OAN Staff James Meyers
10:22 AM – Wednesday, August 6, 2024
Major League Baseball (MLB) executive Billy Bean died on Tuesday at the age of 60 from “acute myeloid leukemia,” the league announced.
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Bean had been serving in multiple roles in MLB’s national office, including senior VP for diversity, equity, and inclusion and special assistant to the commissioner.
Additionally, Bean played in the MLB for six years, with stints from 1987 to 1995 for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres.
He also publicly came out as homosexual in 1999, the second former major league player to do so after Glenn Burke.
“Over the last 10 years, Billy worked passionately and tirelessly with MLB and all 30 Clubs, focusing on player education, LGBTQ inclusion, and social justice initiatives to advance equality in the game for all,” the statement reads.
“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.”
For clarification, Bean was not the former general manager of the Oakland Athletics who shares the same name, Billy Beane, who was also depicted in the 2011 biographical film “Moneyball.”
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