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Glenn Burke was born 68 years ago today. He played outfield for the Dodgers mostly. He was the first person – and thus far, only – to be out as gay during a MLB career. He was great, he endured horrible things, and he passed in '95 from complications of AIDS.
I have nothing against Billy Bean, a white gay man who came out in '99 four years after he retired, and who is now MLB's Ambassador for Inclusion. But Burke, a Black gay man, saw his career end early due to prejudice, and spent much of the '90s homeless and broke.
MLB eventually did "commemorate" Burke – with a press conference before the '14 All-Star Game, half of which was dedicated to Billy Bean's new job. There were no promos about Burke between innings, and the sole TV broadcaster @FOXSports declined to mention him at all.
So RIP Glenn, you ruled. Thanks for inventing the high five, and I'm sorry this world didn't treat you better.
