In nearly every hitting statistic, the Angels’ franchise leaders are, in some order, the same three names: Mike Trout, who’s enjoying a career resurgence to begin 2026; Tim Salmon, the original “King Fish”; and Garret Anderson, whose sudden passing was announced by the team Friday. He was 53.
In most cases, it’s Trout, the future Hall of Famer, and Salmon who are looking up at Anderson. The 17-year veteran, 15 of which were spent in Anaheim, is the team’s all-time leader in hits (2,368), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and games played (2,013). The peak of his career coincided with the franchise’s glory days: from the Angels’ inception in 1961 to 2001, the team managed three playoff appearances in 41 years, never winning a series. From ‘02 to ‘08, Anderson’s final seven seasons with the club, they made the postseason six times, highlighted by the organization’s only World Series championship in ‘02.
