CSNBA To Premiere Documentary On First Openly Gay MLB Player

By Marcus Vanderberg 

If you’re looking for something to watch this evening, flip over to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for the premiere of Out. The Glenn Burke Story, the story of the first openly homosexual Major League Baseball player.

Glenn Burke played baseball for four seasons, splitting his time between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics. After his retirement in 1979, Burke’s sexual preference came to light during an interview in 1982.

His life would spiral out of control following a car accident in 1987. Burke turned to drugs and alcohol and eventually wound up homeless. On May 30, 1995, Burke died from the AIDS virus.

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“It would be nice if viewers look at this film and take a personal assessment of their whole level of acceptance, not necessarily dealing just with the gay issue but acceptance overall,” said documentarian Doug Harris.

Following the film, a special town hall edition of Chronicle Live will air live and feature an interactive roundtable discussion and debate about homosexuals in professional sports. Greg Papa will host and the roundtable will feature the likes of FanHouse Senior Writer Michelle Smith, columnist Ray Ratto and former NFL veteran Bill Romanowski.

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