Garret Anderson Died of Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis, Coroner Confirms

The cause of death has now been confirmed — and it wasn’t what his family initially said.

Garret Anderson, the Los Angeles Angels World Series champion and four-time All-Star outfielder, died on April 16 at the age of 53. His wife Teresa had described it as a heart attack. The Orange County Coroner’s Office has since released the official finding: acute necrotizing pancreatitis — a severe condition in which pancreatic tissue breaks down, triggering organ failure.

Anderson spent 16 seasons with the Angels, won the 2002 World Series, and hit 287 career home runs. He was one of the most consistent players of his generation and a cornerstone of the Angels’ golden era.

The baseball world mourns one of the quiet greats. He was 53.