MLB executive Billy Bean, one of the first openly gay figures in baseball, dies at 60 after battle with leukemia

MLB executive Billy Bean, one of the first openly gay figures in baseball, died at age 60 after a battle with leukemia, the league announced Tuesday.

Bean was MLB's Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and a Special Assistant to the Commissioner. He was hired by MLB as an Ambassador of Inclusion in 2014, the first role of its kind in baseball, before rising to his current post. He was diagnosed with leukemia in December.

In his 10 years working with the league, Bean focused on LGBTQ inclusion, social justice initiatives and player education, according to MLB. He worked with all 30 MLB clubs to advance equality for all players and employees.

In an MLB statement, commissioner Rob Manfred called Bean "one of the kindest and most respected individuals I have ever known."

"He made Baseball a better institution, both on and off the field, by the power of his example, his empathy, his communication skills, his deep relationships inside and outside our sport, and his commitment to doing the right thing," Manfred wrote.

An outfielder, Bean played for three MLB teams across eight years, starting with the Detroit Tigers in 1987 and spending a season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1989. He finished his career with the San Diego Padres from 1993 to 1995. Bean publicly came out as gay in 1999, becoming the second former player to do so, after Glenn Burke.