Glenn Burke left his mark in baseball, and not just because he was the Major Leagues’ first openly gay player.

With help from former Richmonder Dusty Baker, Burke originated the High Five as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977.

More on that later.

Burke, who died of complications from AIDS in 1995, was honored by Los Angeles last year during Pride Month. His family members were selected to throw out the ceremonial first ball at Dodgers’ Stadium.

The only other big-league player to identify as gay has been Billy Bean, an outfielder with the San Diego Padres in 1995.

Born in Oakland, Burke was a sensational baseball and basketball star at Berkeley High School. At just 5-foot- 11, he could easily dunk a basketball two-handed, and led his team to an undefeated season and the Northern California championship.

Gifted with dazzling speed, Burke made a quick ascent through the Dodgers’ farm system. In 1976, he hit .300 with AAA Albuquerque with 63 stolen bases. That, along with terrific defense, earned him a big-league call-up.

On the final day of the 1977 season, former Richmond Brave Dusty Baker socked his 30th home run of the season. Burke was on deck.

As Baker hit home plate, Burke extended his palm high above his head. Not really knowing what to do, Baker slapped it, and the “High Five” was born.

Burke had not officially come out at that point, but it was widely known he was gay, then considered an embarrassment in a sport known for its “good ol’ boys.”

General Manager Al Campanis went so far as to offer Burke a $75,000 bonus and lavish honeymoon if he would wed.

Burke’s reply: “you mean to a woman?” He passed on the deal.

Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda had a soft spot in heart for the gay community, primarily because his son, Tommy Jr., was gay.

Things got sticky, however, when Tommy Jr. and Burke became friendly. Soon after that news hit the fan, Burke was traded to Oakland to play for his hometown A’s.

That move was doomed from the outset when A’s Manager Billy Martin introduced Burke to the team with a derogatory term starting with an “f.”

“Prejudice won out,” Burke said. He soon after retired at a much-too-young 27.

His unique story is well documented in his own autobiography, “Out at Home,” and in a New York Times book, “Singled Out.”

After baseball, Burke moved to San Francisco and competed in the Gay Games in track (winning 100-meter dash) and basketball, which was his first love.

He also played for years in a Gay softball league in San Francisco’s Castro District before he was injured in a car accident. He died from AIDS in 1995, at 42.

Still, his friends and followers have carried on his legacy. The “High Five” (along with line “gimmefive”) has become a symbol of pride in San Fran’s gay community.

There have been other male pro athletes who came out either while still playing or after retirement. Here are a few:

Bill Tilden: The top-ranked tennis player of his era (1920’s and 30’s), Tilden won 10 grand-slam events and was first American to capture Wimbledon. His private life was less honored. He served two jail sentences for morals violations against under-aged males.

Emile Griffith: The Virgin Islands native moved to New York City and won world boxing titles in the lightweight, welterweight and middleweight classes. He may be best known for the 1962 fight in which his punches killed Benny Paret at Madi- son Square Garden. It was reported he was infuriated at a gay slur Paret directed at him.

Greg Louganis: The native Californian dominated platform and springboard diving at the 1976, 1984 and 1988 Olympics, winning four gold and one silver medal. He was diagnosed with HIV six months before the ’88 Seoul Games. A gifted dancer, Louganis played the role of Darius in the Off-Broadway production of “Jeffrey.”

Jerry Smith: Playing tight for the NFL Washington team from 1965 to 1977, Smith caught 421 passes for 5,496 yards and 60 touchdowns. He was first-team All-Pro in 1969. In retirement, he opened a gay bar in Austin, Texas, called the Boathouse. He died of AIDS in 1986, becoming the first athlete to die from the disease.

Johnny Weir: In 2004, the figure skater became the youngest man at 19 to ever win the US National title. He went on to claim the crown three years in a row. He competed in the 2006 and 2010 Olympics and won a bronze medal at the ’08 World Games. In 2012 he married Victor Voronov, six weeks after New York legalized same-sex marriage.

John Amaechi: The 6-foot-9 Englishman starred in basketball at Vanderbilt and Penn State and played in the NBA with Cleveland, Orlando and Utah. His official coming out was in 2007 on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines.” He also released a book, “Man in the Middle,” disclosing his closeted lifestyle as a pro athlete.

Mike Sam: The 6-foot-2, 260-pound native of Galveston, Texas, was a consensus All-American and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Missouri in 2013. He became a seventh-round draft choice of the St. Louis Rams in 2014 and played two seasons in the NFL. He came out as gay while still an active member of the Missouri team. In 2015 he competed in Dancing with the Stars, finishing 10th.

Jason Collins: A 7-foot basketball center, he starred at Stanford University and played in the NBA from 2001 to ’14 with seven different teams. He came out in 2013 in an article published by Sports Illustrated. He wore No. 98 for Brooklyn in honor of the late Matt Shepard, victim of an anti-gay murder. His No. 98 became the best seller on the NBA’s online shop.