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Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke
*"[An] excellent exercise in narrative nonfiction." -- Booklist (starred review)
From New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss comes the remarkable true story of Glenn Burke, a "hidden figure" in the history of the inventor of the high five and the first openly gay MLB player. Perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown.
On October 2nd, 1977, Glenn Burke, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history without even swinging a bat. When his teammate Dusty Baker hit a historic home run, Glenn enthusiastically congratulated him with the first ever high five.
But Glenn also made history in another way--he was the first openly gay MLB player. While he did not come out publicly until after his playing days were over, Glenn's sexuality was known to his teammates, family, and friends. His MLB career would be cut short after only three years, but his legacy and impact on the athletic and LGBTQIA+ community would resonate for years to come.
New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Glenn from his childhood growing up in Oakland, his journey to the MLB and the World Series, the joy in discovering who he really was, to more difficult facing injury, addiction, and the AIDS epidemic.
Packed with black-and-white photographs and thoroughly researched, never-before-seen details about Glenn's life, Singled Out is the fascinating story of a trailblazer in sports--and the history and culture that shaped the world around him.
Praise for Singled Out :
"A compelling narrative . . . This is a meticulously researched history of the ways queer culture in the ’70s intersected with baseball, Blackness, and larger culture wars, with one man at their center." -- Kirkus Reviews
From New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss comes the remarkable true story of Glenn Burke, a "hidden figure" in the history of the inventor of the high five and the first openly gay MLB player. Perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown.
On October 2nd, 1977, Glenn Burke, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history without even swinging a bat. When his teammate Dusty Baker hit a historic home run, Glenn enthusiastically congratulated him with the first ever high five.
But Glenn also made history in another way--he was the first openly gay MLB player. While he did not come out publicly until after his playing days were over, Glenn's sexuality was known to his teammates, family, and friends. His MLB career would be cut short after only three years, but his legacy and impact on the athletic and LGBTQIA+ community would resonate for years to come.
New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Glenn from his childhood growing up in Oakland, his journey to the MLB and the World Series, the joy in discovering who he really was, to more difficult facing injury, addiction, and the AIDS epidemic.
Packed with black-and-white photographs and thoroughly researched, never-before-seen details about Glenn's life, Singled Out is the fascinating story of a trailblazer in sports--and the history and culture that shaped the world around him.
Praise for Singled Out :
"A compelling narrative . . . This is a meticulously researched history of the ways queer culture in the ’70s intersected with baseball, Blackness, and larger culture wars, with one man at their center." -- Kirkus Reviews
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2021
15 people are currently reading
1138 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Maraniss
22 books54 followersAndrew Maraniss is the New York Times bestselling author of STRONG INSIDE, a biography of Perry Wallace, the first African American basketball player in the SEC. The original, adult edition of the book received the Lillian Smith Book Award and the RFK Book Awards' Special Recognition Prize, while the Middle Grade adaptation was named one of the Top Biographies and Top Sports Books for Youth by the American Library Association. Andrew's next book (Nov. 2019) GAMES OF DECEPTION, is the true story of the first U.S. Olympic basketball team, at the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany. Andrew is a contributor to ESPN's race and sports website, TheUndefeated.com, and is a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics. He lives in Brentwood, Tenn., with his wife and two young children. Follow him on Twitter @trublu24.
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January 2, 2022This excellent biography is a great choice for baseball fans or readers interested in LGBTQ+ history. The first half is more about sports, while the second half gets more into Glenn Burke's personal life as he was traded from his team due to his sexuality and eventually decided to come out publicly. It's not always an easy story to read - there is a lot of pain here - but it's an important one to read.
June 27, 2023
Singled Out is a straightforward accounting of Glenn Burke’s life — the first openly gay professional baseball player. I found Burke a fascinating, complicated, likable, heroic and ultimately tragic character. The author deftly integrates gay U.S. history of the 70s and 80s into Burke’s life story. Once the narrative began covering Burke’s time in MLB I found the book difficult to put down. Burke’s story definitely deserves to be more well known than it is.
May 17, 2021
I was intrigued at reading the cover of this book and it stayed with me to the end. What a great story that ended very sadly. I know that we as a country have not overcome our phobias of so many different topics and sexual orientation is at the top of that list. I am 100% in favor of equal rights to ALL no matter race, color, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, etc. I hope our country can keep moving forward in the fight for "Justice for ALL". Glenn Burke who I never even heard about before this book was a great all-around athlete (basketball was his first choice) but he ended up having a dream to play Major league baseball, that dream came true but at a cost to him living a lie about who he really was, how hard would that be? I recommend this book to anyone who loves to learn about the history of how the high-five came to be and about sports and a great BIO on Glenn Burke!
On October 2nd, 1977, Glenn Burke, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history without even swinging a bat. When his teammate Dusty Baker hit a historic home run, Glenn enthusiastically congratulated him with the first-ever high five.
