Former Mets Slugger Butch Huskey Passes Away at 54
Former Major League Baseball outfielder and third baseman Butch Huskey has died at the age of 54. The New York Mets confirmed the passing of the Oklahoma native via an official statement on August 14.
Development and Mets Career (1989–1998)
Selected by the Mets in the seventh round of the 1989 MLB Draft out of high school, Huskey spent four years in the minor league system before making his major league debut in 1993. Over six seasons in New York (1993–1998), he compiled a .267 batting average, 55 home runs, and 214 RBIs across 414 games, establishing himself as a primary power source in the Mets’ middle-of-the-order rotation.
Peak Performance and the 1997 Campaign
Huskey’s most productive major league season came in 1997, when he posted career highs in games played (142), plate appearances (505), home runs (24), RBIs (81), slugging percentage (.503), and an adjusted OPS+ of 114. That year, he displayed upper-echelon raw power, most notably on September 15, 1997, when he hit a home run off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Beech into Section 638 of Veterans Stadium’s upper deck—joining Willie Stargell and Rubén Rivera as the only players to reach that tier.
Historical Significance: Wearing No. 42
Beyond standard offensive metrics, Huskey holds a unique place in baseball history as the penultimate player to wear uniform No. 42 for the Mets. When MLB universally retired the number in April 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson, active players wearing the number were grandfathered in, linking Huskey directly to a pivotal milestone in the sport’s cultural history.
Later Career and Final Seasons (1999–2000)
In December 1998, Mets General Manager Steve Phillips traded Huskey to the Seattle Mariners. After 74 games in Seattle, he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox during their 1999 American League Championship Series run. Huskey concluded his seven-year MLB career in 2000, splitting time between the Minnesota Twins and the Colorado Rockies. He retired with career totals of an adjusted .760 OPS, 86 home runs, and 336 RBIs across 634 MLB games.
