Former Tigers draft pick Billy Bean, who made a lasting impact on Major League Baseball, passed away after a battle with leukemia. Bean, a fourth-round pick for the Tigers in 1986, made an impressive debut on April 25, 1987, by tying an MLB record with four hits. He played two-plus years with Detroit before being traded to the Dodgers, later spending a season in Japan’s NPB. Upon returning to MLB, he played three seasons with the Padres before retiring in 1995.
Bean’s major league career spanned just six years, but he rejoined the baseball world in 2014 as MLB’s Ambassador for Inclusion under then-commissioner Bud Selig. He continued his work under Rob Manfred, 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 last years of his life to promoting LGBTQ inclusion, mental health awareness, and anti-bullying efforts in baseball.
Diagnosed with leukemia in 2023, Bean passed away at his Oakland home on August 6 at the age of 60. Bean didn’t publicly disclose his sexuality until 1999, three years after retiring from baseball. He openly discussed the challenges of being a closeted gay man in the majors and the loss of his partner to AIDS-related complications the same year he retired. He vowed never to let baseball overshadow his personal life again.
Despite this, Bean returned to baseball decades later, dedicating the rest of his career to making the sport a safer space for LGBTQ players and fans. During his tenure as MLB’s Senior VP of DEI, 29 out of 30 teams established annual Pride Nights, with the Texas Rangers being the only exception. Rob Manfred praised Bean, saying, “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.”
Billy Bean will be remembered for his significant contributions to baseball, especially in expanding the sport’s audience and fostering a supportive environment despite the challenges he faced.
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