The baseball world is mourning this weekend after news came out on Friday that former outfielder Garret Anderson tragically passed away at 53 years of age. The passing of Anderson especially hit Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Freddie Freeman hard, as he grew up idolizing the ex-Los Angeles Angels star in Orange County.
Speaking to the California Post on Friday, Freeman had an extremely heartwarming reaction to Anderson’s death.
“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 grew up an Angels fan, and closely studied the way Anderson went about his business offensively.
Freddie Freeman Heartbroken Over Anderson’s Death
Freeman is also a left-handed hitter, just like Anderson was. The three-time World Series champion said Anderson’s ability to spray balls to the opposite field made him fall in love with America’s Pastime and awoke the big league dream within him.
“As a left-handed hitter, seeing him be able to hit line drives to left field whenever it felt like he pleased, he could do it,” Freeman said. “He made me, as a little boy, love watching the game of baseball.”
The Dodgers first baseman explained how his own father was teaching him exactly what Anderson was doing on a regular basis during his impressive career with the Halos.
“I just loved watching Garret hit and Darin Erstad play defense,” Freeman recalled of going to Angels games as a kid with his dad. “When you’re taught to hit the ball to left field, and then you see a major leaguer who is pretty much doing what you’re being taught to do, you gravitate toward him.”
Freeman Built Relationship With Anderson
GettyFreddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Freeman, who was drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft, had the chance to meet and build a relationship with Anderson in the Atlanta Braves‘ spring training in 2009. Freeman was just a lanky teenager full of talent, while Anderson was already 16 years into his MLB career.
Freeman revealed he was starstruck in camp, able to stretch alongside Anderson, but he never told the outfielder he was his idol. Anderson didn’t learn that until 2019.
Family ties also brought them close together in recent years, as revealed by the NY Post. Freeman’s uncle worked at the same high school that Anderson’s children attended, so it wasn’t long until Freeman and he were also golf partners from time to time.
Anderson collected 2,529 hits in his big league career and also won a World Series in 2002 with the Angels. Needless to say, he also attracted Freeman to the sport, and the 36-year-old will forever have a special place in his heart for Anderson.
RIP.
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