Butch Huskey, a popular former outfielder for the New York Mets, died Friday at the age of 54, the team announced. His passing was attributed to a pulmonary embolism, according to reports.
Huskey was among the final Major League Baseball players to wear the No. 42, a number retired in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson, who broke the sport's color barrier. Huskey, like a few other players at the time, was granted a grandfather clause that allowed him to continue wearing the iconic jersey for several additional seasons.
He recalled the significance of the number in a 2022 interview, stating, "It was a great feeling [to get to continue] to wear that number." He also mentioned having Robinson's wife, Rachel, sign the jersey he wore on April 15, 1997, the day the number was officially retired across MLB. "For the whole league to be wearing the jersey is amazing," Huskey said.
Huskey began his professional career after being selected by the Mets in the seventh round of the amateur draft out of Eisenhower High School in Lawton, Oklahoma, where he was also an accomplished tight end in football. He received a scholarship offer to play college football for the Oklahoma Sooners but chose to pursue baseball.
He made his MLB debut in 1993, but his playing time and performance in the majors didn't fully materialize until the 1995 season, partly due to the 1994 strike. By 1996, Huskey was platooning at first base, hitting 15 home runs with a .278 batting average.
His most productive offensive season came in 1997, with a career-high 505 plate appearances, 24 home runs, and a .287 average. However, he was shifted to third base that year, a position he did not find as comfortable, and later moved to right field as a reserve player. Over the following two years, Huskey played for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, and Colorado Rockies before concluding his career in 2001 with the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate.
News of his passing prompted an outpouring of memories from Mets fans. One social media post recalled an interaction during spring training in 2000 where Huskey gave a young fan his bat and then guided him around the dugout for autographs from numerous players.
Another fan shared, "One of those players you looked forward to getting his chance, enjoyed while he was doing his best for your team, and now and then looked back on fondly when his name crossed your mind. Thanks for the Met times, Butch."