But Glenn also made history in another way--he was the first openly gay MLB player. While he did not come out publicly until after his playing days were over, Glenn's sexuality was known to his teammates, family, and friends. His MLB career would be cut short after only three years, but his legacy and impact on the athletic and LGBTQIA+ community would resonate for years to come.
New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Glenn Burke: from his childhood growing up in Oakland, his journey to the MLB and the World Series, the joy in discovering who he really was, to more difficult times: facing injury, addiction, and the AIDS epidemic.
Packed with black-and-white photographs and thoroughly researched, never-before-seen details about Glenn's life, Singled Out is the fascinating story of a trailblazer in sports--and the history and culture that shaped the world around him.
On October 2nd, 1977, Glenn Burke, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history without even swinging a bat. When his teammate Dusty Baker hit a historic home run, Glenn enthusiastically congratulated him with the first-ever high five.
But Glenn also made history in another way--he was the first openly gay MLB player. While he did not come out publicly until after his playing days were over, Glenn's sexuality was known to his teammates, family, and friends. His MLB career would be cut short after only three years, but his legacy and impact on the athletic and LGBTQIA+ community would resonate for years to come.
New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Glenn Burke: from his childhood growing up in Oakland, his journey to the MLB and the World Series, the joy in discovering who he really was, to more difficult times: facing injury, addiction, and the AIDS epidemic.
Packed with black-and-white photographs and thoroughly researched, never-before-seen details about Glenn's life, Singled Out is the fascinating story of a trailblazer in sports--and the history and culture that shaped the world around him.
June 24, 2024
As both a huge baseball fan and a queer person, I was so excited to pick up this book and learn more about the life of Glenn Burke and his impact on both the sports world and queer culture. I truly treasure this book and the empathy and care it showed to Glenn’s story. It was beautiful, funny, and heartbreaking. This should be required reading.
March 5, 2023
honestly surprised by the amount of history (especially queer history) addressed in this book
with that though, I literally couldn't care less about sports, especially baseball, so that was frustrating for me reading this (obviously)
overall though I would say this is decent (and I'm interested to look at this author's other work)
with that though, I literally couldn't care less about sports, especially baseball, so that was frustrating for me reading this (obviously)
overall though I would say this is decent (and I'm interested to look at this author's other work)
October 31, 2021
Maybe more of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up. I think for me the narrator wasn’t my favorite. Otherwise it’s a good story albeit sad.
March 27, 2023
Every year just before opening day I always read a baseball book. In a tumultuous time in TN, where our governor is banning drag shows and taking away rights from our LGBTQIA+ neighbors in the year 2023 — I wanted to read, understand and FEEL the struggle of a gay man in professional sports in the 70’s. Maraniss flawlessly tells the true story of World Series baseball pro, Glenn Burke. I absolutely loved the portrayal of this fun, jovial, strong, lovable man of the MLB. The struggle was palpable and painful, but so beautifully told. The Dodgers missed out on what could have been one of the best ever baseball players in MLB history. What a daring, yet brave life Glenn Burke lived…what a mark he left on many — especially the ones who truly allowed themselves to see him.
February 22, 2022
While I am not much of a reader of sports biographies, but this one sticks with me.
Singled Out tells the story of Glenn Burke, a closeted and later openly gay baseball player who invented the high five. Glenn’s life wasn’t easy and he took a lot of flack from the MLB but his teammates loved him and his outgoing, fun loving personality. Eventually, Glenn Burke decides he’s had enough of discrimination and leaves sports becoming lost. Spiraling into drugs and falling victim to the AIDS epidemic, the guy who invented the high five dies being celebrated by a group of people who knew and loved him.
Singled Out tells the story of Glenn Burke, a closeted and later openly gay baseball player who invented the high five. Glenn’s life wasn’t easy and he took a lot of flack from the MLB but his teammates loved him and his outgoing, fun loving personality. Eventually, Glenn Burke decides he’s had enough of discrimination and leaves sports becoming lost. Spiraling into drugs and falling victim to the AIDS epidemic, the guy who invented the high five dies being celebrated by a group of people who knew and loved him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2021
He was Black and gay in a racist and homophobic society, growing up poor without the privilege of a family safety net. He came of age in the wrong places at the wrong time, with the introduction of cocaine in baseball, AIDS in the Castro, and crack in the inner city just at the moments he entered those spaces...He spiraled into deeper and deeper levels of despair.
Glenn Burke, a former MLB player, deserves your attention. His story, his journey, and his struggles may not be known by many, but they should be. His atypical rise to major league sports was filled with energy, pizzaz, and jest. But his fall was quick, tragic, and sadly, representative of the times. Burke was a closeted gay man and that didn't align well with MLB culture in the 70s and 80s. He was benched by coaches, slandered by even his team's hometown fans, offered money by his franchise to marry a woman to silence rumors, and ultimately, pushed out of baseball all together.
