Biography
1952 - 1995
“They can’t ever say that a gay man can’t play in the Majors, because I’m a gay man and I did it.”
- Glenn Burke
Described by many of the scouts as the next Willie Mays, Glenn Burke played major league ball with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1976-1978) and later with the Oakland Athletics (1978-1979). In the 225 games of his brief career Burke batted .237, hit 2 home runs, had 38 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. In 1977, after Dusty Baker hit a home run, Burke – who was the on-deck batter – gave Baker a high-five as he left the field and has since been credited with inventing the gesture. Burke is believed to be the first major league ball player to be outed to his teammates and the owners while he was still playing. Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda was angered by Burke’s friendship with his gay son; and General Manager Al Campanis offered to pay for a lavish honeymoon if the outfielder would just get married. (Burke refused.) With tensions growing in the clubhouse, Burke was traded to Oakland, where he saw little playing time and was forced to endure manager Billy Martin referring to him as a “faggot” in front of his teammates. Unable to cope any longer, Burke quit the team. At the age of 27 his dream of a being a major league baseball player was over after only four seasons. Of this experience he later wrote, “Prejudice drove me out of baseball sooner than I should have. But I wasn’t changing.” The years following Burke’s premature departure from the sport – rife with drug problems, homelessness and criminal convictions – marked a bitter fall from grace. In 1982 his homosexuality was made public in an ‘Inside Sports’ article – the same year he won 2 medals for track in the first Gay Games. Burke died of complications from HIV in 1995 at the age of 42.
1952 - 1995
“They can’t ever say that a gay man can’t play in the Majors, because I’m a gay man and I did it.”
- Glenn Burke
Described by many of the scouts as the next Willie Mays, Glenn Burke played major league ball with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1976-1978) and later with the Oakland Athletics (1978-1979). In the 225 games of his brief career Burke batted .237, hit 2 home runs, had 38 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. In 1977, after Dusty Baker hit a home run, Burke – who was the on-deck batter – gave Baker a high-five as he left the field and has since been credited with inventing the gesture. Burke is believed to be the first major league ball player to be outed to his teammates and the owners while he was still playing. Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda was angered by Burke’s friendship with his gay son; and General Manager Al Campanis offered to pay for a lavish honeymoon if the outfielder would just get married. (Burke refused.) With tensions growing in the clubhouse, Burke was traded to Oakland, where he saw little playing time and was forced to endure manager Billy Martin referring to him as a “faggot” in front of his teammates. Unable to cope any longer, Burke quit the team. At the age of 27 his dream of a being a major league baseball player was over after only four seasons. Of this experience he later wrote, “Prejudice drove me out of baseball sooner than I should have. But I wasn’t changing.” The years following Burke’s premature departure from the sport – rife with drug problems, homelessness and criminal convictions – marked a bitter fall from grace. In 1982 his homosexuality was made public in an ‘Inside Sports’ article – the same year he won 2 medals for track in the first Gay Games. Burke died of complications from HIV in 1995 at the age of 42.
Demography
Demography
Gender Male
Sexual Orientation Gay
Gender Identity Cisgender
Ethnicity African American Black
Nations Affiliated United States
Era/Epoch AIDS Era (1980-present) Information Age (1970-present) Post-Stonewall Era (1974-1980)
Field(s) of Contribution
Athletics
Commemorations & Honors
First Out Active Baseball Player (To His Teammates and Managers)
Credited With Inventing the High-Five (1977)
Won Medals at the First Gay Games in the 100 and 200 Meter Sprints (1982)
Inside Sports Magazine Article Revealed Burke Was Gay to the Public (1982)
Posthumous National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (2013)
2014 All-Star Game Honored Burke at a Pre-Game Press Conference- Note the Fox Broadcast Failed to Mention His Name (2014)
Oakland Athletics Honored Burke During Their Pride Night With Burke's Brother Sydney Throwing Out the Ceremonial First Pitch (2015)
San Francisco Rainbow Honor Walk Honoree (2018)
Los Angeles Dodgers Honor Burke at Ninth Annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night (2022)
Demography
Gender Male
Sexual Orientation Gay
Gender Identity Cisgender
Ethnicity African American Black
Nations Affiliated United States
Era/Epoch AIDS Era (1980-present) Information Age (1970-present) Post-Stonewall Era (1974-1980)
Field(s) of Contribution
Athletics
Commemorations & Honors
First Out Active Baseball Player (To His Teammates and Managers)
Credited With Inventing the High-Five (1977)
Won Medals at the First Gay Games in the 100 and 200 Meter Sprints (1982)
Inside Sports Magazine Article Revealed Burke Was Gay to the Public (1982)
Posthumous National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (2013)
2014 All-Star Game Honored Burke at a Pre-Game Press Conference- Note the Fox Broadcast Failed to Mention His Name (2014)
Oakland Athletics Honored Burke During Their Pride Night With Burke's Brother Sydney Throwing Out the Ceremonial First Pitch (2015)
San Francisco Rainbow Honor Walk Honoree (2018)
Los Angeles Dodgers Honor Burke at Ninth Annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night (2022)
Resources
Resources
"And the Band Plays On." Sports Illustrated 82.23 (June 12, 1995): 15.
