Angels World Series hero, taciturn slugger Garret

Garret Anderson, the often misunderstood and always deadly Angels slugger who starred in the 2002 World Series, has died of a coronary heart assault. He was 53.

Anderson’s most memorable second was belting a decisive three-run double in Game 7 of the only World Series ever performed by the Angels. Yet consistency over 17 seasons — 15 with the Angels and one each with the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves — was the hallmark of the taciturn left fielder.

“The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” proprietor Arte Moreno said Friday in a assertion. “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.”

Nicknamed “G.A.,” Anderson is the Angels chief in video games (2,013), at-bats (7,989), hits (2,368), complete bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489) and runs batted in (1,292). And he achieved it all without fanfare.

“Garret didn’t seek the limelight,” said Mike DiGiovanna, The Times’ Angels beat author throughout most of Anderson’s profession. “A classic lunch-pail guy. He was a superstar, he just didn’t act like it.”

Fans sometimes booed Anderson for a perceived lack of hustle. He didn’t dive for fly balls and on uncommon events failed to run onerous when he hit a ground ball.

His teammates, however, backed him without hesitation, saying he was one of the neatest gamers in baseball and made the sport look simple through onerous work.

“He doesn’t dive for balls because he gets there quicker than most guys,” middle fielder Darin Erstad said in 2003.

Fans cheered in shock when Anderson made a diving catch against the Minnesota Twins in 2002.

“But, see, that’s what I’m talking about,” he said. “I never should have had to dive for that ball. I got a bad jump. I study hitters. I have an idea of where the ball is going. I don’t dive because I don’t have to.”

Los Angeles Angels’ Garret Anderson watches the ball after hitting a two-run homer against the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh inning of a recreation in Anaheim on July 4, 2008.

(Mark Avery / Associated Press)

Anderson’s understated demeanor match nicely in an Angels clubhouse stocked with younger, rowdy personalities.

“We have so many emotional guys on this team, Garret is a calming force,” teammate Tim Salmon said in 2003. “He’s criticized for a lack of emotion, but I think it’s good.”

For his half, Anderson possessed a wry sense of humor and wasn’t above poking enjoyable at himself.

“Interesting,” he told The Times Bill Plaschke with a faint smile. “I used to be called lazy. Now that we win a World Series, I’m called graceful.”

After Anderson retired in 2010, he labored as a tv analyst for the Angels.

Garret Joseph Anderson was born June 30, 1972, in Los Angeles. He attended Granada Hills Kennedy High, where he starred in baseball and basketball. He remained close to his baseball coach, Manny Alvarado.

“I’ve lost a handful, some of them at a young age, but this one we had a relationship for a long time,” Alvarado said Friday. “I have a ton of memories, some of them from day one and some just recently. The one thing that comes to mind he was kind of an old soul. A lot of major leaguers have a lot to learn from him.

“He was very humble and always picked up the phone. He made it to a lot of alumni games, was very generous.”

Anderson was drafted in 1990 by the Angels in the fourth spherical and made his major league debut July 27, 1994 versus Oakland before going on to change into one of the most productive gamers in franchise historical past.

Anderson had a stretch of eight consecutive seasons showing in at least 150 video games for the Angels and performed in at least 140 video games in 11 of his 17 major league seasons. He was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame in 2016.

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

In addition to his World Series Game 7 heroics, Anderson batted .300 with 4 doubles, two home runs and 13 RBIs during the 2002 postseason. He completed fourth in American League Most Valuable Player voting that yr.

In 2003, he turned the first participant since Cal Ripken Jr. to change into both the Home Run Derby champion and MVP of the All-Star Game. Anderson batted .293 with 287 home runs in his profession.

His ultimate season got here with the Dodgers in 2010. At age 38 he batted only .181 but offered a settling affect on younger Dodgers stars Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

The Angels will honor Anderson by carrying a memorial patch on their jerseys the remainder of the season. There will probably be a second of silence and a tribute video before Friday’s recreation.

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

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