Up until a year ago, I never knew his name or story. He was a small footnote in an LGBTQ+ history book I read. What caught my attention was that he is accredited as inventing the high five. How cool is that? However, there are so many more layers to his journey. He was a black, gay man trying to play major league baseball when homophobia was reaching all corners of the country. If that wasn't enough, he then had to navigate the AIDS epidemic, the rise of drug culture in the Bay area, and homelessness.
This book. This story...taught me so much. It taught me about the importance of living your truth. It taught me about the ugliness of homophobia from the past AND present. It taught me about how no story should be silenced or forgotten--dear readers--don't let his. Recommended for GR 8 and up.
Glenn Burke, a former MLB player, deserves your attention. His story, his journey, and his struggles may not be known by many, but they should be. His atypical rise to major league sports was filled with energy, pizzaz, and jest. But his fall was quick, tragic, and sadly, representative of the times. Burke was a closeted gay man and that didn't align well with MLB culture in the 70s and 80s. He was benched by coaches, slandered by even his team's hometown fans, offered money by his franchise to marry a woman to silence rumors, and ultimately, pushed out of baseball all together.
Up until a year ago, I never knew his name or story. He was a small footnote in an LGBTQ+ history book I read. What caught my attention was that he is accredited as inventing the high five. How cool is that? However, there are so many more layers to his journey. He was a black, gay man trying to play major league baseball when homophobia was reaching all corners of the country. If that wasn't enough, he then had to navigate the AIDS epidemic, the rise of drug culture in the Bay area, and homelessness.
This book. This story...taught me so much. It taught me about the importance of living your truth. It taught me about the ugliness of homophobia from the past AND present. It taught me about how no story should be silenced or forgotten--dear readers--don't let his. Recommended for GR 8 and up.
January 6, 2025
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Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
If you follow me on Twitter or Blueskyfirst of all, I'm sorry, then you know my two main hobbies are reading books and watching sports. And if you've been following my bookish content for a while, you'll know that I make it a priority to seek out queer non-fiction and learn about queer history. Maraniss' biography of Glenn Burke, the first openly gay active MLB player, is a deep dive into Burke's life from his childhood all through his playing career and even a bit afterwards.
First thing's first, though, I was entirely put off by the opening chapter, which was bad enough that it warrants a mention. Depicting Burke at an extremely low point of his life living in a barren hotel room after his playing career, as "a Black man, curled up in the fetal position, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. The man was sobbing, and soaked in sweat, crying tears Haskell recognized from years on the streets: tears of hopelessness, fear, and drugs," just didn't seem like the right move. While I don't think those subjects are inappropriate for kids, I must also point out that this is a biography marketed towards kids/teens and that introducing young readers to a historical figure, especially a gay Black man is a rather uncomfortable framing, and I'm surprised it was published.
That aside (though not excused), the information in the book is thorough. I just wish that this had been written by someone closer to Burke's experience. Maybe it still would have had some uncomfortable framings like the opening chapter had, but I just wonder how much better written this could have been if were done by someone Black, someone queer.
The book has a few other false starts before diving into Burke's childhood and going into his playing career, and I hate to give another criticism because I really wanted to like this book, but I'm just picturing myself reading this as a teen, and I have to say there's no way this would have kept my attention with the way it's organized. Maybe it's just the way my brain works and other people/teens will be fine with it, but I had to point it out.
Fortunately for this book, Burke's life itself, the anecdote about him, the quotes from him were interesting on their own. Burke is funny in that way where you know he absolutely does not mean to be funny but it just is. Like, the anecdote of when the Dodgers first tried to recruit him and Burke's response was,
And lastly, Burke's story is important. Although he played in the back half of the 70s, he is still the only MLB player who has come out as gay during his career, and the unfortunate but important context is that he was pressured to come out. He's an often forgotten about player in part because he only played for four seasons and in another because of how poorly he was treated in the league. Burke's story is one that deserves to be remembered, and if nothing else, I'm glad this book helps ensure he won't be entirely forgotten.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
If you follow me on Twitter or Bluesky
First thing's first, though, I was entirely put off by the opening chapter, which was bad enough that it warrants a mention. Depicting Burke at an extremely low point of his life living in a barren hotel room after his playing career, as "a Black man, curled up in the fetal position, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. The man was sobbing, and soaked in sweat, crying tears Haskell recognized from years on the streets: tears of hopelessness, fear, and drugs," just didn't seem like the right move. While I don't think those subjects are inappropriate for kids, I must also point out that this is a biography marketed towards kids/teens and that introducing young readers to a historical figure, especially a gay Black man is a rather uncomfortable framing, and I'm surprised it was published.
