On Friday, the New York Mets family lost one of their own as former outfielder Butch Huskey passed away. He was 54-years-old. He was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma and grew up a Texas Rangers fan. Huskey was drafted by the Mets in the seventh round of the 1989 MLB Draft at just 18-years-old as a third baseman. He did get a scholarship to play college football at the University of Oklahoma but decided to play baseball. 

Huskey’s Mets Career

Huskey would spend 1989-1993 in the Mets’ farm system until getting the call-up to the big leagues towards the end of the 1993 MLB season. After an injury to Bobby Bonilla, Huskey would make his debut for the Mets on September 8, 1993, against the Houston Astros. He would play 13 games that year. In 1994, Huskey wasn’t able to get another call-up to the Mets’ major league roster due to the strike that ended the season early. He’d get called up again in August 1995 and finish with 102 plate appearances in 28 games. 

In 1996, Huskey had to be moved from third base to the outfield after the emergence of Rey Ordonez at shortstop, and Jeff Kent was moved to third base. He eventually moved to first base in 1996 and notched 115 hits with 15 home runs in 118 games. He also battled .278.

1997 saw the Mets acquire John Olerud to play first base while Kent was traded to Cleveland, which moved Huskey back to third base. New York later put Edgardo Alfonzo at the position, which moved Huskey back into the outfield.

1997 was Huskey’s best statistical season at the plate. He batted .287 that year and notched 24 home runs to go alongside 81 RBIs. Huskey also slugged .503 with 135 hits. Additionally, he had a 20-game hitting streak that season, which ties him for 11th all-time on the Mets’ list of longest hitting streaks in club history.

No. 42

1997 was also special for Huskey in another way. That season saw the Mets host the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 15, 1997, where the Mets and every team in baseball retired the No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Huskey had donned the number since 1995 in tribute to Robinson, and he was able to keep it due to a grandfather clause. He wore it on the day that every team in the sport retired Robinson’s number as the Mets defeated the Dodgers 5-0. Huskey, playing third base, recorded a hit in that game. Huskey is one of the last Mets players to ever wear the No. 42.

Huskey’s Mets Departure and Remainder of Career

The Mets traded Huskey to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for pitcher Lesli Brea after the 1998 season. Between 1999 and 2000, Huskey would bounce around the league. He later landed with the Boston Red Sox after the Mariners traded him during the 1999 season. Huskey then found himself signing a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins in 2000, and he was eventually traded to the Colorado Rockies.

In 2001, Huskey originally signed with the Cleveland Indians. After not making their roster, he finished the year with the Colorado Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate and retired once the year ended.

Mets Alumni

In recent years, Huskey had returned to the Mets’ organization as part of their alumni group, including being a part of the Amazin’ Day fan festival in 2025 and other endeavors.