Born:(1952-11-16)November 16, 1952 Oakland, California, U.S.
Died: May 30, 1995(1995-05-30) (aged 42) San Leandro, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 9, 1976, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
June 4, 1979, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average
.237
Home runs
2
Runs batted in
38
Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers (1976–1978)
Oakland Athletics (1978–1979)
Glenn Lawrence Burke (November 16, 1952 – May 30, 1995) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics from 1976 to 1979. He was the first MLB player to come out as gay, announcing it in 1982 after he retired.[1]
Though he would eventually embrace his sexuality publicly, rumors and mistreatment due to speculation eventually proved to be an emotional, psychological, and professional burden he could no longer endure; leading to his retirement from Major League Baseball after only four years.[2][3][4] stating, "They can't ever say now that a gay man can't play in the majors, because I'm a gay man and I made it."[5][6]
In October 1977, Burke ran onto the field to congratulate his Dodgers teammate Dusty Baker after Baker hit his 30th home run; Burke raised his hand over his head and Baker slapped it. They are widely credited with inventing the high five.
Burke kept active in sports after retiring from baseball. He competed in the 1982 Gay Olympics, now re-named Gay Games, in track, and in 1986 in basketball. He played for many years in the San Francisco Gay Softball League.[7]
He died from AIDS-related causes in 1995.[8][9] In August 2013, Burke was among the first class of inductees into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. Burke was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals in 2015.
^"Glenn Burke, 1st openly gay MLB player, is shunned no more — 40 years after coming out". TODAY.com. July 3, 2022. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
^Glenn, Burke. "Nominee". LegacyProjectChicago. The Legacy Project. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
^Barra, Allen (May 12, 2013). "Actually, Jason Collins Isn't the First Openly Gay Man in a Major Pro Sport". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
^"17 Baseball Heroes Who Came Out as Gay". February 2, 2018. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
^Keith Stern (2009). Queers in History: The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Historical Gays. Jennifer Canzoneri. p. 78.
^Vox, Dylan (December 11, 2006). "A High Five to Baseball Great Glenn Burke". This Week in Texas. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
^"Glenn Burke, 1st openly gay MLB player, is shunned no more — 40 years after coming out". TODAY.com. July 3, 2022. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
^Gallagher, John (August 18, 1998). "Gay athletes through history". The Advocate: 14. ISSN 0001-8996. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
^Luca Prono (2008). Encyclopedia of gay and lesbian popular culture. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 44. ISBN 9780313335990.
Glenn Lawrence Burke (November 16, 1952 – May 30, 1995) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics...
but the first and two most documented candidates are Dusty Baker and GlennBurke of the Los Angeles Dodgers professional baseball team on October 2, 1977...
the second Major League Baseball player to publicly come out as gay; GlennBurke was the first to come out to his teammates and employers during his playing...
A High Five for GlennBurke is a middle-grade novel by Phil Bildner, published February 25, 2020, by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, about Silas Wade, who...
playwright René Yañez, artist and community activist John Bailey, actor GlennBurke, Major League Baseball player Percy Robert Miller (Master P), rapper...
for GlennBurke, published February 25, 2020 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, is a middle-grade novel about Silas Wade, who learns about GlennBurke, a gay...
"Oh, by the way, this is GlennBurke and he's a f—-t.'" Burke suffered a knee injury during 1980 spring training; Burke's roommate Mike Norris stated...
GlennBurke (1952–1995), American baseball player Gordon Burke (born 1941), American politician Graham Burke (born 1993), Irish footballer Greg Burke...
first-ever high five, which occurred between Baker and Dodgers teammate GlennBurke on October 2, 1977, at Dodger Stadium, a story featured in the ESPN 30...
Curtis & Ryan Murphy Teaming On Netflix Limited Series About LA Dodger GlennBurke Who Gave First High Five". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 27,...
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers (born October 13, 1961) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Milwaukee...
high five, but the two most documented candidates are Dusty Baker and GlennBurke of the Los Angeles Dodgers professional baseball team on October 2, 1977...
attempted to score from first on a hit-and-run single to center field by GlennBurke. Mickey Rivers, who did not possess a strong throwing arm, threw home...
including: Alvin Ailey, W. H. Auden, Josephine Baker, Gladys Bentley, GlennBurke, Quentin Crisp, Divine, Marie Equi, Fereydoun Farrokhzad, Barbara Jordan...
Bouton (2001) Jim Brosnan (2007) Charlie Brown (2017) Bill Buckner (2008) GlennBurke (2015) Roberto Clemente (2004) Bob Costas (2020) Steve Dalkowski (2009)...
Ayanbadejo, 2013 Billy Bean, 2014 Mark Bingham, 2014 Roger Brigham, 2015 GlennBurke, 2013 Ben Cohen, 2013 Jason Collins, 2013 Orlando Cruz, 2013 Chicago...
purchased from the Dodgers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. May 17, 1978: GlennBurke was traded by the Dodgers to the Oakland Athletics for Billy North. May...
after a slow start in 1978, the Athletics traded him to the Dodgers for GlennBurke. His Dodgers won the National League pennant, but lost to the New York...
him at home plate was his friend and teammate, rookie GlennBurke. Overcome with happiness, Burke did the first thing that came to mind—he put his hand...
major league family that includes son Buddy and grandson David. May 30 – GlennBurke, 42, center fielder for the Dodgers and Athletics who was the first former...
entire song score from The Postman, words and music by Jeffrey Barr, GlennBurke, John Coinman, Joe Flood, Blair Forward, Maria Machado, and Jono Manson...
the coming out story of former Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player, GlennBurke. In this episode, Sam's former teammate, Tom—portrayed by Alan Autry—reveals...
February 2010). "Leafs Win One for Brian Burke". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 4 January 2012. "GlennBurke, an Openly Gay Baseball Player, Dies". Reuters...
2010, Griggs served as the executive producer for the show, "Out. The GlennBurke Story," which explored the life of the first openly gay Major League...
in the case. Featuring Cecilia Noble as Una Mason, Graham Turner as GlennBurke, Genevieve O'Reilly as Julie Rees, Charles Edwards as Donald Rees and...
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