Glenn Burke - Out at Home: The True Story of Glenn Burke, Baseballs First Openly Gay Player

As a player, I remember hearing Glenn Burkes name from time to time. There were brief stories about a gay ballplayer who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventies, but I always left that subject alone as I was navigating a life of my own deep inside the closet. I certainly had wondered about him, especially after hearing rumors of him living on the street, ill, and struggling with drug addiction, but I chose to ignore them. I knew that was only one side of the story, and the familiar stereotypical tone made me angry. Ironically, while playing Winter Baseball in Venezuela in the late eighties, a few of the guys were listening to some stories from one of my teammates, a lefty pitcher named Steve Shirley. He came up through the Dodgers organization, and on this long bus trip, he was describing some of the great players that hed played with in the minor leagues. He said the two best minor league players he ever saw were Pedro Guerrero and a guy named Glenn Burke. There was no talk of Glenn being gay, just that he was a stud who could have played any sport and been a star. Glenn was getting some serious respect from a veteran who had played a long time and knew the game well.

I hadnt thought about Glenn much until I saw an incredibly well-produced story done by Keith Olbermann on ESPN in 1995. Glenn was dying of AIDS, and Keith captured the sadness of a career and life that were derailed by homophobia, discrimination, betrayal, addiction, and ultimately AIDS. The story was like a knife to my heart. I had just experienced the death of my own partner, Sam, weeks before, and seeing images of Glenn on TV, emaciated and fighting death with each breath, was too much. A wave of grief and sadness came over me and the tears wouldnt stop.

In 2003, when the circumstances of my own life led me to writing my book, Going the Other Way: Lessons from a Life In and Out of Major League Baseball, I remembered that moment, and even though I didnt know his entire story, I dedicated my book to Glenn. It was my own way of honoring his courage as a major league baseball player, who just happened to be gay. We never met, but we were brothers, and we always will be. We all know that in the entire 145-year history of major league baseball, he and I couldnot be the only two gay men who have played in the big leagues, yet we are the only ones recognized to have done so.

Glenn was much braver than I. He refused to let homophobia change him. He didnt hide from his truth. (I struggled heavily with my sexuality, and I never came out until I had left baseball for good, and its a choice Ill always regret). Glenn had his loving family, and a hometown group of friends around him for support. He was so far ahead of his time, brimming with self-confidence, yet naive enough to believe the rest of the world would be accepting, just like his family. He learned quickly that a few powerful people in baseball decided his fate. They sent their message loud and clear, which led to his decision to stop playing.

This book was not easy for me, yet I read it in one sitting, spellbound. It brought back memories of my darkest times. Erik Sherman writes a gut-wrenching, and incredibly honest account of the world through Glenns own words. At times Glenn seemed to be his own worst enemy, and his loyalty to some, especially the most personal, led to his downfall. I remember all too well the desire to trust others with my secret, but I was never able to share it. Its lonely in the closet, and the isolation tore me apart.

Our stories are different, but we both made a similar mistake. We didnt realize how much we loved our sport until we quit. Walking away from the game without reaching out for help was not the answer to our struggles. Adjusting to life after baseball is hard for every player, and Glenns slide into darkness after his career ended breaks my heart. His life could have easily gone the other way. When I met Glenns wonderful sister, Lutha Davis, at this years 2014 MLB All-Star Game in Minnesota, I could still see the pain of Glenns memory in her eyes. Im certain that every image of baseball reminds her of her little brother, when he was young, healthy, strong, and a star in the making. His being recognized by MLB must have been bittersweet, but Lutha, and her daughter, Alice, were there, proudly representing their family. They shared some wonderful stories about Glenn with me, and I hate that I never got to meet him. His story will help change the sports world... for the better.

I was away from baseball for a very long time, but in my heart, I never left. As MLBs first Ambassador for Inclusion there is so much work to do. It is also my responsibility to represent the people in our sport who still play this game or work in secret, fearful of judgment as they work so hard to realize their dreams. I will champion Glenns story, his highs and lows, and everything in between. He is back in baseball too, and I will help make sure that his memory is never forgotten.