A Thought or 54 for Butch Huskey

Former MLB player Butch Huskey died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism today. He was only 54.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Huskey was a 7th round draft pick of the New York Mets out of high school in 1989. Huskey would reach the Mets for a cup of coffee in 1993 and again in 1995 before becoming a mainstay of their lineup between 1996 and 1998. His best season was in 1997 when Huskey hit a career best .287 with 24 HR and 81 RBI. Huskey played in the outfield, third base and first base. 

Between 1999 and 2000, Huskey would have stints with the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and the Colorado Rockies. His professional career ended after the 2001 season during which he played in the Cleveland Indians system before rejoining the Rockies organization. In parts of 7 MLB seasons, Huskey played in 642 games collecting 555 hits for a lifetime batting average of .267 with 86 HR and 336 RBI. 

During tonight's New York Mets-Washington Nationals game, Mets announcer Gary Cohn choked up when announcing Huskey's passing. Cohn spoke about Huskey's big-league debut on September 8, 1993 against the Houston Astros. As it happened, the Mets were on the wrong end of a no-hitter by Darryl Kile. During the game, Kile struck out Huskey thrice. Cohn noted that Huskey was upset following the game thinking he wouldn't be able to get a hit in a big-league game but was assured that no one could hit Kile that evening. Four days later, Huskey would collect his first MLB hit and RBI against the Chicago Cubs.

Of course, for those who know, Kile would die suddenly during the 2002 MLB season while a member of the St. Louis Cardinals at the tender age of 33. Kile was the first MLB player to die during the season since New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash in 1979 at the age of 32.

While Huskey didn't die nearly as young as either Kile or Munson, he certainly left this world sooner than he ought to have. Huskey's passing hits me as I am due to turn 54 in just over one month - G-d willing. This ought to have been Huskey's middle age with decades left in the tank. Alas, the only guarantee in life is that it will end. We have little control over when. R.I.P.