Chris “Mad Dog” Russo had a hard time determining who exactly died Tuesday, mistaking Billy Beane, the league’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, for Billy Beane, the longtime general manager of the Athletics.
“We’re getting information right now that Athletics general manager Billy Beane may have passed away,” Russo said on Wednesday’s “Mad Dog Unleashed.” “Oh my goodness. Was he sick? I had no idea. He’s not that old. Was it all of a sudden? Let’s see if we can get some information. Oh my goodness, this is terrible. Athletics general manager Billy Beane. I don’t know anything. This is the first I’ve heard about it.”
Bean died on Tuesday from acute myeloid leukemia.
Russo said it’s a terrible story, while still believing it was baseball’s other Billy Beane and speculating about who knew it.
“I didn’t know if Billy Beane with the Athletics had been out of work recently or whatever it was,” he said. “I’m sure his peers in the sports world knew. Brian must have known because he’s very close with Cashman. I don’t know if anyone in the baseball world knew. I watch the baseball channel every day and I’ve heard nothing about this. So this is a terrible Billy Beane story.”
About 90 seconds later, Russo realized his mistake.
“The Billy who fought bravely for a year against acute leukemia is the wrong Billy Beane — not the Billy Beane who played for the Athletics,” he said, reading from a statement from Major League Baseball.
Beane is now a special adviser to the Athletics and part-owner of the team, which is set to move to Sacramento and eventually Las Vegas. And he’s still alive and well.
“This is a different Billy Beane. Still a terrible story. But this isn’t the Billy Beane who was with the Athletics. This is the Billy Beane who worked in major league baseball. A different Billy Beane. Sorry if I’m wrong. It’s spelled differently. This Billy Beane, um, is spelled differently than the other Billy Beane,” Russo said. “Commissioner Manfred described Billy as ‘one of the kindest, most honorable people I’ve ever known, someone who made baseball a better organization on and off the field.’ Great quote, Rob.”
“This is a different Billy Beane. Not the Billy Beane from his Athletics days. This is Billy Beane in the major leagues. And it’s important — and I don’t mean to make light of it — but this is a different Billy. I’m sorry I got that wrong.”
