Lions Legend Billy Bean Passes Away

LOS ANGELES – The Lions community mourns the passing of former Lions baseball player and MLB executive Billy Bean. Bean passed away after a year-long battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. 

 

Bean etched his mark in LMU lore with back-to-back All-American seasons in 1985 and 1986. After passing on a hefty signing bonus after his junior season, Bean returned to lead the Lions to a 50-15 season, three weeks ranked at No. 1 and a trip to Omaha, Neb. To participate in the Lions only run to the College World Series. 

 

Bean came out publicly in 1999 and has been a champion of inclusion ever since. He was named the MLB’s first Ambassador of Inclusion in 2014 with his most recent title being the Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Special Assistant to the Commissioner.  

 

Bean played professionally in the MLB as well as in Japan before retiring in 1995.  

 

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred called Bean “one of the kindest and most respected individuals I have ever known” and someone who “made baseball a better institution, both on and off the field.” 

 

Bean is near the top of almost every major offensive category in the Lions record book and will always be remembered for leading the Lions to Omaha.  

 

Bean was inducted into the LMU Hall of Fame in 1992 and will forever be enshrined in the halls of the university.