Glenn Burke, Game Changer

An inspiring picture book biography about Glenn Burke, the first professional baseball player to come out as gay, and the story of how he created the high five.

As a rookie on the Los Angeles Dodgers, Glenn Burke could do it all-hit, throw, catch, score. As a teammate, he was the heart of the clubhouse and energized fellow players with his enthusiasm. It was this enthusiasm that led Burke to invent the high five one October day at Dodger Stadium in 1977-a spontaneous overhand slap exchanged after a home run that has since evolved into a universal greeting of comradeship and zeal.

But despite creating such an influential symbol of encouragement, Glenn Burke wasn't always given support in return as a Black gay man. Powerfully conveyed in the words of Phil Bildner and pictures of Daniel J. O'Brien, Glenn Burke, Game Changer recognizes the obstacles Burke faced while celebrating how his bravery and his now-famous handshake paved the way for others to live openly, truly, and freely.