Garret Anderson, the Los Angeles Angels' all-time hits leader, was suffering from serious liver and heart conditions when he died last month, according to the Orange County coroner's office.
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Anderson died of acute necrotizing pancreatitis, the coroner determined. The former outfielder also had a massive fatty liver and hypertensive-type cardiovascular disease, autopsy findings showed.
The examination revealed that Anderson had severe hepatic steatosis, an advanced stage of fat accumulation in the liver. A normal adult male liver weighs about 3 to 4 pounds, but Anderson's weighed nearly 9.2 pounds, officials said.
He also had cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart. A typical adult heart weighs 250 to 350 grams, while Anderson's weighed 450 grams. Autopsy results showed thickening in the left ventricle, consistent with long-standing high blood pressure.
Despite those conditions, the coroner listed acute necrotizing pancreatitis as the primary cause of death.
Anderson, 51, was pronounced dead at 2:21 p.m. PT on April 16 at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, California, near Angel Stadium, where he played for 15 seasons with the Angels.
He spent the bulk of his career with the Angels, playing 15 seasons with the organization after being drafted in 1990. He made three All-Star teams and was a key part of the club's World Series championship run.
He also won the Home Run Derby in 2003 and later finished his career with the Braves and Dodgers.
