Aaron Boone, the New York Yankees manager, spoke on the impact and his sentiments following the loss of Billy Bean, the former MLB ambassador for inclusion and senior vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Bean, one of the first out homosexual former MLB players, died of cancer on Tuesday. Bean was chosen by the Yankees in 1985 and spent his major league career with the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres.
“Really easy to talk to, really easy to be around,” Boone told me. “Just a good guy, so definitely a sad day for our sport, but I also think that by creating the position that the commissioner created for him several years ago, I think created more tolerance in our sport and understanding that there are a lot more similarities between us than when we always focus on the differences.
“Billy was definitely a guy that definitely helped bring people together and move the needle in that regard, and he’s somebody that will be missed.”
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Billy Bean, MLB’s Senior VP for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Special Assistant to the Commissioner. Billy, who fought a heroic year-long battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, was 60.
Over the last 10 years,… pic.twitter.com/dCfFM6hQlE
— MLB (@MLB) August 6, 2024
Bean kept his gay orientation and connection with Sam a secret until Sam died of AIDS-related complications in April 1995. After the 1995 MLB season, Bean retired from baseball.
Bean came out as homosexual four years later, becoming only the second former Major League Baseball player to do so publicly, following Glenn Burke, who played briefly with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics in the 1970s.
Bean became MLB’s first inclusion ambassador in 2014, when Commissioner Bud Selig named him to the job.
“Major League Baseball is delighted that Billy, a member of the baseball family, will advise and represent our sport on a wide range of matters,” Selig said reporters at the time. “As a social institution, our game carries significant societal duties. Jackie Robinson’s dynamic legacy continues to be defined by inclusiveness, respect, and equal opportunity. I believe Billy will help us grow those fundamental concepts in a proactive manner, and he will be an invaluable resource to our Clubs, current and prospective players, and many others throughout our game.”
