Major League Baseball executive and former outfielder/first baseman Billy Bean has died, MLB announced Tuesday. He was 60.
Bean’s cause of death was acute myeloid leukemia, according to MLB.
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Bean, who played parts of six MLB seasons between 1987 and 1995, became one of the first MLB players to come out as gay in 1999. He served as the league’s first ambassador for inclusion from 2014 to 2016, when he was named MLB’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, a position he held until his death.
“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 news release. “Billy was a friend to countless people across our game, and he made a difference through his constant dedication to others. He made Baseball a better institution, …