Bill Bean, MLB’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and inclusion, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Francisco Giants in 2016 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Chris O’Meara/AP
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Chris O’Meara/AP
NEW YORK (AP) — Billy Bean, who became the second former Major League Baseball player to come out as gay in 1999 before becoming the league’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, has died. He was 60.
MLB released a statement confirming his death. Bean died at his home Tuesday after a year-long battle with acute myeloid leukemia.
A California native, he played six seasons in the major leagues from 1987 to 1995, debuting with the Detroit Tigers with four hits, tying a record for a player in his debut game. He also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. He was a two-time All-American outfielder at Loyola Marymount, leading the team to the NCAA Men’s College World Series in 1986.
Bean wrote a book called “Going the Other Way” and has also been a keynote speaker at numerous events. He publicly came out in 1999, becoming the second former major league player to do so after Glenn Burke.
Bean joined the commissioner’s office in 2014, when he was hired by former commissioner Bud Selig to be MLB’s first ambassador for inclusion. He spent more than 10 years working for MLB, before being promoted to senior vice president.
Bean has worked with MLB clubs to “advance equality for all players, coaches, managers, umpires, employees and stakeholders across baseball to ensure a fair, inclusive and supportive workplace for all.”
“Our hearts are broken today as we mourn our dear friend and colleague, Billy Bean, one of the kindest and most respected people I have ever known,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Billy was a friend to countless people in our game, and he made a difference through his unwavering dedication to others.”
