Former Mariners OF Butch Huskey, one of the last to wear 42 in MLB, dies at 54

NEW YORK (AP) — Butch Huskey, a former Seattle Mariners outfielder who played seven major league seasons and was one of the last players to wear No. 42 before it was permanently retired, has died. He was 54.

The New York Mets said Huskey died because of a blood clot in his lung.

“We are saddened to learn about the passing of former Met Butch Huskey,” the Mets said in a statement on Friday.

Huskey, who was born and raised in Anadarko, Oklahoma, continued to wear No. 42 after Major League Baseball retired it in honor of Jackie Robinson in 1997. Players who wore the number at the time were permitted to continue wearing it until they stopped playing.

Huskey wore No. 10 during his rookie season in 1993, No. 44 in 1998 with the Boston Red Sox and No. 35 with the Colorado Rockies in 2000. Otherwise, he wore No. 42. The Mets selected Huskey in the seventh round of the 1989 amateur draft, and he played parts of five seasons in New York.

In 1997, Huskey set career highs with 24 home runs and 81 RBIs in 142 games for New York. With the Mariners in 1999, he hit .290 with 15 home runs in 74 games before a midseason trade to Boston. He also played for Minnesota.

We are saddened by the passing of former Mariner Butch Huskey. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/T0hyUthlw6

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 14, 2026

Huskey is the penultimate Met to wear No. 42. Mo Vaughn wore the number from 2002 to 2003.

Huskey hit .267 with 86 homers and 336 RBIs in 642 career games.

“Just want to acknowledge a solemn day with the passing of Butch Huskey this morning,” said Mets interim manager Andy Green said Friday. “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.”

Seattle Sports staff made minor additions to this post.

Related

Mariners’ Colt Emerson to 10-day IL instead of Tacoma; Brock Rodden to debutMariners Injury Updates: Vargas’ rehab, notes on J.P. and moreMariners to option rookie shortstop Colt Emerson to Triple-APereda’s ABS challenges prove huge in Mariners’ tight win over YankeesRecap: Mariners beat Yankees 1-0 to snap 6-game losing streakMariners pitching staff delivers their first win in over a week