{"product_id":"9780425281437","title":"Out at Home: The True Story of Glenn Burke, Baseball's First Openly Gay Player","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBefore Jason Collins, before Michael Sam, there was Glenn Burke. By becoming the first—and only—openly gay player in Major League Baseball, Glenn would become a pioneer in his own way, nearly thirty years after another black Dodger rookie, Jackie Robinson, broke the league’s color barrier. This is Glenn’s story, in his own words . . .\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTouted by scouts and coaches alike as “the next Willie Mays,” Burke, a charismatic outfielder, kept his sexuality off the radar for a good two seasons, which included a World Series appearance. He was even credited with inventing the high five with teammate Dusty Baker.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut when the Dodgers’ front office got wind of Burke’s sexuality, the damage control started, including efforts by upper management to talk him into a sham marriage. When Burke refused, he was eventually traded to Oakland, where he received a less-than-warm welcome from incoming manager Billy Martin. The prejudice, coupled with an injured knee, forced Burke into retirement at only twenty-seven years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow, two decades after his death from AIDS-related complications, the man who started the conversation is finally being included in it. Major League Baseball recognized him as a gay pioneer at the 2014 All-Star game. And Burke has become a source of inspiration for athletes who refuse to be defined by who they love, while doing what they love.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIncludes a new afterword by coauthor Erik Sherman reflecting on the two decades that have passed since Burke’s death.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eForeword by Billy Bean\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47025434886384,"sku":"9780425281437","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780425281437_p0.jpg?v=1763701275","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780425281437","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}