Bull, Chris. "Safe at Home: After Years in the Closet as a Professional Baseball Player, Billy Bean Finds Happiness as an Openly Gay Man." The Advocate 801 (December 21, 1999): 34-42.
Burke, Glenn, and Erik Sherman. Out at Home: The Glenn Burke Story. New York: Excel Publishing, 1995.
Crowe, Jerry. "When Glory Has Soured: Former Dodger Glenn Burke battles AIDS as He Struggles to Survive Life on the Streets." Los Angeles Times (August 30, 1994): C 1.
Frey, Jennifer. "A Boy of Summer's Long, Chilly Winter: Once a Promising Ballplayer, Glenn Burke Is Dying of AIDS." New York Times (October 18, 1994): B 15.
Light, Jonathan Fraser. "Homosexuals." The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball. Jefferson, N. C., and London: McFarland & Company, 1997. 346-347.
Maraniss, Andrew. Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke. New York: Philomel Books, 2021.
"The Outfielder Who Came Out." People Weekly 42. 21 (November 21, 1994): 151.
Smith, Michael J. "The Double Life of a Gay Dodger." Inside Sports (October 1982): 57-63.
Szymcazk, Jerome. "Glenn Burke." Gay & Lesbian Biography. Michael J. Tyrkus, ed. Detroit: St. James Press, 1997. 94-95.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Burke
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/21/sports/la-sp-dodgers-glenn-burke-20130822
http://www.npr.org/2013/05/05/181410089/the-price-glenn-burke-paid-for-coming-out
https://calltothepen.com/2020/05/30/forgotten-mlb-player-spotlight-glenn-burke-true-pioneer/
https://www.them.us/story/singled-out-first-openly-gay-man-play-mlb-glenn-burke
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/02/sports/baseball/glenn-burke-dodgers-…
Resources
"And the Band Plays On." Sports Illustrated 82.23 (June 12, 1995): 15.
Bull, Chris. "Safe at Home: After Years in the Closet as a Professional Baseball Player, Billy Bean Finds Happiness as an Openly Gay Man." The Advocate 801 (December 21, 1999): 34-42.
Burke, Glenn, and Erik Sherman. Out at Home: The Glenn Burke Story. New York: Excel Publishing, 1995.
Crowe, Jerry. "When Glory Has Soured: Former Dodger Glenn Burke battles AIDS as He Struggles to Survive Life on the Streets." Los Angeles Times (August 30, 1994): C 1.
Frey, Jennifer. "A Boy of Summer's Long, Chilly Winter: Once a Promising Ballplayer, Glenn Burke Is Dying of AIDS." New York Times (October 18, 1994): B 15.
Light, Jonathan Fraser. "Homosexuals." The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball. Jefferson, N. C., and London: McFarland & Company, 1997. 346-347.
Maraniss, Andrew. Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke. New York: Philomel Books, 2021.
"The Outfielder Who Came Out." People Weekly 42. 21 (November 21, 1994): 151.
Smith, Michael J. "The Double Life of a Gay Dodger." Inside Sports (October 1982): 57-63.
Szymcazk, Jerome. "Glenn Burke." Gay & Lesbian Biography. Michael J. Tyrkus, ed. Detroit: St. James Press, 1997. 94-95.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Burke
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/21/sports/la-sp-dodgers-glenn-burke-20130822
http://www.npr.org/2013/05/05/181410089/the-price-glenn-burke-paid-for-coming-out
https://calltothepen.com/2020/05/30/forgotten-mlb-player-spotlight-glenn-burke-true-pioneer/
https://www.them.us/story/singled-out-first-openly-gay-man-play-mlb-glenn-burke
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/02/sports/baseball/glenn-burke-dodgers-…