That aside (though not excused), the information in the book is thorough. I just wish that this had been written by someone closer to Burke's experience. Maybe it still would have had some uncomfortable framings like the opening chapter had, but I just wonder how much better written this could have been if were done by someone Black, someone queer.
The book has a few other false starts before diving into Burke's childhood and going into his playing career, and I hate to give another criticism because I really wanted to like this book, but I'm just picturing myself reading this as a teen, and I have to say there's no way this would have kept my attention with the way it's organized. Maybe it's just the way my brain works and other people/teens will be fine with it, but I had to point it out.
Fortunately for this book, Burke's life itself, the anecdote about him, the quotes from him were interesting on their own. Burke is funny in that way where you know he absolutely does not mean to be funny but it just is. Like, the anecdote of when the Dodgers first tried to recruit him and Burke's response was,
“I don’t want to play for the Dodgers,” Glenn said, clutching his basketball. He was a Giants fan, and that meant hating the Dodgers, a rivalry that began before both teams had moved to California from New York City in 1958. “Leave me alone.”
And lastly, Burke's story is important. Although he played in the back half of the 70s, he is still the only MLB player who has come out as gay during his career, and the unfortunate but important context is that he was pressured to come out. He's an often forgotten about player in part because he only played for four seasons and in another because of how poorly he was treated in the league. Burke's story is one that deserves to be remembered, and if nothing else, I'm glad this book helps ensure he won't be entirely forgotten.
June 25, 2021
Having read A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner earlier, I was eager to sink into this one as well. Bildner's book is for a younger audience and doesn't go into the same sort of detail that this book does due to its intended audience. I appreciated both books for their respective merits. This one is a no-holds barred account of the life and times of baseball player Glenn Burke, the first openly gay Major League Baseball player. He's also acknowledged as the individual responsible for starting the practice of high-fives when someone, especially in sports, does something well. It's clear that Glenn was a talented athlete, excelling in basketball during his high school years, and often being the glue that held together the baseball teams on which he played, whether it was a farm team or the big leagues. He even played in the World Series in 1977 for the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he held onto his secret--that he was gay--for many years. As he became less and less wiling to hide his identity, Glenn was pressured to stay in the closet and even agree to a pretend marriage. Managers Tommy Lasorda and Billy Martin in particular do not come off well in this account because of their closed-mindedness. After his baseball career ended, Glenn embraced his freedom, but he was unable to hold down a regular job, and his money evaporated. When the book begins, Glenn is in a flophouse where rooms went for $10 a night, as down on his luck as it's possible to be. The narrative then shifts to his early years and his career before covering the events that led to his demise. Relying on interviews from family, friends, and teammates, this is an important story because of how Glenn's life took a tragic turn that was not necessary. Readers who grew up during that time period when disco was king and AIDS shocked the world will recall the paranoia surrounding those with HIV or AIDS and how they were treated while those who are unfamiliar with that time period will be shocked by some of the scenes described here. The author makes it clear that Glenn was not perfect; he wasn't always as disciplined as he needed to be, he failed to take academics or his education seriously, he became addicted to drugs, and he didn't always respond well to authority figures, and that perhaps he was too trusting of those who didn't deserve that trust. Still, it's equally clear that baseball betrayed him and that his family stuck by his side through all this. The passages describing his failing health and demise from AIDS are heartrending. This well-written narrative nonfiction with plenty of baseball action should be read for its historical value and to reflect on what life and his career might have been like for Glenn had he been playing baseball today.
December 23, 2025
Singled Out is the biography of Glenn Burke, an MLB player in the 80s. He's credited with inventing the high five. While I don't watch a ton of sports nor can I quote you stats, I frequently enjoy personal angle sports stories or biographies, and expected this one to be right up my alley. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to expectations for me.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the opening was jarring. The book opens with Burke in the 90s, very, very sick with AIDs. I would have liked to see it open at a high point, to celebrate Burke. I'm not certain all teens (the target audience) would keep reading past this very real and blunt opening.
It was also interesting to see many reviewers detract a star or two for too much baseball alongside reviewers detracting a start or two for too little baseball. It was about 50/50, I'd guess. I do think that the author did a fairly good job balancing Burke's personal history with his MLB career, especially considering that he, unfortunately, didn't get to play for many years. I always find it fascinating to read about people who are able to be really, really, really good at what they do, and Burke sounds like he was a top baseball player. It also made me smile to hear about how integral he was to his entire team, contributing greatly to their positive culture.
After baseball, Maraniss brings in US current events from the 80s and 90s as backdrop to Burke's story as he descends into a life of addiction and, ultimately, AIDs. It was hard to read how Burke fell from inventing the high five to living on the streets. That's not quite the end of the story, though - but you'll have to read yourself to find out more.
