Glenn Burke, the first major leaguer to disclose publicly that he was homosexual, would have been 63 years old Monday. He died of AIDS-related complications in 1995. Burke's playing career as a major leaguer lasted parts of four seasons, and was said to be one of unfulfilled potential. But there was more to his career than being closeted, or having a .270 on-base percentage.
In addition to a leaving legacy of self-respect and activism, Burke contributed an enduring and endearing act to the world of sports: Along with teammate Dusty Baker, he helped to popularize the high five.
It happened during the final game of the 1977 regular season when Burke, a rookie playing for the Dodgers, went onto the field to congratulate Dusty Baker on hitting his 30th home run of the season. Baker, along with Ron Cey, Steve Garvey and Reggie Smith became the first quartet in major league history to hit 30 home runs apiece.
Rather than offering a hug or a typical handshake, Burke raised his arm to Baker and left it there with an open hand. What happened next helped to transform sports culture forever.
"People ask me if I invented the high five," Baker said. "No, I didn't invent the high five. All I did was respond to Glenn."
It's the earliest documented high five in sports history. Here a short ESPN documentary about it:
Baker, reflecting on Burke:
"He was built like Willie Mays, and he could do anything that he set his mind to.
"He was the life of the party. We'd go out and he'd be the life of the dance floor. He was always making us laugh."
The rest of Burke's career would not be so happy. He was traded the next season to the Athletics, partly he said, because the Dodgers feared news of Burke's sexual orientation would leak and he would not change. When he came out publicly in the 1980s -- a few years after he was out of the league in all ways -- Burke said he felt like his former teammates were aware of his life as a gay person and that, collectively, they did not care. Still, he felt persecuted by the Dodgers and the league for trying to change him, or at least trying to stifle his true self.
MLB tried to right some of its wrongs in 2014 by honoring Burke before at the All-Star Game in Minneapolis as a pioneer of the sport. Although we're still waiting for an active player to come out, the league has a different attitude today, having hired Billy Bean as its ambassador of inclusion. Bean, like Burke, came out as openly gay after he played.
The social atmosphere in a major league clubhouse today, as it regards potentially including a gay teammate, has changed -- partly because of how Burke spoke out later in his own life. And for that alone, Burke deserves a posthumous birthday high five.
