Garrett Anderson death: How did Angels World Series hero die?

Garret Anderson, the hero of Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels' franchise, died on Thursday. He was 53 year old. The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing ‌his demise on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, California.

Anderson ripped a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the third inning, which proved to be the decisive hit to lift the then-Anaheim Angels to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. It remains the only World Series appearance for the franchise.




Anderson remains atop the franchise all-time list in hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and games played (2,013). He batted .296 with 272 homers with the Angels after being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada ⁠Hills, California.



Anderson was inducted into the Angels' Hall of Fame on August 20, 2016. The team plans to honor Anderson for the remainder of the season by the players wearing a memorial patch on their jerseys.

A two-time Silver Slugger recipient and three-time All-Star, he became ⁠a full-time player in Anaheim in 1995 and stayed 14 seasons. Anderson finished his career by spending one season with both the Atlanta Braves (2009) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2010).

Only Mike Trout, with the franchise since 2011, has worn an Angels uniform longer than Anderson.