A homeless shelter seemed a far cry from where Glenn Burke had once been. Lauded by some as the next Willie Mays, Burke was a professional baseball player who had helped bring the Los Angeles Dodgers to the 1977 World Series. But by the early ‘90’s, he had fallen on hard times. He was living on the streets, had AIDS and was strung out on crack. At this low point, Burke ended up in Marty’s Place, a shelter in the Inner Mission District for homeless men with HIV.
To Father Richard Purcell, the Franciscan priest who founded Marty’s Place, much of Burke’s history was not unique. Purcell had met scores of others like Burke – individuals who had battled addictions in addition to AIDS. And many of them had also confronted a third challenge – the social rejection that comes with homophobia.
Like these men, Burke was also gay, but he didn’t fit the stereotypes. He was a gifted athlete with such a powerful build that his baseball teammates had dubbed him “King Kong.” Still, Burke lived an openly gay life at a time when it was unheard of, especially among professional athletes.
“He was an extraordinary individual,” remembers Father Purcell. “Of course when I knew him, he had a drug habit which was very destructive; but I could still see his core character. He was talented as well as magnetic and articulate.”
Burke’s story is so remarkable that Comcast Sports network is releasing a new documentary on Burke’s life called “Out: The Glenn Burke Story.” The film highlights the homophobia which may have contributed to the demise of Burke’s baseball career. For example, when rumors of his sexuality surfaced, the Dodger’s management urged him to marry, offering to pay for a lavish honeymoon. Burke refused. Shortly thereafter he was traded to the Oakland A’s despite protests from his teammates. Burke claims in his autobiography Out at Home, (co-authored by Erik Sherman) that Dodgers stars Dusty Baker, Steve Garvey and Dave Lopes told the club’s management, “You’ve traded one of our best prospects.”
Burke writes that the Dodgers were worried about how the average father would feel “… taking his son to a baseball game to see a fag shagging fly balls in centerfield.”
In Oakland Burke encountered more of the same. Some of his teammates told gay jokes and wrapped towels around themselves in the locker room whenever Burke was near. The A’s manager, Billy Martin, reportedly declared that he wouldn’t allow a “faggot” to play on his team. All of this and a knee injury contributed to Burke leaving. He was scouted briefly by the Pittsburg Pirates, but they rejected him after inquiring about his “bisexuality.”
Burke died in 1995 and despite his drug addiction, ruined career, and his terrible suffering from AIDS, Father Purcell believes that Burke died with an element of peace. “He died in truth,” said Purcell. “He told the truth. He didn’t’ live a lie and I believe that the truth sets people free, regardless of other repercussions.”
Purcell himself is currently dying of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Many of the men who Purcell sheltered, thanks to modern AIDS drugs, are now caring for him in the same building where Burke once lived.
“Burke’s time in the Mission was a game changer,” says Sean Maddison, the documentary’s co-producer. “I truly believe that his stay at Marty’s Place allowed Glenn to come to terms with his life, to regain the dignity he had lost to the streets.”
As far as making the film, Maddison states, “Never before have I worked on a project so challenging and rewarding. Each interview we did shed more light… We believe this piece has taken great steps toward fully uncovering the truth of Glenn Burke’s life.
“Tracking down the interviews was an adventure in itself. Baseball people were wary of talking to us at first and his family was harder to track down than we thought. Many of his friends had unfortunately fallen victim to AIDS. Quite possibly the most valuable find was Father Purcell. Glenn’s sister mentioned him and so I ended up in the Mission at the doorway of Marty’s Place.
“Purcell’s charisma and character are powerful. His illness, Lou Gehrig’s disease, is no match for his personality. His stories of bringing Glenn in off the streets and then sending him back out when he was high were both heartbreaking and inspiring.”
Maddison was so impressed with Purcell that he arranged for all the proceeds from the film’s premier to go to Marty’s Place.
The film will open on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Castro Theater. Video excerpts from the film can be found at http://www.csnbayarea.com/pages/out. Information on the upcoming book about Richard Purcell and Marty’s Place can be found at www.susancasslan.com.