Overall, I think Maraniss did the best he knew how in sharing the complicated story of a complex individual. I am glad to know more about Glenn Burke, but might have edited the timeline of the book a little differently.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the opening was jarring. The book opens with Burke in the 90s, very, very sick with AIDs. I would have liked to see it open at a high point, to celebrate Burke. I'm not certain all teens (the target audience) would keep reading past this very real and blunt opening.
It was also interesting to see many reviewers detract a star or two for too much baseball alongside reviewers detracting a start or two for too little baseball. It was about 50/50, I'd guess. I do think that the author did a fairly good job balancing Burke's personal history with his MLB career, especially considering that he, unfortunately, didn't get to play for many years. I always find it fascinating to read about people who are able to be really, really, really good at what they do, and Burke sounds like he was a top baseball player. It also made me smile to hear about how integral he was to his entire team, contributing greatly to their positive culture.
After baseball, Maraniss brings in US current events from the 80s and 90s as backdrop to Burke's story as he descends into a life of addiction and, ultimately, AIDs. It was hard to read how Burke fell from inventing the high five to living on the streets. That's not quite the end of the story, though - but you'll have to read yourself to find out more.
Overall, I think Maraniss did the best he knew how in sharing the complicated story of a complex individual. I am glad to know more about Glenn Burke, but might have edited the timeline of the book a little differently.
May 22, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed reading Andrew Maraniss' "Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke." Glenn's struggle is a struggle of an era which as we read about in the last chapter continues till this day for lgbtq pro-athletes. It wasn't until after he was removed from the MLB and the Oakland A's, addicted to drugs and in need of income did he come out to sports writers in return for money. The L.A. Dodgers had a gifted athlete on their hands but because of his sexuality traded him to the Oakland A's. Al Campanis, a manager for the Dodgers, even tried to bribe him into a sham marriage with a woman. After being kicked out of the Dodgers, not for rowdy behavior or poor performance, he in "don't ask, don't tell" fashion, is assigned to the Oakland A's where he eventually voluntarily leaves baseball for good.
HIV/AIDS adds a new tragic twist to his life. Already homeless, addicted and without a resume or desire to be an ordinary Joe, Glenn Burke contracts the awful, medically-elusive and socially stigmatized disease. Blessedly a few good characters return to his life to help him. Father Purcell, a Catholic priest whose own brother died of the disease and Pamela Pitts who helps pay for food and shelter. Goldman, an heir of Levi-Strauss and multimillionaire college friend, Dusty Baker, former Dodger teammate and Lutha, his sister who he lives with during the final few years of his life.
Blessedly, much has changed since the late seventies and eighties in terms of LGBTQ rights but much ground is still left unchartered. A social justice read for young adults and I think a good book for a book-club or school activities. Very engaging and relevant to our times with questions of identity, racism, homophobia, poverty and marginalization.
HIV/AIDS adds a new tragic twist to his life. Already homeless, addicted and without a resume or desire to be an ordinary Joe, Glenn Burke contracts the awful, medically-elusive and socially stigmatized disease. Blessedly a few good characters return to his life to help him. Father Purcell, a Catholic priest whose own brother died of the disease and Pamela Pitts who helps pay for food and shelter. Goldman, an heir of Levi-Strauss and multimillionaire college friend, Dusty Baker, former Dodger teammate and Lutha, his sister who he lives with during the final few years of his life.
Blessedly, much has changed since the late seventies and eighties in terms of LGBTQ rights but much ground is still left unchartered. A social justice read for young adults and I think a good book for a book-club or school activities. Very engaging and relevant to our times with questions of identity, racism, homophobia, poverty and marginalization.
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November 2, 2021Publisher's Description: From New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss comes the remarkable true story of Glenn Burke, a "hidden figure" in the history of sports: the inventor of the high five and the first openly gay MLB player. Perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown. On October 2nd, 1977, Glenn Burke, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history without even swinging a bat. When his teammate Dusty Baker hit a historic home run, Glenn enthusiastically congratulated him with the first ever high five. But Glenn also made history in another way--he was the first openly gay MLB player. While he did not come out publicly until after his playing days were over, Glenn's sexuality was known to his teammates, family, and friends. His MLB career would be cut short after only three years, but his legacy and impact on the athletic and LGBTQ+ community would resonate for years to come. In Singled Out, New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss tells the story of a little-known but monumentally important sports pioneer, Glenn Burke: from his childhood growing up in Oakland, his journey to the World Series, and his joy in living free at a time of gay liberation, to more difficult times: facing injury, addiction, and the AIDS epidemic. Packed with black-and-white photographs and never-before-seen details about Glenn's life, Singled Out is the fascinating and thoroughly researched story of a trailblazer in sports--and the history and culture that shaped the world around him.
