MLB’s Billy Bean dies of leukemia
Billy Bean throws out the ceremonial first pitch to Seattle Mariners’ Felix Hernandez before a baseball game between the Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers Aug.
19, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) Billy Bean, the former MLB player who came out as gay in 1999 then went on to become the league’s senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, died Tuesday, Aug.
6, following a year-long battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 60 years old. He was the second pro baseball player to come out, after Glenn Burke who came out in 1982 after he had retired.
MLB Commissioner Ron Manfred issued a statement saying, “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.
