Butch Huskey was an American professional baseball player who spent parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily as a powerful, versatile outfielder for the New York Mets in the 1990s. A right-handed slugger from Oklahoma, he was a productive power hitter across a career that took him to five organisations, and he earned a lasting place in baseball history as one of the last players permitted to wear the number 42 after it was retired league-wide in honour of Jackie Robinson. Fondly remembered by Mets fans of his era and in his home state of Oklahoma, he died on 14 August 2026 at the age of 54.
Butch Huskey Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Robert Leon “Butch” Huskey |
| Date of Birth | 10 November 1971 |
| Date of Death | 14 August 2026 (aged 54) |
| Birthplace | Anadarko, Oklahoma, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (190 cm) |
| Batted / Threw | Right / Right |
| Profession | Professional baseball player |
| Position | Outfielder (also third base and first base) |
| MLB Debut | 8 September 1993, for the New York Mets |
| Final Game | 1 October 2000, for the Colorado Rockies |
| Notable Teams | New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox |
Butch Huskey Details
| Category | Detail |
| Career batting average | .267 |
| Career home runs | 86 |
| Career runs batted in | 336 |
| Best season | 1997, with 24 home runs and 81 RBIs |
| Organisations | Mets, Mariners, Red Sox, Twins and Rockies |
| Uniform number | Wore No. 42 for much of his career |
Butch Huskey Events
| Year | Event |
| 10 November 1971 | Born in Anadarko, Oklahoma |
| 1989 | Drafted by the New York Mets in the seventh round |
| 8 September 1993 | Made his MLB debut for the Mets |
| 1996 | Became a regular in the Mets’ lineup |
| 1997 | Hit a career-high 24 home runs |
| 1999 | Played for the Mariners and the Red Sox |
| 1 October 2000 | Played his final MLB game |
| 14 August 2026 | Died at the age of 54 |
Butch Huskey Early Life
Butch Huskey was born Robert Leon Huskey on 10 November 1971 in Anadarko, Oklahoma. He was raised for much of his childhood by his grandmother before moving, at around the age of ten or eleven, to live with his father, a police officer, in Lawton, Oklahoma. He attended Eisenhower High School in Lawton, where he was a gifted multi-sport athlete, earning All-State honours as a tight end in football and attracting a football scholarship offer from the University of Oklahoma, before ultimately choosing to pursue a career in baseball.
Butch Huskey Baseball Career
Butch Huskey’s Path to the Majors
Butch Huskey was selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 1989 Major League Baseball draft, initially as a third baseman. He proved himself a standout talent in the minor leagues, where he won the Doubleday Award, given to the Mets organisation’s top minor league performer, on four occasions, at stops including Sarasota, Columbia, Binghamton and Norfolk. He made his major league debut on 8 September 1993, against the Houston Astros, in a game notable for a no-hitter thrown against the Mets.
Butch Huskey with the New York Mets
Butch Huskey became an established and productive player for the New York Mets in the mid-to-late 1990s, the team with which he is most closely associated. A versatile right-handed power hitter, he shifted across the infield and outfield to fill the team’s needs, seeing time at third base, first base and in the outfield. His finest season came in 1997, when he hit a career-high 24 home runs with 81 runs batted in, establishing himself as one of the club’s dependable power threats during his years in New York.
Butch Huskey’s Later Career
Butch Huskey was traded to the Seattle Mariners after the 1998 season, beginning a period in which he played for several teams. In 1999 he moved from Seattle to the Boston Red Sox, where he served as a right-handed complement in the lineup and helped the club reach the postseason. He spent his final major league season, in 2000, with the Minnesota Twins and the Colorado Rockies, before playing his last big league game on 1 October 2000. Over his career he compiled a .267 batting average, 86 home runs and 336 runs batted in.
Butch Huskey and Jersey Number 42
Butch Huskey holds a distinctive and cherished place in baseball history through his association with the number 42. When Major League Baseball retired the number league-wide in 1997 to honour the pioneering Jackie Robinson, players already wearing it were permitted to continue doing so under a grandfather clause. Huskey, who had a deep appreciation for Robinson’s legacy, was among the last players to wear the number regularly, and he was the final Seattle Mariner ever to wear it, a poignant link to one of the sport’s most important figures that helped secure his lasting place in baseball lore.