June 12, 2023
overall, what a read. not a genre that i’m normally interested in, but Maraniss paints such a vivid image of Burke as a human that by the end, i was getting chills every other page.
love that the language is accessible, which is so important in social justice-themed books.
can’t say it’s going down as a favorite of mine. not my taste exactly, but it’s made me more interested in the sports-biography genre.
also didn’t even mean to read this during pride month, but very fitting. glenn burke truly was a pioneer, but reading his story also makes clear how much room professional sports have to grow (particularly male-dominated pro sports) to celebrate their queer players, coaches, and everyone else who makes the world of pro sports go ‘round.
(side note: love that we get a partial discussion of pressures from other gay individuals to “come out.” i’m interested in the larger conversation around “coming out” in general, and though i think there was opportunity to nuance this more in the book, i appreciate the way the book covers how pro sports, especially when Glenn Burke was playing, were a charged space when it came to displaying queer identity).
love that the language is accessible, which is so important in social justice-themed books.
can’t say it’s going down as a favorite of mine. not my taste exactly, but it’s made me more interested in the sports-biography genre.
also didn’t even mean to read this during pride month, but very fitting. glenn burke truly was a pioneer, but reading his story also makes clear how much room professional sports have to grow (particularly male-dominated pro sports) to celebrate their queer players, coaches, and everyone else who makes the world of pro sports go ‘round.
(side note: love that we get a partial discussion of pressures from other gay individuals to “come out.” i’m interested in the larger conversation around “coming out” in general, and though i think there was opportunity to nuance this more in the book, i appreciate the way the book covers how pro sports, especially when Glenn Burke was playing, were a charged space when it came to displaying queer identity).
October 13, 2021
Before reading the fictional A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner, I didn't know anything about the first openly gay MLB player and the inventor of the high five. His story is a fascinating, and heartbreaking one. Maraniss does a good job of describing the difficult societal conditions Burke faced as both a Black man and a gay athlete. Like in any good biography, he doesn't let Burke off the hook completely for any bad decisions he made, but he clearly lays out the bigotry he was constantly working against. Maraniss uses baseball metaphor to describe the way Burke handled the discrimination in his life, "while he may have swung at some bad pitches, he often came to the plate with two strikes already against him." (229) It's a shame that Burke was driven out of MLB before he really got to showcase his talents and before we got to see how could he could have been. Excellent nonfiction for teens.
October 14, 2025
This is a YA biography of Glenn Burke. I'm well past the target age group and had not read a YA biography in many years, but the book was well worth my time. Andrew Maraniss writes from an unabashed social-justice perspective -- we're only four years past the publication date, but it already feels like a relic from a tragically lost era (I imagine most states below the Mason-Dixon line have already seen this book banned from their middle school and high school libraries). Maraniss tackles how both racism and homophobia derailed Burke's life and led to his tragic death from AIDS in 1995. Burke's entire life story is told, and while some of Burke's problems came from within rather than without, the author is not shy about telling the whole story, warts and all. It's a YA biography but covers a wide range of social justice issues tangential to Burke, such as the assassination of Harvey Milk, and President Reagan's intentional ignorance of the brewing AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
June 9, 2022
*4.5 rounded up
CW: Period typical racism and homophobia
In Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke, Andrew Maraniss tells the fascinating tale of Glenn Burke, a black, gay baseball player in the 1970s. The book begins with Burke’s background, before tackling his professional career that took place in a time when racism and homophobia were spreading wildly. Finally, Maraniss tackles the many struggles that Burke faced after baseball. The biography is unique in that, over the span of just 320 pages, it masterfully incorporates Burke’s life events into the larger context of discrimination and this helps the reader understand the significance of his story. Although the book is likely to attract those interested in baseball, it is much more about what a hateful world can do to a young man who is learning to live with himself.
--Jonah, 11th Grade
CW: Period typical racism and homophobia
In Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke, Andrew Maraniss tells the fascinating tale of Glenn Burke, a black, gay baseball player in the 1970s. The book begins with Burke’s background, before tackling his professional career that took place in a time when racism and homophobia were spreading wildly. Finally, Maraniss tackles the many struggles that Burke faced after baseball. The biography is unique in that, over the span of just 320 pages, it masterfully incorporates Burke’s life events into the larger context of discrimination and this helps the reader understand the significance of his story. Although the book is likely to attract those interested in baseball, it is much more about what a hateful world can do to a young man who is learning to live with himself.
--Jonah, 11th Grade
January 29, 2023
This was a really solidly written biography for middle and high school students about an incredible player Major League Baseball tried to forget.
The inventor of the high five, an important rookie on a World Series team, the first MLB player to come out as gay, friend to many, brother, son, uncle. Maraniss does a great job weaving in relevant details from the sports world and general culture of the time to help readers understand the world Glenn Burke was growing up in and why it was so hard for him to be a gay baseball player in a society that didn't want gay people to live out their truth in public view. He gives Burke fair treatment admitting the man made some bad choices, but also clearly lays out the numerous and systemic ways that society and Major League Baseball in particular failed him.
I wasn't sure I was going to to get into this story, but now I'm so glad I read it.
