Billy Bean, who in 1999 grew to become the second former Main League Baseball participant to come back out as homosexual and later grew to become the game’s senior vice chairman for variety, fairness and inclusion, has died. He was 60.

MLB launched an announcement confirming his dying. Bean died at dwelling on Tuesday practically a 12 months after he was recognized with acute myeloid leukemia.

The California native performed in six large league seasons from 1987 to 1995, making his debut with the Detroit Tigers in a four-hit efficiency that tied a document for a participant in his first sport. He additionally performed for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. He was a two-time All-American outfielder at Loyola Marymount, main the group to the Males’s School World Sequence in 1986.

Bean wrote a e book titled “Going the Different Method” and was typically a keynote speaker at occasions. He publicly got here out as homosexual in 1999, the second former main leaguer to take action. Glenn Burke was the primary, popping out to most people in 1982.

Bean joined the commissioner’s workplace in 2014, when he was employed by former commissioner Bud Selig to be MLB’s first ambassador for inclusion. He spent greater than 10 years working for MLB and was ultimately promoted to senior vice chairman.

Bean labored with MLB golf equipment to “advance equality for all gamers, coaches, managers, umpires, staff, and stakeholders all through baseball to make sure an equitable, inclusive, and supportive office for everybody.”

“Our hearts are damaged right this moment as we mourn our expensive pal and colleague, Billy Bean, one of many kindest and most revered people I’ve ever recognized,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred mentioned in an announcement. “Billy was a pal to numerous folks throughout our sport, and he made a distinction via his fixed dedication to others.”

Data from The Related Press was used on this report.