Unlike most popular team sports (football, basketball, hockey, etc.), baseball is unusual in that each player stands alone in his own spot on the field most of the time, and the pitcher in particular feels like he is on stage, because much of the focus of the other players and the audience is on him. Burke and Bean were both outfielders, where it was easier to avoid the spotlight and blend into the background. It's also worth noting that Burke was involuntarily outed, and it destroyed his career.