The inventor of the high five, an important rookie on a World Series team, the first MLB player to come out as gay, friend to many, brother, son, uncle. Maraniss does a great job weaving in relevant details from the sports world and general culture of the time to help readers understand the world Glenn Burke was growing up in and why it was so hard for him to be a gay baseball player in a society that didn't want gay people to live out their truth in public view. He gives Burke fair treatment admitting the man made some bad choices, but also clearly lays out the numerous and systemic ways that society and Major League Baseball in particular failed him.
I wasn't sure I was going to to get into this story, but now I'm so glad I read it.
August 13, 2023
Reason read: I received this book as part of the AudioSync Summer Program for teens in June 2022. It is the story of a baseball player who was black, gay and through the biography of this man the author gives a history account of the Gay Rights Movement including such things as disco was gay music before John Travolta, Anita Bryant and her down fall, the Stonewall Uprising, and AIDS epidemic, the rise of homelessness and demise of the Tenderloin. This book would be of interest to anyone who would be doing research as the author has done a completed review and at the end there is a bibliography, baseball statistics, a gay rights time line, selection of Black American LGBTQ people to know and study, and an index round out the work. I didn't really care for Glen Burke. Yes it was a sad story of failures and adversity and certainly is a work that meets the criteria of progressive.
May 12, 2021
*Thank you to NetGalley for a digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
I'm not a huge fan of sports biographies, but this sounded incredibly interesting and I am a huge Dodgers fan. Andrew Maraniss really understands narrative nonfiction and this book just flowed off the pages. This is an incredibly interesting story and one that I doubt many people have ever heard of. First there is the fact that he "invented" the high five. But more importantly, he was gay in a time when it was really difficult to be gay and nearly impossible to be gay and in sports. This is a very niche biography though and I fear that it will not get read as much as it should, but it was very well written and compelling.
I'm not a huge fan of sports biographies, but this sounded incredibly interesting and I am a huge Dodgers fan. Andrew Maraniss really understands narrative nonfiction and this book just flowed off the pages. This is an incredibly interesting story and one that I doubt many people have ever heard of. First there is the fact that he "invented" the high five. But more importantly, he was gay in a time when it was really difficult to be gay and nearly impossible to be gay and in sports. This is a very niche biography though and I fear that it will not get read as much as it should, but it was very well written and compelling.
December 29, 2021
I would describe myself as an average baseball fan, and I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I learned so much about baseball, Glenn Burke's life, gay rights, and what it was like for the gay community during the 1970s and 1980s. This book is well-researched and so informative. My heart broke for Glenn Burke and all that he endured.
Sadly, I don't think this book will get read as much as it should, but I hope it does. It's worth a read - even if you aren't a huge baseball fan.
(Also, there are two or three quotes from primary sources that include the f-word. I understand including it since they are direct quotes, but I selfishly wish they read as f-.)
Great for 8th grade through adults.
Sadly, I don't think this book will get read as much as it should, but I hope it does. It's worth a read - even if you aren't a huge baseball fan.
(Also, there are two or three quotes from primary sources that include the f-word. I understand including it since they are direct quotes, but I selfishly wish they read as f-.)
Great for 8th grade through adults.
October 31, 2022
After reading my book called singled out by Andrew maraniss after almost finishing the book what I found was Glenn burke played for Spokane Indians and it was interested because I grew up there and most of my mom side of family is from up there and live there. After he was playing for Spokane Indians he got better, and he got in to MLB and decided to play for LA Dodgers after playing for Spokane Indians for long time And I was shocked after reading most of the story an found out that he was from where me and family lived an hour from. When I lived up there me and my family would always go to the Spokane Indians game to watch because that was out favorite baseball team, we all liked. What I didn’t like about the book is that it’s a pretty long book to read and I mean if you do read a lot I would suggest this book it’s pretty cool an interesting But if you do like baseball a lot or LA dodgers fan then I would suggesting to take some time out an read this book if you love reading or like baseball. The people I would suggest that would like this book is my friends from down here Those are all the people I would suggest that would love this book
May 29, 2021
Excellent. One of the best examples of the intersectional nature of social justice I’ve seen presented in a biography. Highly recommended for sports fans and those who revel in the history of our culture. The book follows Burke through his early life, to the minor leagues, onto the majors and then his heartbreaking life after baseball. One wonders what might have been had Burke been born three decades later. Nonetheless, his impact on sports and in the gay rights movement is undeniable, if not very well known. I’m thankful for this book, not just for introducing me to a special man, but also for highlighting the many historical and cultural intersections that shaped his life story.
February 25, 2022
This nonfiction novel is about Glen Burke, the first openly gay person in MLB and the inventor of the high five. Both of those things are awesome.
