Boston Red Sox Exec: Billy Bean's Visit Helped Me Come Out

A Fenway Park presentation by former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean inspired a Red Sox front office exec to come out as gay to the team and management.

David Baggs, Senior Manager of Red Sox Sales Academy for the Boston Red Sox, penned an account of his experience for OutSports.com this week. 

"I am so happy to finally, completely, be true to myself," he wrote.

Bean is a former player for the Tigers, Dodgers and Padres who came out in 1999. He now serves as MLB's Vice-President, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, and spoke to the Boston Red Sox front office in that capacity. 

Baggs wrote, "Billy's presentation was powerful and moving. The following morning it moved me to write a note coming out." 

It reads in part:

"As a Boston kid who happened to fall into a sports career at a later stage in life I've kept my sexuality a 'poorly' kept secret for a multitude of reasons and excuses none of which make an ounce of sense anymore. Those days are over. 
Years ago I read Billy's book, 'Going the Other Way.' At the time I was too confused to take action about who I was. If someone told me 15 years ago I would be working for the Red Sox and witness an openly gay former player speak to the front office, introduced and accepted by the team president, president of baseball operations, and current bench coach... I'd have asked them to stop drinking and promptly seek help."

Bean is sharing his story again at the ballpark during a pre-game event inside the Champions Club at Fenway Park tonight, part of Boston's annual Pride Night. 

Read Baggs' full story from OutSports.com here.

>> Top image Billy Bean, via Greg Hernandez