The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to celebrate their annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night on Friday, June 5, kicking off a weekend series against the Angels at Dodger Stadium. This year's event carries special significance as the team will unveil a permanent tribute to two groundbreaking figures in baseball history: Glenn Burke and Billy Bean.

Both Burke and Bean played for the Dodgers and were among the first professional athletes to openly identify as gay, paving the way for greater inclusion in sports. The new display, located in the center field plaza, will feature photographs, memorabilia, and a detailed narrative highlighting their contributions to Major League Baseball and beyond.

Billy Bean enjoyed a six-year MLB career from 1987 to 1995, playing all three outfield positions and spending part of the 1989 season with Los Angeles. After his playing days, Bean became a powerful advocate for equality, serving as MLB's senior vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and as a special assistant to the commissioner from 2014 until his passing in 2024 from acute myeloid leukemia at age 60. It's worth noting that in 2025, MLB removed the word "diversity" from its careers and inclusion pages, making Bean's legacy all the more poignant.

Glenn Burke, who played the first two-plus seasons of his four-year career with the Dodgers, is perhaps best known for inventing the high-five alongside teammate Dusty Baker in 1977—a moment that has become legendary in baseball lore. However, his story is also one of adversity. After the 1977 World Series, Dodgers executive Al Campanis visited Burke and offered him a bribe to get married, hoping to conceal his sexuality. According to Andrew Maraniss, author of "Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke," when Campanis suggested marriage, Burke famously asked, "To a woman?" He refused the offer, and the Dodgers traded him to the Oakland A's shortly after. It's a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ athletes in an era far less accepting than today.

For fans attending Pride Night, this permanent display will serve as both a celebration of progress and a tribute to the courage of two men who helped change the game. Whether you're a die-hard Dodgers fan or simply appreciate the intersection of sports and social history, this is a moment worth honoring—and a great reason to sport your favorite Dodgers gear with pride.