I always think about reviews of nonfiction…can you really give spoilers to something on Wikipedia? Anyway…
Glen had so many strikes for him and against him in our 1980’s society. First, the book reiterated over and over that he was just a specimen of a man. He was practically an Adonis. He was also super friendly and well-liked by everyone. He also had a family—sisters especially—that loved him. But, he was black, gay, poor, and an addict. This combination made Glen’s life one of serious hardship.
I always think about reviews of nonfiction…can you really give spoilers to something on Wikipedia? Anyway…
Glen had so many strikes for him and against him in our 1980’s society. First, the book reiterated over and over that he was just a specimen of a man. He was practically an Adonis. He was also super friendly and well-liked by everyone. He also had a family—sisters especially—that loved him. But, he was black, gay, poor, and an addict. This combination made Glen’s life one of serious hardship.
May 3, 2022
This YA biography is about Glenn Burke, though a tremendous naturally talented athlete, he only had a brief career in major league baseball in the late 70s as Los Angeles Dodgers's management discovered he was gay and determined he would never play for them again. Burke decided to come out publicly to see if that would garner him support in the sports world, but it did not. Burke then struggled with drug addiction and contracted HIV. Though he is considered a hero in the LGBTQ+ community today it is dishearting to see that little in male professional sports in 45 years in terms of accepting and welcoming gay athletes.
June 3, 2022
Singled Out is the true story of Glenn Burke, the first openly gay MLB player. A phenomenal athlete with a jovial spirit, Burke was the centerpiece of every dugout and every locker room he ever entered. Credited with being the creator of the celebratory High Five, he sky rocketed to the top, only to have things crash down around him for being his authentic self.⠀
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Written in a narrative nonfiction style, Singled Out reads more like a story than a biography. The audiobook reinforces this with a conversational tone that draws the listener in. ⠀
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What happened to Burke is tragic, but he held his head high til the very end. And it is clear from the testimonials of his family & friends, that he was well-loved.⠀
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🏳️🌈⛹🏿♂️🏀🧢⚾️👨🏾❤️👨🏻🪩🏳️🌈⠀
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• • • ⠀
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Written in a narrative nonfiction style, Singled Out reads more like a story than a biography. The audiobook reinforces this with a conversational tone that draws the listener in. ⠀
⠀
What happened to Burke is tragic, but he held his head high til the very end. And it is clear from the testimonials of his family & friends, that he was well-loved.⠀
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• • • ⠀
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🏳️🌈⛹🏿♂️🏀🧢⚾️👨🏾❤️👨🏻🪩🏳️🌈⠀
March 18, 2023
I’m not likely to read very many sports biographies but this one appeared for free as part of the SYNC Audiobook series and it didn’t focus on just stats. There were quite a few parallels in the rise of Glen’s career and the rise in gay rights and the spotlight on that movement. And just like AIDS halted the momentum of gay rights, Glen’s career tragically ended.
If you are interested in baseball and/or gay athletes, especially the discrimination of these athletes, I think this book would be interesting. I learned a lot about both and it’s a complicated history. But I felt the author stayed true to both histories without covering up any of the not so great bits.
If you are interested in baseball and/or gay athletes, especially the discrimination of these athletes, I think this book would be interesting. I learned a lot about both and it’s a complicated history. But I felt the author stayed true to both histories without covering up any of the not so great bits.
June 20, 2024
I selected this book, primarily because we are visiting Glenn Burke's gravesite when we visit San Francisco later this summer; however, what I did not expect, when I picked up this book, is just how powerful Burke's story would be. The tagline of being the first openly gay player in the MLB AND the inventor of the high five had me intrigued. What I was unprepared for was the prologue, when we meet Burke after his MLB career.
The storytelling in this nonfiction book was incredible, reading much like fiction (and solidifying that YA nonfiction is my new favorite genre). This is a book I will shout from the rooftops about, as I was so moved by Burke's story.
The storytelling in this nonfiction book was incredible, reading much like fiction (and solidifying that YA nonfiction is my new favorite genre). This is a book I will shout from the rooftops about, as I was so moved by Burke's story.
July 30, 2024
This is certainly not a book I would have picked up on my own. Thanks to audiobook sync& now defunct audiobook program. I was able to read this.
I don't really care about baseball, but there is enough interesting story in historical background that it made the story interesting. Happened to be gay in a time when sports was too masculine to allow such a thing. But he was a good player. Maybe a little arrogant at times, maybe a little too reactive because of his in closet life. And it kind of walks through his short-time playing baseball into the major leagues being traded around and eventual addiction to drugs and dying of AIDS
I don't really care about baseball, but there is enough interesting story in historical background that it made the story interesting. Happened to be gay in a time when sports was too masculine to allow such a thing. But he was a good player. Maybe a little arrogant at times, maybe a little too reactive because of his in closet life. And it kind of walks through his short-time playing baseball into the major leagues being traded around and eventual addiction to drugs and dying of AIDS
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