Let's see your... Glenn Burke items!

[AstroJake09]

Hi all,

As I've mentioned before I am a history major in college, with one of my passions being baseball, the two themes often intersect and I often find myself lerning about new and interesting, events, tidbits individuals and pioneers of the sport. I was recently introuduced to the story of Glenn Burke as the first openly gay baseball player and the trials he faced. I've read a bit on him and watched a documentary and have learned quite a bit about him. Burke was a remarkable and extremely strong human being in addition to being an outstanding athlete. It is also debated that he, in the spur of the moment gesture, gave Dusty Baker the first high-5. Now, I'd like to see what cards, autographs and other memorbilia might be out there or in your collections in regards to Glenn and his career?

[Snapolit1]

Probably won't find anything too interesting on the card front, as he was on a total of 3 issues.

[AstroJake09]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Probably won't find anything too interesting on the card front, as he was on a total of 3 issues.

I agree and have found that there isn't a whole lot to choose from, however, I'd love to find his 1975 TCMA Waterbury Dodgers card!

[mrreality68]

Nice looking card.

How many are out there? Any idea?

[bbcard1]

Without getting too far into it, I worked with a friend who ran with Glenn Burke for in the late 70s/early 80s in the San Francisco scene. He was not a baseball fan and only mentioned it to me later. My friend and I worked together in Virginia in the mid 1980s. He described Burke as wild and joyful and talk about how much all-go they were. My friend was an art director. He passed in the mid-90s.

[AstroJake09]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

Without getting too far into it, I worked with a friend who ran with Glenn Burke for in the late 70s/early 80s in the San Francisco scene. He was not a baseball fan and only mentioned it to me later. My friend and I worked together in Virginia in the mid 1980s. He described Burke as wild and joyful and talk about how much all-go they were. My friend was an art director. He passed in the mid-90s.

That is incredible! Everything I’ve heard sounds like Glenn was a really good person. I’m shocked I only recently learned of him and hope that more people are able to learn about him.

I was able to track down a first edition copy of Glenn’s 1995 autobiography which sadly was completed just before his death and published posthumously. I chatted with co-author Erik Sherman and he told me that it was a long and difficult road to publication with only 600-700 initial first edition copies making their way to the public and even then not all of them sold. The book was republished with an updated introduction by Billy Bean in 2014 but the first edition remains exceedingly rare. I’m most excited however, to hear Glenn in his own words. I’m always looking to broaden my perspective and hear different voices and views from every perspective on life. Having read the opening chapter, I think this will be a good read and a tough read but very important.

[slidekellyslide]

I’m going to have to revisit my 1978 Topps commons and pull the Burke’s out. I had no idea they were more than common value even though I had heard his story years ago.

[AstroJake09]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I’m going to have to revisit my 1978 Topps commons and pull the Burke’s out. I had no idea they were more than common value even though I had heard his story years ago.

Yeah, I agree. Someone dumped a ton on eBay recently but I’d like to find his 1975 Waterbury Dodgers card, would be an incredible piece to find!

[Cliff Bowman]

Supposedly Burke was too chummy with Tommy Lasorda’s son Spunky (Tom JR.) and Lasorda was the one behind trading Burke to the A’s for Billy North to get him out of L A. Lasorda unfortunately was in denial about his son until the very end.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

Supposedly Burke was too chummy with Tommy Lasorda’s son Spunky (Tom JR.) and Lasorda was the one behind trading Burke to the A’s for Billy North to get him out of L A. Lasorda unfortunately was in denial about his son until the very end.

Yeah, when LaSorda passed and was being granted sainthood by many, I made a few posts about the situation with his son and indirectly Burke. While his views were not that far out there from many men his age, refusing to acknowledge who your son was strikes me (as a father) as a particularly despicable thing. The story about LaSorda and his son has always stuck in my craw big time.

[AstroJake09]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Yeah, when LaSorda passed and was being granted sainthood by many, I made a few posts about the situation with his son and indirectly Burke. While his views were not that far out there from many men his age, refusing to acknowledge who your son was strikes me (as a father) as a particularly despicable thing. The story about LaSorda and his son has always stuck in my craw big time.

I've read about that as well and I thik it is a topic that Glenn touches upon in his autobiography, hopefully I can share some more info as far as Glenn's thoughts about the relationship with LaSorda and Spunky after I read it. It really is quite despicable.

[jason.1969]

Not a playing era collectible by any means but here is a piece I created from the Topps x Efdot Iconic Stadium Series rainbow foil card of Dodger Stadium and a custom I commissioned from Millburg Trading Cards.

Available if interested. All straight to charity.

[Snapolit1]

That's amazing. If I ran Topps I'd pay you for that tomorrow.

[jason.1969]

Thank you! Also want to share a relevant article covering the bulk of Burke collectibles out there.

https://sabrbaseballcards.blog/2021/...g-glenn-burke/