In his interview with AfterElton, TV star Wesley Eure (Land of the Lost) came out of the closet this week. He also said he has a partner, Richard, and that Richard played for the New York Yankees. AfterElton even used a picture of Richard (right). We’ve been in touch with Richard, who seems like a very thoughtful man. As he wrote us:
First, let me set the story straight (so to speak). I played in the minors for three years before the “typical” knee injury ended my career. I did get called up to the Yankees … for one day! I suited up, warmed up, and promptly sat on my butt for the game. It was exciting, I have to admit, being in Yankee Stadium in pinstripes!
For now, he doesn’t want to reveal his identity or talk about his time in baseball; But he said that could change at some point down the road. We anxiously await that day and will respect Richard’s privacy until then. Best of luck to him and Wesley!
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Played for the NY Yankees? Or played in the NY Yankees organization? Please clarify. There’a a difference. I suspect it’s the latter, as he doesn’t look like any recent member of the Yankees. And, believe me, I KNOW what every Yankee looks like!
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Well I checked the entire Yankee roster for the last 30 years and there is only one (1) – ONE, guy who ever played named Richard.
Richard Dotson a picher. Him? Anyone have any clues?
Maybe it’s not his real name.
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Hi:
We added a paragraph (see the story above) after further emails with Richard that puts his career in context.
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Can’t be Richard Dotson. He was in the majors for a number of years with the Chicago White Sox and finished his career in 1990.
Perhaps a minor name change to protect the innocent?
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 1:46 PM
I think the heading is a bit confusing. I thought that this Wesley Eure guy (pictured) was the former Yankee, but I gather it’s his partner who was the Yankee-for-a-day.
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 1:50 PM
The story says the picture is of Richard, the baseball player.
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Canmark, the person pictured IS the baseball player.
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Nice story. Cute enough looking guy (lucky Wesley). The guy set the record straight and leaves room open in the future to come out as an openly gay man. Now THAT should be the end of it; leave him alone, lets move on.
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 4:41 PM
I just knew that someone was going to try and figure out who it was — checking the Yankees’ roster over the last 30 years? Wow. To be honest, though, to say that a Yankee is gay is silly because everyone knows all the Yankees are soooooo gay.
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Did Wesley Eure need to come out of the closet? I used to see him out at bars in NY all the time years ago.
on Jun 6th, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Isn’t this all just a synergy tie-in for the atrocious looking Will Ferrell garbage flick that just came out? Is anyone surprised that an actor came out of the closet? (gasp!) Furthermore, if a dude who is 65 doesn’t have the courage to come out, I’d rather keep reading about the courageous young people recently featured on Outsports who are talking about their lives.
on Jun 6th, 2009 at 3:44 PM
George, I’ve never heard of this Wesley guy so now that he has come out, I can look him up to find out who he is
on Jun 6th, 2009 at 8:04 PM
I KNOW THIS GUY!!! His current occupation is soooo far removed from professional baseball, it’s ridiculous. I think it was, to put it nicely, sensational, for this used-to-be-actor to bring up his partner’s extremely fleeting moment as a Yankee as if he were Reggie Jackson. I spent more time on line buying beer at Yankee Stadium than Richard spent in a Yankee uniform. I will tell you this, though, I bet he injured his knee tripping over his extremely huge donkey! This guy would make Jim Thome question his size…
on Jun 6th, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Does a Big Cock mean you have courage? Someone should tell the Cowardly Lion.
on Jun 7th, 2009 at 5:22 AM
Good lord, you ONCE sat on the bench for a professional baseball team and you’re concerned about coming out? What is this guy, living in the 1970’s?
This is frickin 2009 people — get your ass out of the closet and start living life! Pathetic.
Sorry, this needed to be said — I’m a huge sports fan and have absolutely ZERO sympathy for closet cases in this day and age, when you could actually be out and ENJOYING life).
on Jun 7th, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Goodness, I’m confused. I still have no idea who this Wesley Eure guy is, but the picture is of the “former Yankee.” Got it.
on Jun 7th, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Hmmmm. GoYanks4868s huge donkey comment in his post prompted a memory of mine that is a bit off subject, but… I am known for my tangents.
Way back when (2001) Yahoo wanted to clean up their groups sites so they stopped allowing photo gallery caches. Many of the sexually oriented groups dropped out including “2-All-nudeMensSports” moderated by DonkyDick (of course) out of LA. He claimed to be an ex-pro baseball player having had an average length career (4yrs?). He put together a casual list of truly horse hung players and I remembered JT Snow and Edgar Martinez as 2 he said he checked out and had equine properties about their person. Those 2 stuck in my head as I have always liked them. I never did try and figure out what teams the dudes on the horse hung list played for and coincided w/Donkeys playing days. He did say he was aware of several current (then) and formerly active players who were gay. I suspect ol’ Donkeys a fan of this site. Prolly knows Cyd and Jim even.
on Jun 7th, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Canmark,,,Wesly Eure played the son on the Saturday morning kids TV show “Land of the Lost” which was done by the same people who did “HR Puffenstuff” and “Sigmund and the Sea Monsters”.
on Jun 7th, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Actually, Mark, (and everybody else) it was the early 80’s when said ballplayer had his day with the Pinstripes. So, yeah, over 25 years ago, he was playing at a time when people in general, and pro athletes in particular, were not coming out so readily. Even moreso than today. So ease up on the stone throwing over the fact that he wasn’t out as a player.
on Jun 7th, 2009 at 6:16 PM
He looks like some movie star.
Anyway, enough with the donkey dicks, guys. Don’t think it’s legal to 69 with a donkey.
on Jun 8th, 2009 at 1:27 PM
From 1978 through 2006 the Columbus (Ohio) Clippers were the AAA farm team for the Yankees. During that period, although difficult to verify, there were numerous “Richards” playing for the team. If this is in fact the farm team of which he speaks I’m sure someone with far more baseball knowledge will be able to put the pieces together. And to those who seem critical of his unwillingness to come out might I ask them to provide a list of past or current sports figures who came out WHILE still active in their sport and continued to have the support of both their team and their fans. Short list I believe.
on Jun 8th, 2009 at 4:43 PM
The guy should either come out of the closet or stay in. I hate this half-way bs. I can respect someone who’s in the closet but not someone who’s playing games.
on Jun 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 AM
i think it’s good to come out at any time of your life. there’s no rule that dictates when you’re suppossed to come out. that will happened when you think the time is right.
it’s never too late no matter how old you are.
better late than never.
now let’s see who else (famous atlhete) has the balls to come out?
on Aug 9th, 2009 at 9:36 AM