Bean's presence gets permanent post at MLB headquarters on Spirit Day

NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball commemorates Spirit Day every year in October, but the celebration on Thursday was a little more poignant than in the past, because it was the first Spirit Day without Billy Bean.

Bean, who played in the Major Leagues for six years and was one of three openly gay former big leaguers in history (the others are TJ House and the late Glenn Burke), served as MLB’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and was a special assistant to Commissioner Rob Manfred. He passed away after an 11-month battle with leukemia on Aug. 6.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and on the third Thursday of the month, National Spirit Day is celebrated in support of LGBTQ+ youth and as a stand against LGBTQ+ bullying.

MLB commemorated the day with a celebration at its New York City headquarters, and unveiled plans to redesign and dedicate an area that will now be called the Billy Bean Terrace. Manfred addressed a crowded room of employees, noting how heartened Bean would be by all of his colleagues that were there to support the day.

Currently known as the East Terrace, Billy Bean Terrace will feature a garden and tree that will bloom every spring, as well as a plaque bearing lines from a poem in his honor, written by Bean’s parents.

Following his playing career, Bean became a champion for LGBTQ+ inclusion and stood firm against attacks and bullying against the community. Created by GLAAD -- a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ+ advocacy and cultural change -- Spirit Day is the world’s most recognizable anti-bullying movement focused on uplifting and championing LGBTQ+ youth.

“We want to make sure that we raise national awareness that all youth are aware of their strength,” said April Brown, senior vice president of social responsibility and diversity. “That all youth are wonderful, all youth are to be celebrated and supported and allowed to walk in their journey and walk in their authentic selves.”

Brown, who worked with Bean, is one of the many people who will continue to champion and celebrate the work he did.

“We greatly miss him, but continue to live his legacy through our principles each and every day,” she said.

According to research from GLAAD, 49 percent of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-17 experienced bullying in the past year, and those who did reported higher rates of attempting suicide in the past year as opposed to those who did not experience bullying.

MLB, its 30 clubs, as well as millions of others across the globe, wore the color purple, contributed to resource campaigns and championed initiatives aimed at uplifting youth who so often feel marginalized and excluded.

The unveiling event at MLB’s headquarters was hosted in partnership with the MLB Pride ERG, which is meant to foster a network of support for LGBTQ+ employees and allies. Derek Johnson is the Pride ERG co-chair and his team played a large role in the unveiling and presentation of the Billy Bean Terrace.

He shared what it meant to see the turnout and support for the unveiling and the celebration of Bean’s legacy.

“It just really shows his influence, throughout MLB as a whole, not only internal as far as the Commissioner's office, but it's all the clubs,” said Johnson. “And now everybody who comes to visit the office can see that and know the kind of impact he had.”

Catalina Villegas, MLB’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion, is another former colleague of Bean who also felt the impact of his leadership and what it meant to those around him.

“He really cared for you as a person. … He was a great part of our LGBTQ+ community,” Villegas said. “And he did so much to make sure that employees, fans, colleagues, everybody felt included, felt seen, felt heard.”

Professional sports athletes who are also members of the LGBTQ+ community have a tougher go at it when it comes to being accepted by their sporting peers, but Bean worked tirelessly to reverse that attitude in his sport. That will remain a key part of his legacy.

“I think at some point Billy felt that baseball didn't love him and he felt excluded,” Villegas said. “And now he could see that baseball loved him back.”