Former Mets slugger Huskey, one of last players to wear No. 42, passes away at 54

Butch Huskey, a seven-year MLB veteran who was among the last players to regularly wear No. 42 after it was permanently retired, has died at age 54.

Huskey played for five teams during his career but is best known for his time with the Mets. As a utilityman for New York from 1993-98, Huskey hit .264 with 55 homers and a .740 OPS in 414 games. His best season came in 1997, when he hit .287 with 24 homers, 81 RBIs and an .822 OPS.

Huskey left the Mets in a trade with the Mariners before the 1999 season and played 74 games for Seattle before a midseason trade to the Red Sox. He later had stints with the Twins and Rockies before retiring after the 2000 season. For his career, Huskey hit .267 with 86 homers and a .760 OPS.

Huskey's career was also notable because he was among the players allowed to continue wearing No. 42 after MLB permanently retired it in honor of Jackie Robinson in 1997. Players who had the number at the time were granted the option to continue wearing it until they retired. Huskey originally wore No. 10 when he debuted in 1993, but switched to 42 in 1995 to honor Robinson.

Huskey was still wearing No. 42 during his brief stint with the Mariners in 1999, making him the last Seattle player to don the number.