Longtime MLB player Garret Anderson, who won a World Series with the Angels in 2002, has died, the team announced on Friday.
Anderson was 53. The cause of death was not disclosed by the team.
He is perhaps best remembered for leading the Angels to their only World Series title while hitting .300 with 13 RBIs in 2002.
Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement that Anderson represented “one of our franchise’s most beloved icons” and described him as a stoic presence.
“Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” Moreno said. “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 team said it will begin its home game Friday with a moment of silence and wear a jersey patch with Anderson’s initials the rest of the season.
Mike Trout, the current Angels star, former MVP and all-time leader in home runs, posted on X that "was a huge part of Angels history and inspired so many of us who wear this uniform. Keeping his family in my thoughts and prayers."
MLB said it was "deeply saddened" by Anderson's death, calling him a "highly respected figure in the clubhouse and across our National Pastime" in a statement.
Anderson was raised in Los Angeles and went on to play with the California Angels, as the team was known at the time, after breaking into the big leagues in 1994. He remained with the team until 2008 and spent his last two seasons with the Braves and the Dodgers before retiring in 2010.
A three-time All-Star, Anderson remains the Angels’ all-time leader in games played, hits, RBIs, total bases, doubles and extra-base hits. His 272 home runs rank third all time with the team. He was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2016.
