On Friday, April 17, the Los Angeles Angels paid tribute to the late Garret Anderson during their game against the San Diego Padres. The players donned a memorial patch to honor Anderson, which they will continue to wear throughout the season. The team also featured a video tribute at Angels Stadium and observed a moment of silence in his memory.
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, who played alongside Anderson during his MLB career, spoke to MLB.com about Anderson’s integrity on the field. “He was a baseball player, and he did everything right,” Suzuki said. “There was nothing flashy. … He never pimped home runs. That’s who I want my kids to model themselves after. Just play the game right, do the things right, and never bring attention to yourself.”
The Angels secured an 8-0 victory on Friday, marking a dominant performance on a night dedicated to honoring one of their legends.
Garret Anderson, a three-time All-Star and a cornerstone of the Angels franchise, passed away on Thursday, April 16, following a “medical emergency” at his home in Newport Beach, California. He was 53 years old.
In a social media post on Friday, the team expressed their sorrow, stating, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Angels Hall of Famer Garret Anderson. Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond.”
A two-time Silver Slugger, Anderson spent nearly his entire career with the Angels and holds the franchise records for games played, at bats, hits, runs, RBIs, total bases, extra base hits, singles, doubles, and grand slams. He was instrumental in the team’s 2002 World Series championship run.
Reflecting on his legacy, Angels owner Arte Moreno stated, “The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson. 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.”
Anderson is survived by his wife, Teresa, his daughters, Brianne and Bailey, and his son, Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III. He was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016.
At the time of his induction, Anderson emphasized the importance of camaraderie, stating, “Being a good teammate goes a long way with a lot of people. If you go out and respect your teammates and pull for ‘em and give ‘em tough love when you have to, it goes a long way. … So that was the biggest compliment for me, people saying I was a good teammate.”
