LOS ANGELES – The Lions community is mourning the loss of former baseball player and MLB executive Billy Bean, who passed away after a year-long fight with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Bean made a significant impact at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), achieving back-to-back All-American honors in 1985 and 1986. He chose to return for his senior year, forgoing a substantial signing bonus, and led the Lions to a remarkable 50-15 season, earning three weeks at No. 1 ranking and taking the team to Omaha, Nebraska, for their only appearance in the College World Series.
Publicly coming out in 1999, Bean became a strong advocate for inclusion, and in 2014, he was appointed as MLB’s first Ambassador of Inclusion. His most recent roles included Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Special Assistant to the Commissioner.
Bean had a professional baseball career in both the MLB and Japan before retiring in 1995.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred honored Bean as “one of the kindest and most respected individuals I have ever known,” praising his contributions to making baseball a better institution on and off the field.
Bean remains a prominent figure in the Lions’ record books, excelling in nearly every major offensive category, and will forever be remembered for his leadership in taking the Lions to Omaha.