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Regarding Thom Brennaman’s slur directed at LGBTQ people during the @Reds broadcast yesterday. I have a book coming out in March on Glenn Burke, the first openly gay Major League player. Glenn heard the same word from fans of his own team when he played in Oakland, (1/7)
and A’s manager Billy Martin told sportswriters & other players he wasn’t going to let a f** “contaminate” his team. Burke was sent to the minors and never played another game in the Majors. Burke, who had grown up in the Bay Area, had hoped for a new beginning in Oakland. (2/7)
He came up with the Dodgers and started in centerfield in Game 1 of the 1977 World Series. But when Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda discovered that Glenn was gay and was friends with Lasorda’s gay son, Burke fell out of favor. (3/7)
Dodger executive Al Campanis offered Burke a hefty bonus if he would get married. “You mean to a woman?,” Burke replied. He refused, and before long he was traded to Oakland. (4/7)
Burke’s MLB dreams were cut short because of his sexuality. It is encouraging to see the quick response from MLB players, fans & journalists to Brennaman’s slur. Burke died of AIDS in 1995 hoping that his struggles would make life easier for gay people in the future. (5/7)
As the baseball world reacts to, learns from & works toward change in response to this slur & other acts of homophobia, the resulting progress is a long overdue tribute to Glenn & to other gay players - past & present – compelled to remain hidden by the hatred of others. 6/7
SINGLED OUT: The True Story of Glenn Burke, coming 3/2/21 from @PhilomelBooks ... Pre-order here: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780593116722
