Major League Baseball to any and all gay members of the
league; “No rush to come out but no worries if you do.”
Major League Baseball insists they are not trying to push
anyone or rush anyone but the league feels like it’s prepared and ready for
their first openly gay player. MLB already has had players admit to being gay,
Billy Bean and Glenn Burke the most notable, but neither of them admitted it
until after their playing careers were over while minor league outfielder David
Denson came out last year revealing his sexual preference. While Denson was the
first he has yet to pass Class A-Ball with the Brewers and may never reach the
Major Leagues.
Bean kind of broke the barrier for gay people in 1999 when
he came out openly as a member of the front office in Oakland. Bean would later
tell stories of how his partner of three years passes away as a player but he
did not tell a soul because he was worried about how he would be perceived by
his teammates in the clubhouse. Bean retired prematurely because he was
miserable with his life and his playing career because of the fear that his
lifestyle choices would make him different and hopes that no other player “is
as miserable” as he was.
This is not going to be Jackie Robinson breaking the color
barrier and it’s not going to be Hank Aaron passing Babe Ruth on the all-time
home runs list but it’s going to be historical for Major League Baseball when
the first gay ballplayer comes out openly. It will be a milestone and MLB is
ready for it, are you?
Wrong guy. Billy Beane works in the front office for the A's, Billy Bean was the first MLB player to come out.
ReplyDeleteYeah I realized that after it went live, I got to work and I couldn't change it. Good catch though. Old habits die hard I guess.
DeleteWhat's funny is I had Bean down and then changed it. Doubted myself.
jeff, you just blew my mind lol
ReplyDelete