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| Baseball welcomes first openly gay professional player | Baseball welcomes first openly gay professional player |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Baseball has welcomed its first openly gay professional player, in a minor-league game in California. | |
| Pitcher Sean Conroy, 23, took the mound for the Sonoma Stompers after agreeing to come out publicly in time for the team stadium's gay pride night. | |
| The team is part of the independent Pacific Association of Baseball Clubs. | The team is part of the independent Pacific Association of Baseball Clubs. |
| Several baseball players have disclosed their sexual orientation while in retirement but Conroy is thought to be the first active player to do so. | Several baseball players have disclosed their sexual orientation while in retirement but Conroy is thought to be the first active player to do so. |
| New Yorker Conroy joined The Stompers from college in May and had already told his teammates and coaching staff he was gay, said general manager Theo Fightmaster. | New Yorker Conroy joined The Stompers from college in May and had already told his teammates and coaching staff he was gay, said general manager Theo Fightmaster. |
| "His goal has always been to be the first openly gay baseball player so he was very much in favour of telling the story, of carrying that torch," he said. | "His goal has always been to be the first openly gay baseball player so he was very much in favour of telling the story, of carrying that torch," he said. |
| Major League Baseball historian John Thorn said he thought Conroy was the first active professional to come out. | Major League Baseball historian John Thorn said he thought Conroy was the first active professional to come out. |
| Both Glenn Burke (Oakland Athletics and LA Dodgers) and Billy Bean (Detroit Tigers, LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres) did so after they retired. | Both Glenn Burke (Oakland Athletics and LA Dodgers) and Billy Bean (Detroit Tigers, LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres) did so after they retired. |
| Conroy told his family he was gay when he was 16 and he said it was important to be honest with his new teammates, especially when conversation turns to girlfriends. | Conroy told his family he was gay when he was 16 and he said it was important to be honest with his new teammates, especially when conversation turns to girlfriends. |
| "Instead of getting the different looks or questions when I didn't join them, I'd rather tell you the truth and let you know who I am and have real conversations instead of the fake ones," he said. | "Instead of getting the different looks or questions when I didn't join them, I'd rather tell you the truth and let you know who I am and have real conversations instead of the fake ones," he said. |
| Some Stompers will wear rainbow-themed socks or symbols to mark the occasion, the club has said. | Some Stompers will wear rainbow-themed socks or symbols to mark the occasion, the club has said. |
| Other gay players in US sports | Other gay players in US sports |
| Football: Robbie Rogers scored his first goal for LA Galaxy this week | Football: Robbie Rogers scored his first goal for LA Galaxy this week |
| Basketball: Jason Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA | Basketball: Jason Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA |
| American football: Michael Sam was drafted by the St Louis Rams, now plays in Canada | American football: Michael Sam was drafted by the St Louis Rams, now plays in Canada |