Butch Huskey, one of the last MLB players to wear No. 42, dies at 54

Butch Huskey, one of the last MLB players to wear No. 42, dies at 54 1 of 4 | New York Mets’ Butch Huskey, center, is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of their Grapefruit League game at Osecola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., March 20, 1996. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) 2 of 4 | Colorado Rockies’ Butch Huskey, left, slides safely home as the ball gets away from Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall during the fourth inning, Aug. 25, 2000, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 3 of 4 | Seattle Mariners’ Butch Huskey pops out in the second inning against the Chicago White Sox, April 20, 1999, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Stephen J. Carrera, File) 4 of 4 | New York Mets Butch Huskey (42) celebrates the game-winning run as teammate Brian McRae (56) crosses home plate following Mets pinch-hitter Alberto Castillo’s game-winning single in the bottom of the 14th inning during their opening game against the Philadelphia Phillies at New York’s Shea Stadium, March 31, 1998. (AP Photo/Adam Nadel, File) 1 of 4 | New York Mets’ Butch Huskey, center, is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of their Grapefruit League game at Osecola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., March 20, 1996. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) 1 of 4 New York Mets’ Butch Huskey, center, is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of their Grapefruit League game at Osecola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., March 20, 1996. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 4 | Colorado Rockies’ Butch Huskey, left, slides safely home as the ball gets away from Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall during the fourth inning, Aug. 25, 2000, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 2 of 4 Colorado Rockies’ Butch Huskey, left, slides safely home as the ball gets away from Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall during the fourth inning, Aug. 25, 2000, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 4 | Seattle Mariners’ Butch Huskey pops out in the second inning against the Chicago White Sox, April 20, 1999, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Stephen J. Carrera, File) 3 of 4 Seattle Mariners’ Butch Huskey pops out in the second inning against the Chicago White Sox, April 20, 1999, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Stephen J. Carrera, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 4 | New York Mets Butch Huskey (42) celebrates the game-winning run as teammate Brian McRae (56) crosses home plate following Mets pinch-hitter Alberto Castillo’s game-winning single in the bottom of the 14th inning during their opening game against the Philadelphia Phillies at New York’s Shea Stadium, March 31, 1998. (AP Photo/Adam Nadel, File) 4 of 4 New York Mets Butch Huskey (42) celebrates the game-winning run as teammate Brian McRae (56) crosses home plate following Mets pinch-hitter Alberto Castillo’s game-winning single in the bottom of the 14th inning during their opening game against the Philadelphia Phillies at New York’s Shea Stadium, March 31, 1998. (AP Photo/Adam Nadel, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share NEW YORK (AP) — Butch Huskey, 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. He also played for Seattle and Minnesota.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. 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ “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.”___See AP’s full MLB coverage here