The First Openly Gay MLB Player and Inventor of the High-Five
Author(s): Andrew Maraniss
Publisher: Philomel Books (Penguin Young Readers Group)
Copyright Year: 2021
ISBN/ISSN: 9780593116722
REVIEWED April 1, 2021
Rating: Recommended
Recommended Grade Levels: 6-12
This title presents an inspiring and well-written biography of Glenn Burke, a relatively overlooked athlete who was both the inventor of the high five and the first openly gay professional baseball player during a time when homophobia was rampant. As a Major League Baseball (MLB) player who was acknowledged as gay by his teammates and banned from the game for it, his story both acquaints readers with Glenn as a person while also shedding an intense light on the way LGBTQ individuals were treated by society over the course of his lifetime. Glenn was an astonishingly proficient athlete in both baseball and basketball, a sunny, outgoing humorist who lifted the spirits of any team he was on. His invention of the 'high five' gesture is recounted in detail and given its due. Well-placed photos support the narrative and the extensive notes are highly readable and support the facts. Burke died from AIDS in May of 1995, though he had hung on in hopes of being able to see his life story in print. Any school hoping to expand diversity in their collections will find this a welcome addition. This charismatic athlete deserves recognition, belated as it is. End pages include interviews, baseball statistics and charts, a timeline of gay rights, and a list of significant Black American LGBTQ figures for further study. Author Notes. Bibliography. Index.
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Carol Edwards, Retired Librarian, Littleton, CO
Publisher's Product Description
From New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss comes the remarkable true story of Glenn Burke, a "hidden figure" in the history of sports: the inventor of the high five and the first openly gay MLB player. Perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown.
On October 2nd, 1977, Glenn Burke, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history without even swinging a bat. When his teammate Dusty Baker hit a historic home run, Glenn enthusiastically congratulated him with the first ever high five.
But Glenn also made history in another way--he was the first openly gay MLB player. While he did not come out publicly until after his playing days were over, Glenn's sexuality was known to his teammates, family, and friends. His MLB career would be cut short after only three years, but his legacy and impact on the athletic and LGBTQIA+ community would resonate for years to come.
New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Glenn Burke: from his childhood growing up in Oakland, his journey to the MLB and the World Series, the joy in discovering who he really was, to more difficult times: facing injury, addiction, and the AIDS epidemic.
Packed with black-and-white photographs and thoroughly researched, never-before-seen details about Glenn's life, Singled Out is the fascinating story of a trailblazer in sports--and the history and culture that shaped the world around him.
On October 2nd, 1977, Glenn Burke, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history without even swinging a bat. When his teammate Dusty Baker hit a historic home run, Glenn enthusiastically congratulated him with the first ever high five.
But Glenn also made history in another way--he was the first openly gay MLB player. While he did not come out publicly until after his playing days were over, Glenn's sexuality was known to his teammates, family, and friends. His MLB career would be cut short after only three years, but his legacy and impact on the athletic and LGBTQIA+ community would resonate for years to come.
New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Glenn Burke: from his childhood growing up in Oakland, his journey to the MLB and the World Series, the joy in discovering who he really was, to more difficult times: facing injury, addiction, and the AIDS epidemic.
Packed with black-and-white photographs and thoroughly researched, never-before-seen details about Glenn's life, Singled Out is the fascinating story of a trailblazer in sports--and the history and culture that shaped the world around him.
Media Type: Book, eBook
Binding: HC
# Pages: 320
Price: $18.99
Genre: Nonfiction
Sub-Genre: Biographies