Friday night is LGBTQ+ Pride Night at Dodger Stadium, and among the pregame festivities is honoring former Dodgers outfielder Glenn Burke, the first openly gay player in MLB.
It’s Burke’s first significant public acknowledgment by the Dodgers since he traded him in 1978 after learning he was gay. Scott Miller at the New York Times caught up with Burke’s familysome of whom will be in attendance and part of the pre-game ceremony, as well as former Dodgers teammates and executives.
From Miller:
“Being part complete, part of the fabric of the Dodgers, I am excited and ecstatic to have my uncle recognized as part of the team, with his contributions and character no longer in question,” Alice Rose, his niece, said.
More details on LGBTQ+ Pride Night here and here.
Connections
Clayton Kershaw, Max Muncy and Andrew Heaney begin rehab assignments this weekend. Kershaw told Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register“My back is healthy now. … I’ve never worried about my arm. I could throw 100 pitches tomorrow with my arm. I’m not worried about that. It’s just about getting better. make sure you build tolerance with your back I’m ready for Sunday’s game.
Kevin Pillar fracturing his shoulder has been particularly difficult since he was finally able to play for his hometown side, but only played four games before suffering the injury. On Thursday, Pillar said: “It was the place I finally wanted to be, that I had dreamed of since I was little. I finally felt like I fit in here. by Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.
I enjoyed this turn of phrase from Fabian Ardaya in The Athletic’s preview of the Dodgers-Mets matchup series: “The Dodgers can view the season as a series of tests before the final exam in October. It is a reference. »
The incredible regularity of Freddie Freeman was analyzed by David Adler on MLB.com.
David Laurilia at FanGraphs asked a group of major league broadcasters for the best pitching performances they’ve seen in person. Dodgers broadcaster Tim Neverett picked two, including Walker Buehler in Game 3 of 2018 World Events. Jim Palmer, Orioles broadcaster and Hall of Fame pitcher, scored Moe Drabowsky’s 11-strikeout and scoreless appearance in Game 1 of the 1966 World Series against the Dodgers. Palmer was only 20 that season, his second in the majors.
