Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
February 10, 2009
Tolerant Torre

Dodger Thoughts notes Joe Torre's line on gay ballplayers during his Larry King interview:

Ventura, Calif., Viewer: Billy Bean, after he retired, he announced he was gay. Do you foresee a time in the future when an active player can safely announce he's gay and if he did, what effect would that have on Major League Baseball?

Joe Torre: Well that's a great question, I don't know. But I just hope that an active player, if that's the case, can feel free to do that. That's all I can say. But I don't know. Obviously, you have 25 players in the clubhouse, and, you know, it's going to be tough for everybody to feel as maybe I do. But I'd like to believe our country is turning in that direction.

Larry King: You'd have no problem?

Torre: I'd have no problem.

Good for Joe. I'd like to see more managers and ballplayers come forward and say this.


Posted by David Pinto at 07:10 PM | Management | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Question: "how does it feel to be the first openly gay major leaguer?"

Answer "better than an openly gay player still in the minor leagues"

Posted by: Bob Tufts at February 10, 2009 09:21 PM

"Good for Joe. I'd like to see more managers and ballplayers come forward and say this."

Why?

Posted by: Steve at February 10, 2009 09:42 PM

"Why?"

Its really sad that you have to ask that.

Posted by: Chris at February 11, 2009 03:05 AM

I pay $ and attention to watch ball players perform on the field, not in the bedroom.

Posted by: rbj at February 11, 2009 07:46 AM

I don't see why it's so important that people be able to announce their sexual preferences to the world. Why can't people keep it private, like it should be?

Posted by: Rich I. at February 11, 2009 08:39 AM

I agree that there sexual preferences should remain private (in the sense that they don't have to announce to the whole world what they are). But I would hope that on a team, no-one would would have a problem with playing with a gay player.

Posted by: Yaramah at February 11, 2009 10:14 AM

Why indeed.

I guess I'm old fashioned, but I'm nostalgic for the days when what consenting adults did in private was none of my business. You know, from about 1975 to 1990.

Posted by: Sabertooth at February 11, 2009 10:27 AM

I don't think the problem is that they have to announce their preference to the world. The problem is that they can't go out with their teammates and be themselves.

Posted by: David Pinto at February 11, 2009 11:03 AM

I think I'm with the majority and also wonder "Why?" Since when do you have to go around announcing that you are gay? This whole thing is totally stupid since there are probably gay players right now -- and of course there aren't any witch-hunts or anything like that.

"The problem is that they can't go out with their teammates and be themselves."

David, what exactly does that mean? Does that mean that they can't go with their teammates to gay nightclubs? I would assume that the majority wouldn't do that anyway. Or that they can't tell stories of that great piece of a** that they got the night before? And that's a bad thing because?

Posted by: Tom at February 11, 2009 01:00 PM

Are people here really serious when asking "Why can't they just be quiet about it?"

Straight people are not silent about their orientation. And it doesn't mean telling stories about the previous nights exploits, it means being able to put a picture of one's spouse in one's locker, to talk about problems at home, meeting someone, issues with the greater family -- all this is central to our lives, whether straight or not. Telling a gay ballplayer he needs to keep quiet about it means that he has to hide himself, and also deprives him from the normal social interactions with teammates.

Posted by: Capybara at February 11, 2009 01:56 PM

Capybara I think you are a little off here -- maybe correct about putting a picture in your locker (if such a thing happens in professional sports, they aren't in high school anymore).

People talk about their problems to others with similar experiences -- do you think the vets are talking to the rookies about their marital problems or the problems their 5 year old daughter is having in kindergarten? I seriously doubt it. Same thing with a gay player as who can he talk about it with.

Lastly, if we believe there is probably a gay player playing at the moment, isn't all this talk sort of stupid because it proves that they are accepted?

Posted by: Tom at February 11, 2009 04:40 PM

Cabybara - excellent description. Sorry not everyone gets it but I appreciate your insight.

Posted by: adwred at February 11, 2009 05:07 PM

Of course Joe Torre is going to say that on National TV whether he believes it or not. What else could he say?

Posted by: Steven at February 12, 2009 11:57 AM
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