Former New York Mets outfielder Butch Huskey died at age 54, the team announced on August 14. The cause of death was a blood clot in his lungs, according to Mets public relations director Jay Horwitz.
Huskey, who played seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1993 to 2000, spent the majority of his career with the Mets, appearing in 142 games in 1997—his most productive season. That year, he set career highs with 24 home runs, 81 RBIs, a .287 batting average, and an .822 OPS. He finished his playing career with a .267/.318/.442 slash line, 86 home runs, and 336 RBIs.
Huskey began his MLB career with the Mets, debuting in 1993 and wearing No. 10 before switching to Jackie Robinson’s retired No. 42 in 1995. Though MLB retired the number league-wide in 1997, Huskey was among those grandfathered in to continue wearing it. He remained the last Mariners player to wear No. 42, and only four other players—Mo Vaughn, Mariano Rivera, Michael Jackson, and Jose Lima—wore the number after him.
Following his time with the Mets, Huskey played for the Seattle Mariners (1999), Boston Red Sox (1999), Minnesota Twins (2000), and Colorado Rockies (2000). His final MLB season included a brief stint with the Red Sox, who reached the American League Championship Series before losing to the New York Yankees.
Huskey is survived by his wife Kristy, daughters Kennedy and Kyrbi, and son Bryce. Mets manager Andy Green, who did not play alongside Huskey, offered condolences during a pregame press conference, stating, “I just 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 today.”
Horwitz, who worked with Huskey, recalled his impact on teammates and fans, noting that former players reached out to confirm the news. “Butch was always a joy to speak to on the phone,” Horwitz said. “I must have gotten at least 20 calls today from former teammates asking if the news was true.”