Former Tigers draft pick Billy Bean, selected in the fourth round in 1986, left a lasting impact on MLB after his death. Bean, who made his debut with the Tigers on April 25, 1987, tied an MLB record by collecting four hits in his first game. He spent over two years in Detroit before being traded to the Dodgers and later played a season in Japan’s NPB. Upon returning to MLB, he played for the Padres for three seasons before retiring in 1995.
Bean’s MLB career spanned only six years, but he returned to the sport in 2014 when he joined then-commissioner Bud Selig’s office as MLB’s Ambassador for Inclusion. When Rob Manfred became commissioner, he brought Bean on board as a senior advisor, and Bean was later promoted twice, eventually becoming MLB’s Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
As one of only three major league players to publicly come out as gay, Bean dedicated the latter part of his life to LGBTQ inclusion, mental health awareness, and anti-bullying efforts within baseball.
Diagnosed with leukemia in 2023, Bean passed away in his Oakland home on August 6 at the age of 60. Although Bean didn’t publicly disclose his sexuality until 1999, three years after his retirement, he had openly shared his struggles as a closeted gay man during his playing days, including the loss of his partner to AIDS-related complications in the same year he retired. Bean vowed to prioritize his personal life over baseball if he ever found love again.
Despite this, he returned to the sport decades later, dedicating his career to making baseball a welcoming environment for LGBTQ players and fans. During Bean’s time as MLB’s Senior VP of DEI, 29 out of 30 teams introduced annual Pride Nights, with the Texas Rangers being the sole exception.
In a statement on Bean’s passing, Rob Manfred said, “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. Billy was a friend to countless people across our game, and he made a difference through his constant dedication to others.”
Bean will be remembered for his significant contributions to the game and for fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment in baseball, despite the challenges he faced.
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