Butch Huskey Dies at 54: The Met Who Wore 42 Before Piazza
Remembering Butch Huskey: A Mets Favorite Passes Away at 54
Important News: The New York Mets announced on Friday that former player Butch Huskey has died. He was 54 years old. The team did not share the cause of death.
Who Was Butch Huskey?
Butch Huskey was a professional baseball player who spent five seasons playing for the New York Mets. Think of him like a dedicated team member who wore the Mets uniform with pride from 1993 to 1998.
Quick Facts About Butch
- Full Name: Butch Huskey
- Age at Passing: 54
- Mets Jersey Number: 42 (he was the second-to-last Met to wear this number before it was retired league-wide for Jackie Robinson)
- Position: Outfielder / First Baseman
- Drafted: 7th round pick in 1989 straight out of high school
- MLB Debut: 1993 (four years after being drafted)
- Games Played for Mets: 414
His Time with the Mets: By the Numbers
Here’s how Butch performed during his years in Queens:
| Stat | What It Means | Butch’s Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | How often he got a hit | .264 (got a hit about 1 in 4 times) |
| OPS | Combined measure of getting on base + hitting for power | .740 (solid, above average) |
| Home Runs (1997) | His best power season | 24 |
Fun Fact: In 1997, Butch had his best season — hitting 24 home runs! That’s like hitting the ball out of the park twice a month for the whole season.
Baseball Journey: From Draft Day to the Big Leagues
Butch’s path to the majors wasn’t instant — it took hard work and patience. Here’s his journey:
- 1989 — Drafted by the Mets in the 7th round right out of high school
- 1989–1992 — Spent four years in the minor leagues (think of these as "practice leagues" where players develop their skills)
- 1993 — Made it to the big leagues! MLB debut with the Mets
- 1993–1998 — Played 414 games for the Mets over parts of five seasons
- After 1998 — Traded to the Seattle Mariners
- Later — Also played for the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and Colorado Rockies
- 1999 — With the Red Sox, made it to the ALCS (American League Championship Series — the round before the World Series) but lost to the New York Yankees
What Made Butch Special to Mets Fans?
Mets Statement: "We are saddened to learn about the passing of former Met Butch Huskey."
Butch wasn’t just a name on a roster. He was part of memorable moments:
- Teammate favorite: Photos show manager Bobby Valentine excitedly high-fiving Butch after big hits
- Clutch performer: Drove in runs when the team needed them (like his double that scored John Olerud in 1998)
- Number 42 connection: Wore the historic number with dignity before it was permanently retired across all of baseball
Summary
Butch Huskey was a homegrown Mets player — drafted, developed, and debuted by the organization. He gave Queens five seasons of solid baseball, highlighted by a 24-home run season in 1997. After leaving New York, he continued his career with four other teams and even reached the championship round with the 1999 Red Sox. The Mets family mourns his passing at just 54 years old.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does "penultimate Met to wear No. 42" mean?
"Penultimate" means second-to-last. Butch was the second-to-last Mets player to wear jersey number 42 before Major League Baseball retired the number for all teams in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson. The last Met to wear it was Mo Vaughn.
What is OPS? You mentioned .740 OPS.
OPS stands for On-base Plus Slugging. It combines two skills:
- On-base percentage: How often a player reaches base (hits, walks, etc.)
- Slugging percentage: How much power a player has (doubles, triples, home runs count more)
A .740 OPS is above average — it means Butch was a good offensive player.
What are the "minor leagues"?
Before players reach the Major Leagues (MLB), they play in the minor leagues — lower-level professional leagues where they develop skills. It’s like college or training camp for pros. Butch spent four years there before his 1993 debut.
What is the ALCS?
ALCS = American League Championship Series. It’s the playoff round that decides which American League team goes to the World Series. Butch’s 1999 Red Sox made it there but lost to the Yankees.
Did Butch Huskey win a World Series?
No. His closest chance was 1999 with the Red Sox — they made the ALCS but lost to the Yankees, who went on to win the World Series that year.
This is a developing story. More details may be released by the Mets organization and Butch’s family in the coming days.