Robert Leon “Butch” Huskey (1971–2026) — a powerful slugger, a gentle presence, and one of the last men in Major League Baseball ever to wear Jackie Robinson’s iconic number 42 — died on August 14, 2026, in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was just 54. His passing was sudden and tragic, the result of a blood clot in his lungs.
Huskey’s early life took a dramatic turn when, at around age ten, his grandmother sent him to live with his father in Lawton after he began “running with the wrong crowd.” The move changed everything. He became a multi-sport star at Eisenhower High School, even making the All-State Football Team as a punter — at 6’4″, 235 pounds — while dominating on the baseball field with a .650 average, 12 homers, and 61 RBI as a senior.
Drafted by the Mets in 1989, Huskey rose steadily through the minors, earning a reputation for natural power. His legend grew in spring training when he crushed an 0-2 slider an estimated 550 feet, prompting Braves infielder Bill Pecota to call it “the lowest, hardest hit ball I’ve ever seen, bar none.” He also carried a commanding leadership style, with minor league manager Tim Blackwell noting, “You hear him barking orders all the time. You need that team leader in the infield.”
Huskey debuted with the Mets in 1993 and became a fan favorite, hitting 24 home runs in 1997. But his uniform number became part of his legacy. He wore number 42 as a personal tribute to Jackie Robinson, saying, “If I ever had an opportunity to play, I would wear the number in honor of him… It was a tribute that I could pay.” When MLB retired Robinson’s number league-wide, Huskey became one of the final players allowed to continue wearing it — and the last Seattle Mariner ever to do so. In 2024, he and Mookie Wilson presented flowers to Rachel Robinson during a ceremony at Citi Field, a moment Huskey called “a tremendous honor.”
His time with the Minnesota Twins came in 2000, a short but memorable half-season as the team’s designated hitter. His numbers were modest, but his presence mattered. He was a veteran voice in a clubhouse filled with emerging talent — Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones, Corey Koskie, and a young David Ortiz — helping steady a team on the verge of becoming something greater.
Huskey also left behind one unforgettable Metrodome moment. Chasing a fly ball in right field, he crashed full speed into the wall, leaving a Huskey shaped imprint on the blue padding. When teammates arrived the next day, they found the spot outlined in tape, chalk-style, like a crime scene silhouette. Huskey laughed harder than anyone. It was the perfect snapshot of how he fit in: a gentle giant embraced instantly by a young team that needed exactly that kind of levity.
Huskey retired at 29 after a strong season in Triple A, finishing his MLB career with 86 home runs, 336 RBI, and a .267 average across 642 games. He spent his post playing years as a youth baseball instructor in Oklahoma and remained closely connected to Mets alumni events, especially those honoring Jackie Robinson’s legacy.
He is survived by his wife, Kristy Huskey; his son, Bryce Beckett; his daughters, Kennedy Huskey and Kyrbi Huskey; a grandson, Isaiah Beckett; his step-mother, Patricia Huskey; his sisters, Shelly Herrera and her husband, Robert, Deena Charity, and Tracy Leavell; his brother Michael Miller; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Phyllis Mayo; his father, Robert Huskey; his sisters, Shaneeka Mayo and Tiffany Mayo Holmes, and his brother-in-law, Preston Charity Jr.
For Twins fans, Butch Huskey will always be part of the story — a veteran presence during a transitional summer, a steady bat, a good teammate, and a good man gone far too soon.
Twinstrivia.com sends their condolences to the Butch Huskey family, friends and fans. Thank you for the memories.
Butch Huskey Obituary can be found here
