Former Angels star Garret Anderson died at age 53 from acute necrotizing pancreatitis — the death of the tissue caused by severe inflammation — the Orange County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday, April 21.
Sgt. Gerard McCann said Anderson’s death on April 16 at his home in Newport Beach was classified as natural.
The pancreas regulates blood sugar and helps with digestion. If it fails, digestion becomes difficult and blood sugar can rise to dangerous levels.
“You need to have a pancreas that’s healthy in order for the other organs to survive,” said Dan Cupido, a retired Riverside County chief deputy coroner.
Cupido said acute necrotizing pancreatitis “is a demon. When it gets bad, it gets really bad, and you can go really quick.”
He said Anderson would have experienced symptoms such as jaundice and would have been very sick before he died. The disease, Cupido said, can be treated.
“He didn’t just suddenly collapse,” Cupido said.
Newport Beach fire paramedics responded to Anderson’s home after receiving a 911 call on April 16, said Heather Rangel, a spokeswoman for the Police Department.
The Angels announced the death of one of the greatest players in franchise history on Friday and honored him that night before the game with a video tribute and a moment of silence. Players and coaches are wearing a memorial patch on their uniforms for the rest of the season.
Anderson, a three-time all-star from Kennedy High in Granada Hills, played 17 major league seasons, including 15 with the Angels. He is the team’s all-time leader in games (2,013), hits (2,368), runs batted in (1,292), doubles (489), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796) and grand slams (eight).
Anderson’s three-run double in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series against the San Francisco Giants put the Angels ahead to stay in a 4-1 victory that gave the franchise its only World Series championship. He finished fourth in American League Most Valuable Player balloting that season.