Billy Bean, the Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the league, succumbed to his 11-month struggle with acute myeloid leukemia on Tuesday, dying at his residence at the age of 60. He received his diagnosis in September of the previous year.
Baseball trailblazer Billy Bean, who dedicated life to inclusion dies at 60.
Today, we are filled with sorrow as we remember our beloved friend and colleague, Billy Bean, who was one of the most compassionate and esteemed individuals I have ever encountered, stated Commissioner Rob Manfred. “Billy was a friend to many within our sport, and his unwavering commitment to others truly made a difference. He enhanced the game of Baseball, both on the field and beyond, through his exemplary character, empathy, exceptional communication abilities, and the profound relationships he cultivated within and outside our community. His dedication to integrity was remarkable. We will always cherish the lasting influence that Billy had on the game he cherished, and he will remain in our memories. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Billy’s husband, Greg Baker, and their entire family.”
Bean, originally from Santa Ana, California, was the sole openly gay player in Major League Baseball, whether current or former, having publicly come out in 1999. Selected by Detroit in the fourth round of the 1986 Draft, he played for the Tigers, Dodgers, and Padres between 1987 and 1995, accumulating 519 plate appearances over the course of 272 career games.
The choice to retire at the age of 31 was a challenging one for him; however, he concluded that continuing as a closeted baseball player was no longer sustainable. He felt that both he and the sport were unprepared for an openly gay athlete. It was not until 1999, over three years after his last game, that Bean publicly came out, making him only the second player in history to do so. (The first was Glenn Burke, who retired in 1979 and came out in 1982, passing away in 1995.)
Bean emerged as a prominent figure in national news, attracting coverage from major media organizations such as the New York Times, CNN, and ABC. In 2003, he released his memoir titled “Going the Other Way,” which achieved the status of a national bestseller.
In 2018, Bean remarked, “In contemporary society, the availability of information has significantly increased. Individuals are now able to self-identify at a much younger age, and supportive families and parents are educating their children about a wide array of topics. This fosters an accelerated development process. I found myself in a rather primitive environment.”
Bean became a member of the Office of the Commissioner in July 2014, appointed by former Commissioner Bud Selig as Major League Baseball’s inaugural Ambassador for Inclusion. In his capacity as a senior advisor to Manfred, Bean concentrated on player education, promoting LGBTQ inclusion, and advancing social justice initiatives.
We mourn the passing of Billy Bean, a former Dodger and pioneering executive who as MLB’s Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion truly elevated the culture and spirit of the game he loved. pic.twitter.com/fFykeWFWbi
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2024
In March 2017, Major League Baseball elevated Bean to the position of Vice President and Special Assistant to the Commissioner, entrusting him with the responsibility of advancing anti-bullying initiatives. Five years later, he received a further promotion to Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Bean was a member of the MLB Owners’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, playing a crucial role in the creation of MLB’s bullying prevention education initiatives. He contributed to the league’s endorsement of Spirit Day, the ‘Ahead in the Count’ educational program, and the promotion of MLB’s mental wellness resources. Additionally, Bean has served as a keynote speaker in various forums, both within and beyond the realm of professional sports.
Following his diagnosis in September of the previous year, Bean publicly announced it in December. The annual Winter Meetings Charity Auction organized by MLB benefited Stand Up to Cancer, a cause chosen after both Bean and Catalina Villegas, MLB’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, received cancer diagnoses in 2023.
Bean remarked at the commencement of the auction, “The opportunities that baseball presents are often unpredictable. There may be individuals who take notice now who otherwise would not have. It is our hope that our efforts have contributed to saving a life today.”