( CNN ) -- Billy Bean , a former major league player who announced after his career that he is gay , has been appointed as an `` ambassador of inclusion , '' Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Tuesday . It is the latest move as the major sports leagues in the United States ramp up efforts to promote inclusion and fight discrimination . As a consultant , Bean will work with teams in the majors and in the minor leagues to provide guidance and training against homophobia , prejudice and sexism , MLB said . `` As a young man , I silently walked away from baseball for all the wrong reasons , and today I am truly humbled that the commissioner 's office has brought me back to lead the effort on inclusion , '' Bean said . A year ago Major League Baseball issued a policy to protect players from discrimination and harassment based on their sexual orientation . The code is posted in every locker room . Currently , there are no openly gay major leaguers . Bean , 50 , played six seasons for three different teams : the Detroit Tigers , Los Angeles Dodgers , and the San Diego Padres . He played his last game in 1995 . He told Outsports three years ago that he retired after his played in a game rather than attend his partner 's funeral . In 1999 , Bean told a columnist for the Miami Herald that he is gay , making him the second former player to come out . On Tuesday , MLB honored the late Glenn Burke , who was the only major league player to tell teammates during his playing career that he was gay . Three years after his career ended in 1979 , he publicly acknowledged his homosexuality in an interview with Inside Sports magazine . He died in 1995 . Lutha Burke attended Tuesday 's tribute to her brother . She said her brother would be happy but would wonder about all the fuss `` because when you 're just busy trying to live a life and be a decent human being , and play the sport as best you can , with all the respect you can , it should be a done deal or an easy deal for anyone . '' The National Hockey League , which also has no openly gay players , began teaming with the You Can Play Project , an advocacy group for gays in sports , in 2013 . The league has said the partnership will include education and training for fans , players and teams . The NFL , which saw Michael Sam become the first openly gay player drafted , has met with gay and lesbian groups and had a former player who is gay speak at an owners meeting . The league also has sessions on tolerance during sessions for rookies . Jason Collins became the first publicly openly gay player in a major U.S. sports league when he took the court for the NBA 's Boston Celtics . That league has for years partnered with the Gay , Lesbian & Straight Education Network .
Billy Bean came out in four years , four years after his career ended . He will lead MLB 's training efforts against U.S. , prejudice , sexism . Billy Bean also posthumously honored its second gay player , Burke . Burke came out to teammates during his career , did so publicly later .