Billy Bean, former MLB player and senior VP, dies after battle with leukemia

Billy Bean – a former MLB player who also served as its Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – died Tuesday, the league announced. He was 60 years old.

Bean played in the big leagues for 10 years and was the second MLB player to openly come out as gay. He announced his retirement in after the 1995 season, and after time away from the game, joined the league office. He is not related to Billy Beane, the former Oakland Athletics general manager who was a subject of the movie Moneyball.

Bean started as MLB’s first “Ambassador for Inclusion” in 2014 and later moved up to Vice President and Special Assistant to Commissioner Bud Selig in 2017. In 2022, Bean moved up to Senior VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

In September 2023, Bean received his diagnosis with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He made the announcement in December, and MLB supported its Stand Up to Cancer campaign during the Winter Meetings shortly thereafter.

“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,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred 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.”

During his playing career, Bean spent time with the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres from 1989-95. The New York Yankees initially drafted him, but he opted to stay at Loyola Marymount instead. He also played a season in Japan with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1992. All told, he had a .226 career average during his major-league career.

Along with his duties as MLB’s Senior VP, Bean served as the chair of the Owners’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. He also played a key role in building the league’s bullying prevention education program, as well as Spirit Day and the “Ahead of the Count” education program.