Billy Bean, the gay MLB executive who came out publicly only a few years after his retirement as a player, has died. He was 60.
Last year Bean revealed that he was battling an aggressive form of leukemia. MLB and others rallied to find him a bone-marrow donor match. Unfortunately, the search for the donor and his health concerns never matched, and he was unable to get the procedure he needed to survie.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred sent a message to the club owners in the league earlier today to share the news.
“We were so fortunate to call Billy a colleague for the last decade, during which time he made a substantial impact across our industry, including at the Commissioner’s Office, at the Club level, and among our players and fans,” Manfred wrote. “He was a remarkable human being. I know how much Billy meant to so many across our great game. I only take a measure of comfort in knowing that his generosity and kindness made our world, both in Baseball and beyond, a better place, and we will always cherish his memory.”
Get off the sidelines and into the game
Our weekly newsletter is packed with everything from locker room chatter to pressing LGBTQ sports issues.
We are sharing Manfred’s full message to MLB team owners below.
Bean played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres during his MLB playing days. He famously came out 25 years ago, after retirement, in a profile of him and his then-partner.
Bean’s story resonated with so many, as his harrowing personal journey included publicly ignoring the death of his former partner to keep his same-sex relationship a secret from anyone in baseball, as he was playing for the Padres at the time.
Since then, Bean has gone on to advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in baseball, and sports in general.
Out gay SVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers Erik Braverman called Bean an inspiration.
“Billy was not only a mentor but also a very close friend. Before his time with MLB, he was my next-door neighbor in West Hollywood,” Braverman told Outsports. “During his tenure with the league, he inspired and taught countless individuals, including myself. My heart goes out to his husband, Greg, and to all who were fortunate enough to share their lives with him.”
Last year, Outsports named Bean the 11th most powerful LGBTQ person in American sports.
Chris Bull, who co-wrote Billy’s autobiography and is the editorial director of Q.Digital, shared some thoughts with Outsports on Bean’s passing.
“More than two decades ago, I spent a year on and off with Billy Bean at his Miami home, helping his write his memoir, Going the Other Way: Lessons from a Life in and Out of Major-League Baseball.
“In that time, we became fast friends. We explored the city in our downtime, and I confessed to him that it was my dream, as a frustrated baseball player and huge fan, to play catch with him. He made a point to throw the ball around with me not once but every time I saw him, knowing it meant something to me. Looking back now, his kindness and willingness to help others stand out. It became clear that he felt a kind of Hobson’s choice between his baseball career and living proudly and freely as a gay man in a relationship. Or, as he put it, heartbreakingly, choosing between ‘the love of his life and the game he loved,’ having retired prematurely when he came out.
“As a result, he made a second career, working for MLB, to make sure other young athletes would never have to make this choice. His mission is not yet complete, as homophobia still pervades the game, but by his example alone, he has made historic strides. Now, it is up to us to continue this legacy.”
Outsports’ thoughts go out to Billy’s family and his husband, Greg. We will never forget him.
Read Rob Manfred’s full message to the league:
“It is with profound sadness that I share with you the devastating news that our colleague Billy Bean, Major League Baseball’s Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and a Special Assistant to the Commissioner, passed away earlier today at the age of 60. As most of you know, Billy fought Acute Myeloid Leukemia with incredible courage for the last year.
“Billy worked with the 30 Clubs and MLB staff to advance equality for all players, coaches, managers, umpires, employees, and stakeholders, with the goal of ensuring an equitable, inclusive, and supportive workplace for everyone. With his unique perspective as a former Major Leaguer himself, he prioritized respect, teamwork, education and dedication to others. Internally at MLB, Billy was an invaluable resource to numerous Employee Resource Groups. While there is always more work to do, we should be proud of the strides we have made thanks to Billy’s determination and tireless efforts.
“We were so fortunate to call Billy a colleague for the last decade, during which time he made a substantial impact across our industry, including at the Commissioner’s Office, at the Club level, and among our players and fans. He was a remarkable human being. I know how much Billy meant to so many across our great game. I only take a measure of comfort in knowing that his generosity and kindness made our world, both in Baseball and beyond, a better place, and we will always cherish his memory.
“We are in communication with Billy’s husband Greg, and we will share plans for celebration of life services and other updates as available. We will announce this news publicly later today. I ask that each home club observe a moment of silence tonight in Billy’s memory.
“On this very sad day for our game, I thank you for joining me in remembering a life well lived and in honoring a legacy that we will never forget.”
