Former New York Mets player Butch Huskey died on Friday. He was 54.
The team announced Huskey’s death prior to Friday’s game against the Washington Nationals. A cause of death was not revealed by the team.
“It’s a solemn day with the passing of Butch Huskey this morning,” interim manager Andy Green told reporters. “I want to send prayers and thoughts to his family. I know all of our Mets family is thinking of him and the people who love him.”
Huskey was a fan favorite during parts of five seasons with the Mets (1993, 1995-98) and batted .287 with career bests of 24 homers and 81 RBIs in 1997.
Huskey had 55 homers and 214 RBIs in 414 games for the Mets. He split the 1999 season between the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox – combining for 22 homers and 77 RBIs – and finished his career with the Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies in 2000.
Huskey also was one of the final players to regularly wear No. 42 after the number was retired in 1997 in honor of legendary Jackie Robinson. Major League Baseball allowed players who were wearing the number to continue using it. Huskey was the next-to-last Met to wear the number. Mo Vaughn was the final player to wear it for the Mets in 2002-03.
“To be able to sit back and see video every now and then of myself with the No. 42 on is still a special place,” Huskey said in 2022 while appearing on the MLB Network.
Huskey was the last played to regularly wear No. 42 for the Mariners.
Overall, Huskey batted .267 with 86 homers and 336 RBIs in 642 career games.
