Billy Bean, one of the first athletes in American team sports to come out as gay, died Tuesday, 11 months after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 60.
An outfielder and first baseman who played in parts of six MLB seasons, Bean most recently served as the league’s senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion and as special assistant to the commissioner. He also served on the MLB owners’ DE&I Committee.
“Our hearts are broken today as we mourn our dear friend and colleague, Billy Bean, one of the kindest and most respected individuals I have ever known,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Billy was a friend to countless people across our game, and he made a difference through his constant dedication to others. He made baseball a better institution, both on and off the field, by the power of his example, his empathy, his communication skills, his deep relationships inside and outside our sport, and his commitment to doing the right thing.
“We are forever grateful for the enduring impact that Billy made on the game he loved, and we will never forget him. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Billy’s husband, Greg Baker, and their entire family.”
Bean worked for the Office of the Commissioner since 2014, when then-commissioner Bud Selig hired him as the league’s first-ever ambassador for inclusion.
Bean came out as gay to his parents in 1996, a year after his final game in the major leagues. He came out publicly in 1999 in an interview with the Miami Herald.
He was the second MLB player to publicly come out, following outfielder Glenn Burke, who came out in 1982 after a short playing career in the 1970s.
Bean batted .226 with five home runs and 53 RBIs in 272 career games for the Detroit Tigers (1987-89), Los Angeles Dodgers (1989) and San Diego Padres (1993-95).
–Field Level Media
