worth near $40 million, noting a four-year, $48 million extension signed on April 13, 2004, and other season contracts including a reported $5 million in 2001 and $6.2 million in 2003.
The Angels announced plans for a memorial patch on their uniforms for the remainder of the 2026 season, and MLB Trade Rumors offered condolences to Anderson’s family, the Angels organization and fans.
