Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Dodgers and Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Billy Bean, the league’s Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, who passed away at 60 after an 11-month battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed deep sorrow, saying in a statement from the Commissioner’s Office, “Billy was a friend to countless people across our game, and he made a difference through his constant dedication to others.”
Billy Bean, not to be confused with similarly-named A’s exec Billy Beane of Moneyball fame, was the only living openly gay Major League player at the time of his death, having come out in 1999. Another former Dodger, Glenn Burke, had come out in 1982, but passed away in 1995 from complications from AIDS.
Drafted by Detroit in 1986, Bean played for the Tigers, Dodgers, and Padres from 1987-1995. During his time with the Dodgers (1991), Bean saw limited duty, hitting .197 and appearing in 57 games. His experience with the Dodgers was a pivotal period in his career, shaping his understanding of the game and his role within it. He played for the Padres for parts of three more seasons before finally retiring after the 1995 season.
Bean’s decision to retire at 31 stemmed from the challenges of being a closeted player. His story gained national attention, and in 2003, he published his memoir, “Going the Other Way,” which became a bestseller. Reflecting on the progress since then, Bean, quoted in an article on MLB.com, said in 2018, “Nowadays, there’s so much more information. Self-identification happens a lot earlier, and open-hearted families and parents teach their children about everything in the world.”
In July 2014, Bean joined the Office of the Commissioner as MLB’s first-ever Ambassador for Inclusion, focusing on player education, LGBTQ inclusion, and social justice. Promoted in 2017 to Vice President and Special Assistant to the Commissioner, and later to Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Bean was instrumental in MLB’s anti-bullying initiatives and mental wellness programs.
Following his diagnosis last September, Bean publicly shared his condition in December. The annual Winter Meetings Charity Auction supported Stand Up to Cancer, inspired by Bean and Catalina Villegas, MLB’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, who were both diagnosed with cancer in 2023. “You just never know the opportunity that baseball provides,” Bean remarked at the auction launch, highlighting the potential impact of their efforts.
DodgersBeat extends its deepest condolences to Bean’s husband, Greg Baker, and their family, honoring Bean’s enduring legacy and profound impact on the game and beyond.
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