Billy Bean, the first MLB player to come out as gay, has died

Billy Bean, who until now served as Major League Baseball’s senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion and the first openly gay Major League baseball player, died Tuesday after a short battle with leukemia.

Just eight months after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, Bean ended up losing the battle against cancer, despite the efforts of his entourage and Major League Baseball itself to provide him with the necessary care to safeguard his life.

In fact, on December 4, the date on which the former Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres player’s illness was announced, his situation was made public during an auction that sought to raise several thousand dollars that would be donated to his treatment.

The auction included, among other things, the opportunity to acquire autographed sports equipment from different Major League players, the opportunity to meet and spend time with Mike Trout, as well as join the Tampa Bay Rays broadcast team for a day, among others.

On that occasion, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, who was present at the auction announcement, expressed to Bean his desire to take care of him and expressed the great appreciation he has for him.

“I know it’s really hard for you right now, Billy, and it’s our turn to take care of you. It’s time for you to sit back and let us love you and take care of you,” Lovullo said at the time.

Thanks to the coordinated action of Major League Baseball in favor of Bean’s health, the former player himself was surprised by the support he was receiving from his baseball entourage.

“You never know what opportunity baseball offers. Someone is going to pay attention that they might not otherwise. Hopefully what we’re doing today has saved a life,” he also said in December.

Bean will be remembered, among other things, for being the first Major League player to get four hits on the same day of his debut.

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