Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers unveiled a tribute to LGBTQ+ trailblazers Billy Bean and Glenn Burke. Both played for L.A. and were among the first professional athletes to identify as gay.
The permanent display is housed in Centerfield Plaza and features photos and memorabilia from their careers, along with text explaining the duo’s contributions to Major League Baseball and professional sports.
The dedication was held hours before the Dodgers’ game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 5, which was also the 13th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.
Among those in attendance were Dodgers’ team historian Mark Langill, members of the Bean family, members of the Burke family, and the Dodgers’ Pride Business Resource Group.
Along with the new display, the Dodgers also celebrated Pride Night with their continued tradition of wearing custom rainbow-decorated hats when they took the field.
That began in 2022, and eight days later, they faced the San Francisco Giants with both wearing their respective pride caps — a first in MLB history.
About Glenn Burke and Billy Bean
Burke became the first MLB player in history to come out as gay, although he announced it in 1982 after he retired. However, Burke later shared that “everybody knew” by 1978, and it led to prejudice that drove him out of baseball.
He played just four seasons in the Majors, debuting with the Dodgers in 1976 before they traded him to the Oakland Athletics during the 1978 season. He retired before the 1980 season began.
One of Burke’s most famous contributions is now a daily used symbol. On Oct. 2, 1977, Dusty Baker hit his 30th home run, and while they celebrated the moment, Bruke raised his hand into the air, leading Baker to slap it.
They have since been credited with inventing the high five.
Bean became the second MLB player to come out as gay, which he did in 1999, four years after retiring in 1995.
He made his debut in 1987 with the Detroit Tigers and spent part of the 1989 season with the Dodgers. He played three more years with the San Diego Padres from 1993 through 1995 after a few seasons in the Minor Leagues and Nippon Professional Baseball.
During his playing career, Bean kept his sexuality a secret and closely guarded it, taking actions to prevent his teammates from learning who his partner was.
After coming out, Bean was appointed as MLB’s first “Ambassador for Inclusion” on July 15, 2014. He ended up counseling David Denson, who became the first minor league player signed to an MLB organization to come out as gay.
Bean later became MLB’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Both Burke and Bean have since passed away. Burke died in 1995 at the age of 42, while Bean died in 2024 at the age of 60.
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