Books and articles about Garret Anderson

Anderson started the 1995 season in Triple-A, but was called up to the Angels in late May when Tony Phillips moved to third base. The left-handed LA native quickly impressed Anaheim fans with a fine performance at the plate (.321, 16, 70), finishing second only to Minnesota's Marty Cordova in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. However, by the end of the season opposing pitchers had learned to exploit Anderson's main faults -- namely, impatience and a fatal willingness to chase bad pitches. After a red-hot July (he was named AL Player of the Month) Garret struck out 22 times in the month of August; he ended the season with 65 whiffs against just 19 walks.

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Such troubling strikeout-to-walk ratios have been the norm throughout Anderson's young career. Nevertheless, he has remained a productive player at the plate; his career batting average over his first six seasons stood at .300. Defensively, Anderson has good speed but a relatively weak arm. In his rookie season, Anderson led all Angels outfielders with five errors (third-most in the AL) but by 1997 he had raised his fielding percentage to .992. Normally a left fielder, Anderson started 120 games in right in 1998 while filling in for the injured Tim Salmon and was moved to center field in 1999 when Jim Edmonds began the season on the DL.

Critics sometimes point to Anderson's even-keeled approach as being symptomatic of a lack of focus. In August 1998, manager Terry Collins had benched him for not running out a routine grounder, and by the start of the 1999 season Anderson was regarded as the "fourth outfielder" behind Salmon, Edmonds, and Darin Erstad. Nevertheless, Anderson came through in the clutch when injuries ravaged the Angels, and after a fine season (.303, 21 HR, 80 RBIs) he was named the team MVP. (JGR)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » November 11, 1995: Minnesota's Marty Cordova is named American League Rookie of the Year, winning by six points over California's Garret Anderson, who outhit him by 44 points. » May 28, 1996: At Anaheim, Kenny Rogers loses his no-hitter in the 8th when Garret Anderson hits a lead off single, and loses the game in the 9th when he walks Chili Davis with the bases loaded to score an unearned run. Jason Grimsley is the winner, 1–0, dropping New York into a tie for first place with Baltimore. » August 29, 1996: The last-place Angels defeat the Yankees, 14-3, behind OF Garret Anderson's seven runs batted in. Anderson has two doubles and a home run. » September 27, 1996: The Angels score two runs in the top half of the 15th inning, then hold on as Texas fights back for one in their half, to earn a 4-3 victory. LF Garret Anderson gets six hits for California and drives home three runs. » April 29, 1997: At Boston, CF Shane Mack is the only outfielder not to throw out a runner. All three California outfielders -- Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson and Orlando Palmeiro -- do it, while Red Sox starting LF Wil Cordero and Troy O'Leary, who replaced Rudy Pemberton in RF, register one. The Angels win the contest by a score of 5–4. Tomorrow, Anderson and Cordero will throw out runners again. » May 12, 1997: The Angels tie a franchise record by scoring 13 runs in the 7th inning to beat the White Sox, 16–8. Garret Anderson's single drives in 2, including the go-ahead run, and Jim Edmonds adds a 2-run homer in the big inning. Jim Leyritz has three hits and four RBIs. » May 21, 2000: A major league record six grand slams are hit on the day, breaking the record of five which was set last year. The record-breaker was hit by Anaheim OF Garret Anderson off KC P Chris Fussell in the Angels' 10-6 loss to the Royals. » May 28, 2000: The Angels defeat the Royals, 8-4, smashing four home runs in a 6-run 5th inning. Darin Erstad hit the 1st, then one out later, Mo Vaughn, Tim Salmon, and Garret Anderson followed with consecutive blasts. » August 27, 2000: The Angels edge the Indians, 10-9 as OF Tim Salmon hits his 30th home run of the year in the 5th inning. Anaheim become the first team in AL history to have four players (Troy Glaus, Mo Vaughn, Garret Anderson, Salmon) reach the 30-homer mark in a single season. The Blue Jays are close with two hitters over 30 and two at 28. It's been done seven times in the NL. » June 8, 2001: Ismael Valdes pitches six 2/3 innings and Garret Anderson homers off Giovanni Carrara to give the Angels a 1–0 win over the Dodgers. » September 5, 2002: Anaheim beats Tampa Bay, 10–1, as OF Garret Anderson homers twice and drives home seven runs. » October 2, 2002: The Angels even their series with the Yankees at one game apiece by coming from behind to take an 8–6 decision. Anaheim gets home runs from Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson, Troy Glaus, and Scott Spiezio while Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter stroke round–trippers for NY. Francisco Rodriguez gets his 1st ML win in relief. » October 27, 2002: The Angels win their 1st World Series ever as they defeat the Giants, 4–1, in Game 7. Rookie John Lackey gets the Series–clinching win. Garret Anderson's bases loaded 2B in the 3rd inning scores three runs for Anaheim. Troy Glaus is named Series MVP.