Garret Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Garret Anderson |
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Anderson with the Angels in 2007
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| Left fielder | |||
| Born: June 30, 1972 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Died: April 16, 2026 (aged 53) Newport Beach, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 27, 1994, for the California Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 6, 2010, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .293 | ||
| Hits | 2,529 | ||
| Home runs | 287 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,365 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Garret Joseph Anderson (born June 30, 1972, passed away April 16, 2026) was a fantastic American professional baseball player. He was mostly a left fielder and played for 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Most of his career, from 1994 to 2008, was with the California / Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He also played for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Garret Anderson was a three-time All-Star. He was a key player when the Angels won the 2002 World Series championship. In 2003, he was even named the Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game. He holds many amazing records for the Angels team. These include the most games played (2,013), hits (2,368), and runs batted in (RBIs) (1,292). He also hit 272 home runs as a left-handed batter for the team.
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Garret Anderson's Early Life and School Days
Garret Anderson grew up in Granada Hills, California. He went to Kennedy High School. He was a super talented athlete, playing three sports: baseball, football, and basketball.
In baseball, he was recognized as one of the best players in Los Angeles City and his league. When he was a junior, he helped his team win the Los Angeles City Championship. He also earned top honors in basketball during his senior year. After high school, he received a scholarship to play college baseball at California State University, Fresno for the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Garret Anderson's Amazing Baseball Career
Starting with the Anaheim Angels
The Angels team chose Garret in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB draft. He decided to play professional baseball instead of going to college right away. He started in the minor leagues in 1992, playing for teams like the Palm Springs Angels and Midland Angels. By 1993 and 1994, he was playing for the AAA Vancouver Canadians.
Garret made his first appearance in the major leagues on July 27, 1994. In that game, he got two hits, including his very first career hit! He played in a few games that year, showing his talent.
In 1995, Garret joined the major leagues for good. He hit his first home run on June 13. He was even named the American League Player of the Month in July 1995 because he played so well. He hit .321 with 16 home runs and 69 runs batted in (RBIs) that year. He finished second for the Rookie of the Year award. From then on, Garret was a key player for the Angels. For eight years, he consistently hit over 20 home runs and had more than 90 RBIs. In 2000, he hit a career-high 35 home runs!
World Series Champion and All-Star
In 2002, Garret helped the Angels win their first-ever World Series championship! He had a fantastic season, hitting .306 with 29 home runs and 123 RBIs. In Game 7 of the World Series, his three-run double was the hit that helped secure the win.
He continued his strong performance in 2003 and was chosen as an American League All-Star. During that All-Star weekend, he won the Home Run Derby and was named the Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game. He was the first player since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1991 to win both! Garret also led the American League in doubles in both 2002 and 2003.
Garret signed a big contract extension in 2004. However, he started to have some foot problems, like arthritis and plantar fasciitis. To help him stay healthy, he started playing more often as a designated hitter in 2005. He kept hitting well, reaching his 2,000th career hit on July 1, 2006.
On August 21, 2007, Garret had an incredible game against the New York Yankees. He drove in a team-record 10 runs, including a grand slam! He also set a franchise record by getting an RBI in 12 consecutive games. In October 2008, his time with the Angels came to an end.
Playing for the Atlanta Braves
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In 2009, Garret joined the Atlanta Braves. In his very first game with the Braves, he got his 2,369th career hit! On July 2, 2009, he hit his first career pinch-hit home run. Later that year, on October 1, he reached another milestone: 2,500 career hits!
Time with the Los Angeles Dodgers
In 2010, Garret signed a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made the team and played as a reserve outfielder. He hit a pinch-hit single in his first at-bat with the Dodgers. He also hit a pinch-hit home run on April 22. However, he was released by the Dodgers in August 2010.
Life After Playing Baseball
Garret Anderson officially announced his retirement from baseball on March 1, 2011. After his playing career, he stayed involved with baseball. In 2012, he worked as a reporter for the Angels, sharing his insights before and after games on Fox Sports West.
In 2016, Garret was honored by being inducted into the Angels' Hall of Fame. This is a special recognition for players who have made a huge impact on the team.
Garret Anderson's Awards and Achievements
- He was a Major League Baseball All-Star three times (in 2002, 2003, and 2005).
- He won the All-Star Game MVP award in 2003.
- He was named The Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1995.
- He won the Silver Slugger Award twice (in 2002 and 2003).
- In 2002, he finished fourth in the voting for the MLB Most Valuable Player award.
About Garret Anderson's Life
Garret Anderson met his wife, Teresa, when they were in junior high school. They built a family together and had three children.
Garret Anderson passed away on April 16, 2026, at his home in Newport Beach, California. The Angels team honored him with a moment of silence and a special video tribute before their game on April 17. The team will also wear a "GA" patch on their uniforms for the rest of the 2026 season to remember him.
