Sad news today about the death of the iconic Billy Bean, one of Major League Baseball’s first openly gay former players and who became such a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ equality in sports. 60 year old Bean died earlier this week after a year long battle with acute myeloid leukemia
“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.” On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Billy’s husband, Greg Baker, and their entire family.”
Professional sports is still one of the last bastions of homophobia and it still takes a big set of balls to be a trailblazer and risk a promising career for the sake of being true to oneself. Even now despite Bean’s example there have still been just a mere brave 14 out gay players in Major League and minor league baseball history.
He retired from playing in 1995 but in July 2014, he was named MLB’s first ambassador for inclusion and then in 2016, Bean became MLB’s vice president, ambassador for inclusion and was senior vice president and special assistant to the commissioner
R.I.P. Billy Bean May 11, 1964. August 6, 2024
