Last fall Comcast SportsNet Bay Area premiered the biopic Out: The Glenn Burke Story, about the former Dodgers and A’s player who was the first openly gay baseball player. Versus will now be airing the movie nationwide on Tuesday, August, at 10 p.m. ET.
Burke’s sexuality was known by his teammates and club officials during his career, which ended in 1979, but it only come to the public’s attention during an interview in 1982. Some believe he was run out of the league because of his homosexuality, while others point to his .237 career average as the chief reason.
Following a car accident in 1987, Burke began abusing drugs and alcohol, and his life spiraled so out of control that he eventually became homeless. He died from complications associated with AIDS in 1995.
“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.