The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West this season and capped off the regular season Friday night with an 11-0 win as they celebrated LGBT night out. NBA player Jason Collins threw out the first pitch, with former Dodger Billy Bean on the mound to congratulate him. Singer Lance Bass was also a guest.
"Thank you @Dodgers for inviting me to throw out 1st pitch," Collins tweeted.
Bean wrote the following on Facebook:
Last night, the LA Dodgers simply knocked it out of the park !! They embraced their LGBT fans and proved again, they are ALWAYS in front of curve. A simple moment of inclusion, and as it should be…..we are all fans…simply united by our team. I was so proud to be on the field again. We have come so far. For a moment, I thought of Glenn Burke, and then my own dark moments in the closet while I was playing here. Then, as I walked out onto the field, throwing out the first pitch with my buddy Jason Collins, I smiled, and it made me realize….it's getting better and better. There is so much to look forward to…
There was also an interesting guest Friday night: Danielle Goldey, who made news in 2000 when she and then then-girlfriend, Meredith Kott were thrown out of Dodger Stadum by security guards after kissing in the stands following a home run.The team invited Goldey to the game, the first time they reached out to her since the incident. "I wish it did happen 13 years ago when we initially asked for it, but they're stepping up to the plate finally," she said of the LGBT night.
Jason Collins, left, and Billy Bean
Collins with Lance Bass.
Collins throws the first pitch.
Photos by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY (click image for larger view).
