It's kinda going under the radar, maybe because it's independent ball. But this seems to me a pretty big story, from Sonoma Stompers' press release:
Sonoma, Calif. — The first openly gay player to enter the professional baseball ranks will get the ball and make the start for the Sonoma Stompers as they host the Vallejo Admirals in a Pacific Association tilt on Thursday, June 25. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Sean Conroy, the rookie right-hander who has been remarkable out of the Stompers’ bullpen in 2015, will get the ball for Sonoma on Thursday night as the team helps celebrate Pride Month and kicks off Pride Weekend in Northern California. Saturday, June 27 and Sunday June 28 is San Francisco Pride Weekend, and this year’s theme is “Equality Without Exception.”
Coincidental that Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller are making personnel decisions for the Stompers? Maybe!*
* probably not, though
Now, I can imagine two reactions as you're reading this...
1. Great, but you don't need to convince me.
and
2. Fine, but I don't care if he's gay and why are you telling me this.
You know, as if this isn't a real story. Every time I mention gay players, I'll get a bunch of dudes on Twitter -- and again, I'm sorry but it's always dudes, literally always -- who tell me they don't care if somebody's gay, doesn't matter at all but the damn gays should keep it to themselves. 'cause I really don't care.
Well, good on you, dude. But a hell of a lot of people do care, and especially (sorry to say) inside baseball. Think about it. Just a couple of weeks ago, something TWELVE HUNDRED AMATEUR BASEBALL PLAYERS were drafted by the 30 major-league clubs.
How many of them had come out before the draft? You know, like so many high-school and college kids do, before they turn 22?
I believe the correct answer is zero. And the answer is zero not because zero of them are gay, but because there remains a prejudice against gay athletes, especially in male-dominated team sports. The evidence for this is simply overwhelming. Oh, and by the way, if you believe the Stompers, Conroy is the first (and so far only) openly gay player in an independent league, too.
A player's public sexuality will remain a story, should remain a story, until players don't feel any need to hide their sexuality. I think we'll get there, maybe within the next decade or so. And Sean Conroy might be a big part of the story about getting there. Here's hoping for a gem (and some liberal-minded teammates).
So Thursday night, I'll be listening to a nice bit of baseball history.
