Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, the home of “Authentic Bay Area Sports,” recognizes Gay and Lesbian Pride Month with a special encore presentation of “Out. The Glenn Burke Story” on Monday, June 20 at 8 p.m. PT. One-Hour Documentary to Be Broadcast Commercial-Free is nominated for a Northern California Area Emmy Award and a nominee for Outstanding Documentary at the 22nd Annual GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards, “Out. The Glenn Burke Story” documents Burke’s legacy as the first openly gay Major League Baseball player. After the June 20 airing, “Out. The Glenn Burke Story” will re-air on Sunday, June 26 at 9 p.m. and Thursday, June 30 at 2:30 p.m.
Out. The Glenn Burke Story documents the extent of Burke’s courage, strife and friendship throughout his life, and the compassion and callousness of the sport of baseball. The program weaves together insights from Burke’s teammates and friends, including Dusty Baker, Davey Lopes, Sports Agent Abdul-Jalil, Reggie Smith, Rick Monday, Manny Mota, Rickey Henderson, Claudell Washington, Mike Norris, Shooty Babitt, Tito Fuentes, and former Major Leaguer and gay rights activist Billy Bean. Out. The Glenn Burke Story Narrated by Dave Morey, Bay Area Broadcasting Icon and Member of the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010
arly in his career, Burke felt he had to hide his true self from his teammates. Later, when he began to reveal glimpses into his sexuality the baseball establishment began to close him out. Out. The Glenn Burke Story, a one-hour documentary produced by Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, tells the dramatic tale of Burke’s legacy as the first openly homosexual Major League Baseball player. From his Major League debut in 1976 and starting Game One of the 1977 World Series for the Dodgers to subsequently being traded to the Oakland Athletics the next season, and then walking away in 1980 from the game that he deeply loved, Comcast SportsNet follows one of baseball’s most dramatic arcs.
Many of Burke’s teammates were aware of his homosexuality during his playing career, as were members of management. And many of those teammates believe that his sexuality – and the reaction it provoked – led to the premature derailment of his baseball career.
Out. The Glenn Burke Story tells the tumultuous story of the wedge that was driven between Burke and the Los Angeles management, the ensuing similar situation in Oakland that led to Burke’s abrupt retirement, and the hero’s welcome that Burke received in San Francisco’s Castro District after he left professional baseball.
Ted Griggs, Vice, President,General, Manager, Comcast, SportsNet, Bay Area, East Bay native,knew all about Glenn Burkes,legendary athletic feats,followed his career,throughout the late seventies,watched and read ,with great interest,when he came out on The Today Show with Bryant Gumbel and in Inside Sports Magazine,saddened by his tragic death,his was a compelling story,that should be told one day,This documentary allows Glenn’s family, friends,teammates,tell that story,it is enhanced with, narration,Dave Morey, one of the most respected voices in Bay Area radio,Morey,recently inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame,morning host,KFOG,in broadcasting,public screening,the Castro Theatre,429 Castro Street, San Francisco, California,Admission,proceeds benefiting Marty’s Place,Marty’s,Place,provided a homeless Burke with shelter,care as ,he coped with the effects of AIDS/HIV,Tickets are available,the screening, the network will air,special town-hall edition,Chronicle Live,from the Castro Theater,Hosted by,veteran,Bay Area sports announcer,Greg Papa, Chronicle, Live,a live one-hour program, will feature,interactive,roundtable
discussion,debate,homosexuals in professional sports,Additional event details,panelists,Chronicle Live,will be announced at a later date,air dates,times,channel locations,produced by Doug Harris,Bounce,The Don Barksdale Story,Tournament of Champions,The Legends of Northern California High School Basketball, Sean Maddison,Orange and Black,San Francisco,The Giants,producer of San Jose Sharks hockey,Comcast SportsNet,online,press kit,video excerpts,the documentary,CSNBayArea.com/pages/out,ATTENTION,ONLINE MEDIA,BLOGGERS,view, share,embed video content,promotional spots,bonus footage,CSNBayArea.com,Comcast Sports Group,14 local networks,sporting events annually,breaking news,analysis,50 million cable and satellite homes,Comcast Sports,Groups sports networks,Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet New England, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, SNY, The Mtn,Mountain West Sports Network, CSS,Comcast Sports Southwest,Comcast Sports Group,manages,NECN,New England Cable News, the nations largest,regional news network,The Comcast Network, based in, Philadelphia,Washington,delivers community-oriented programming,ComcastSportsNet.com,Timeline,Glenn Lawrence Burke,born in Oakland, California,senior year, Burke is named Northern Californias High School Basketball Player of the Year,leading the Berkeley High School Yellowjackets,32-0 record,winning the Tournament of Champions,Burke attends Merritt College in Oakland,plays baseball and basketball, eventually earning a scholarship to the University of Nevada, Reno,Burke is drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers,17th round,amateur draft,Burke makes his professional debut for the Ogden Dodgers,Rookie,Pioneer League,promoted to Low-A ball, the Spokane Indians,Northwest League,splitting time,Single-A affiliate,Daytona Beach,Bakersfield,University of Nevada, Reno,starting,point guard,preseason,scores 22 points against USC,preseason game, early season injury,convinces him,hang up his sneakers,focus on baseball,his best season in the minors,hitting .338,Single-A Bakersfield,promoted to AA Waterbury,Eastern League,Burke makes his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Francisco Giants,Burkes autobiography, Dodgers general manager,Al, Campanis,offers to pay for a lavish honeymoon,if Burke agrees to get married,Burke angrily refuses, seeing the offer, as a way to ,cover up his homosexuality,Dusty Baker hits his 30th home run of the season,is greeted at home plate by Burke, hand is raised in the air,Baker does the same,they slapped hands, producing the first High Five in sports history
