The high five is generally traced to the late 1970s , with the most widely cited origin being October 2, 1977 , when Glenn Burke and Dusty Baker of the Los Angeles Dodgers are said to have done it after a home run. Another well-known claim places its invention in the 1978–79 Louisville Cardinals basketball team era, so the exact “first” high five is still disputed.

Quick Scoop

  • Most cited date: October 2, 1977.
  • Other major claim: 1978–79, Louisville Cardinals.
  • Bottom line: it likely emerged in sports culture in the late 1970s , rather than from one uncontested inventor.

Why it’s unclear

The gesture has multiple origin stories, and sources note that it may have developed in more than one place around the same time. ESPN’s reporting says the history is “mysterious,” while Wonderopolis notes that several claims exist and that the gesture probably spread through different sports settings.

One-line answer

If you want the shortest answer: the high five was invented in the late 1970s, most famously in 1977.