Garret Anderson retires from baseball

TEMPE, Ariz., March 1 (UPI) -- Former all-star Garret Anderson, who won a World Series with Anaheim, announced Tuesday he's retiring after 17 seasons in the big leagues.

"I know I will miss many aspects of the game, the grind of playing every day, hitting with the game on the line, the clubhouse banter, making a good defensive play, the guys, the roar of the crowd after a win, and the friendships made throughout the years," Anderson said in a statement released by the Angels.

Anderson, 38, spent his first 15 seasons with the Angels, one with Atlanta and finished up with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he hit just .181 in 80 games.

The career .293 hitter finished with 2,529 hits, 1,365 RBI and 287 homers in 2,228 games. He was an all-star three times.

"Garret was an incredible player, one with a calm demeanor and quiet confidence that allowed him to excel in this game," Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said in a statement.

"He had a tremendous passion to play this game and a deep understanding of how to play to win and that was very important to this organization."

Anderson's three-run double in the 2002 World Series was the deciding hit in a Game 7 win over the San Francisco Giants.