Having grown up in Orange County as a Los Angeles Angels fan, Freddie Freeman was among those mourning the sudden death of Garret Anderson at the age of 53.
The Angels Hall of Famer attended John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, Calif., and not only served as a role model to Freeman by way of being a left-handed hitter who excelled at using the opposite field, but the three-time All-Star was his favorite player as well.
Freeman told Jack Harris of the California Post that getting to meet Anderson was hardly a letdown.
“You always hear, ‘Don’t meet your heroes,’” Freeman told The California Post. “But then I got to meet him, and I was like, ‘I’m glad I did.’ Because he was a beautiful man. And I wish he was still here. He meant a lot to so many people … I’m at a loss for words really.”
Freeman added he was having difficulty accepting the unfortunate reality of Anderson’s death but wanted to focus on the light he brought others.
“To say he ‘was‘ my favorite baseball player is really saddening to me,” Freeman said. “But I don’t wanna talk about the sad stuff because he brought so much joy to so many people.”
Anderson is survived by his wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, and son Garret “Trey” Anderson III.
“The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement.
“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.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family.”
The Dodgers also were among those within the baseball community to express their remorse.
“The Dodgers are deeply saddened by the passing of local native, longtime Angel and former Dodger Garret Anderson,” the team wrote on social media. “We send our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”
Garret Anderson’s career
Anderson was drafted by the Angels in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft and debuted with the team four years later. He played a total of 15 seasons with the Angels, which included being part of their only World Series winning team in franchise history in 2002.
Anderson spent the 2009 season with the Atlanta Braves, crossing paths with Freeman during that time, and finished his career with the Dodgers in 2010.
Among other accolades, Anderson earned two Silver Slugger Awards and was a four-time Angels team MVP. He is the Angels franchise leader in games (2,013), at-bats (7,989), hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489) and RBI (1,292). Anderson also ranks second in runs scored (1,024) and third in home runs (287).
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