Freddie Freeman Remembers Garrett Anderson

DENVER – Freddie Freeman carved out a likely Hall of Fame career with a straightforward offensive strategy.

“My dad always said, ‘Hit the ball to left field,'” Freeman shared.

Growing up in Orange County, Garrett Anderson became one of my all-time favorite players.

“As a left-handed hitter, you see that he can easily hit a line drive to left field, and I think he truly can,” Freeman noted. “He definitely made watching baseball more enjoyable for me as a kid.”

This is why the recent news of Anderson’s passing at 53 hit Freeman particularly hard. He not only admired Anderson from the stands but later developed a friendship with the three-time All-Star as his own MLB career progressed.

“People often say, ‘Don’t meet your heroes,'” Freeman told the California Post. “But when I did, I thought, ‘I’m so glad I did,’ because he was an amazing person. It’s a huge loss. He meant a lot to so many… I was simply speechless.”

Freeman, who was a devoted Angels fan in his youth, admired how Anderson’s batting style consistently sent many of his 2,529 hits soaring over the heads of infielders.

This skill served as motivation for Freeman, providing him with a role model that resembled his own traits as a tall, lanky left-handed hitter aiming for the other side of the field.

“I loved watching Garrett hit and Darin Erstad’s defense,” Freeman reminisced about attending Angels games with his father. “When you see a major leaguer doing exactly what he was taught, you can’t help but be drawn to them.”

Eventually, Freeman’s own career placed him in a situation to interact with Anderson.

Back in 2009, they crossed paths during spring training with the Braves, when Freeman was a teenage prospect and Anderson was a veteran who had recently left the Angels.

Freeman recalls a brief encounter with Anderson, stretching together on the field, but he never disclosed his long-standing admiration for him, even joking that it took until 2019 for Anderson to realize he was Freeman’s favorite player.

Freeman’s admiration didn’t stop there. He fondly recalled how both their families connected while growing up in Orange County.

In fact, the Anderson kids met Freeman’s family through attending Orange Lutheran Church, where one of his uncles worked.

In recent years, the two became occasional golf partners, enjoying rounds at Shady Canyon Golf Club in Irvine.

Freeman’s favorite moments with Anderson included visits to Angel Stadium during his time with the Dodgers. If Anderson was in attendance, Freeman would excitedly wave to the Dodgers’ team photographer for a photo.

“I’d yell, ‘John! John! Snap a picture of me with my favorite player!'” Freeman recalled with amusement.

Like many in baseball, Freeman was taken aback by the news of Anderson’s death on Friday.

“53 is far too young,” he remarked. “To know him was a treasure; he was genuinely a kind, honest, and wonderful human.”

At one moment, he nearly choked up while talking about Anderson’s impact on him.

“Saying he was ‘my favorite player’ has become bittersweet, but I’d rather not dwell on sadness. He brought so much joy to countless people,” Freeman expressed.