Butch Huskey’s Legacy
Butch Huskey was remembered as a powerful and versatile hitter and a beloved figure, particularly among New York Mets fans of the 1990s and in his native Oklahoma. Following his death, the Mets organisation and the wider baseball community paid tribute to him, expressing their sadness at his passing. Beyond his statistics, his connection to Jackie Robinson’s number 42 ensured his enduring place in the game’s history, and he was fondly recalled as a memorable presence from a distinctive era of Mets baseball. In a curious footnote to his fame, he was even referenced by name in a song by the band Yo La Tengo.
Butch Huskey Personal Life
Butch Huskey came from Anadarko and Lawton, Oklahoma, and maintained strong ties to his home state throughout and after his career. Raised in part by his grandmother and later by his father, he was shaped by his Oklahoma upbringing, and he remained fondly regarded there. He generally kept his personal life relatively private, with his public identity centred on his baseball career and his place in the game’s history.
Butch Huskey Height and Physical Profile
Butch Huskey was a large, powerfully built athlete, standing 6 feet 3 inches, or 190 centimetres, tall, a frame that suited his reputation as a right-handed power hitter. His size and strength were central to his identity as a slugger and to his versatility across several positions on the field.
Butch Huskey Net Worth and Earnings
A reliable, verified figure for Butch Huskey’s net worth is not a meaningful part of the public record, and this profile does not put forward one. His income during his playing days came from his Major League Baseball career across his stints with five organisations. His significance rests on his baseball achievements and his memorable place in the game’s history rather than on any financial measure.
| Source | Detail |
| Net worth | Not reliably documented |
| Main income source | His Major League Baseball career |
Butch Huskey Social Media
Butch Huskey belonged largely to a baseball era before the age of players’ personal social media, and following his death he was remembered through tributes from his former team and the wider baseball community across news outlets and social platforms.
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
| Public tributes | The New York Mets and the baseball community | How his memory has been honoured |
| Public information | Baseball media and records | How news about him is reported |
Butch Huskey Controversies
No significant personal controversy involving Butch Huskey surfaced in the material examined for this profile. He was remembered with warmth and respect as a productive and popular player, and coverage of him has focused on his career, his connection to the number 42 and the sadness of his passing.
Lesser Known Facts About Butch Huskey
- His full name was Robert Leon Huskey.
- He was an All-State high-school tight end and had a football scholarship offer.
- He was drafted by the Mets in 1989 as a third baseman.
- He won the Mets’ Doubleday Award four times in the minors.
- He was one of the last players to regularly wear the number 42.
- He was the final Seattle Mariner to wear number 42.
- He was referenced by name in a Yo La Tengo song.
Butch Huskey FAQ
Who was Butch Huskey?
He was an American Major League Baseball player, a power-hitting outfielder best known for his time with the New York Mets in the 1990s.
When was Butch Huskey born, and when did he die?
He was born on 10 November 1971 and died on 14 August 2026, at the age of 54.
How did Butch Huskey die?
According to reports, he died from a pulmonary embolism.
What teams did Butch Huskey play for?
He played for the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies.
What were Butch Huskey’s career statistics?
He finished with a .267 batting average, 86 home runs and 336 runs batted in.
Why is Butch Huskey remembered for the number 42?
He was one of the last players to regularly wear No. 42 after it was retired league-wide for Jackie Robinson, and the last Mariner to wear it.
What was Butch Huskey’s best season?
His best season came in 1997, when he hit a career-high 24 home runs with 81 runs batted in for the Mets.
Where was Butch Huskey from?
He was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma, and grew up there and in Lawton, Oklahoma.
What position did Butch Huskey play?
He was primarily an outfielder but also played third base and first base during his career.
How is Butch Huskey remembered?
He is remembered as a powerful, versatile hitter, a beloved 1990s Met, and for his historic link to Jackie Robinson’s number 42.
Sources
MLB.com, Butch Huskey passes away,
https://www.mlb.com/news/butch-huskey-passes-away
Forbes, Former Red Sox Slugger Who Nearly Broke World Series Curse Dies At 54,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/08/14/former-red-sox-slugger-who-nearly-broke-world-series-curse-dies-at-54/
Baseball Reference, Butch Huskey,
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/huskebu01.shtml
That Eric Alper, Butch Huskey, Former New York Mets Outfielder, Dies at 54,
https://www.thatericalper.com/2026/08/15/butch-huskey-former-new-york-mets-outfielder-dies-at-54/