The first openly gay professional baseball player just pitched a shutout

Sean Conroy became the first openly gay pro baseball player Thursday night

(Image credit: Twitter/‏@vjotimesherald)

last updated 26 June 2015

On Thursday, Sean Conroy pitched a 7-0 shutout game with the Sonoma Stompers, a team in California wine country affiliated with the independent Pacific Association of Baseball Clubs. Along with his win, on his first outing as a starting pitcher, Conroy became the first active professional baseball player who is openly gay.

The Stompers don't exactly have the clout or payroll of Major League Baseball teams — the players earn about $650 a month, supply much of their own gear, and live with families during the three-month season, The Associated Press reports. But whether or not he ever pitches in the majors, "he certainly deserves our applause," MLB historian John Thorn tells AP, after confirming that Conroy is the first openly gay pro player. (Glenn Burke and Billy Bean came out after they retired.)

While the enthusiastic crowd was aware of the historical nature of the evening, the team didn't make a public announcement before or during the game. The Stompers recruited Conroy, 23, in May, straight out of college, and encouraged him to come out as gay in time for Thursday night's gay pride night game. He didn't need convincing, General Manager Theo Fightmaster tells AP. "His goal has always been to be the first openly gay baseball player, so he was very much in favor of telling the story, of carrying that torch."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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