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Kid Gleason

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Not to be confused withWilliam "Bill" Gleason,another baseball player who was a contemporary of Kid Gleason's during his playing days.
Kid Gleason
Gleason in 1919
Second baseman/Pitcher/Manager
Born:(1866-10-26)October 26, 1866
Camden, New Jersey,U.S.
Died:January 2, 1933(1933-01-02)(aged 66)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,U.S.
Batted:Both
Threw:Right
MLB debut
April 20, 1888, for the Philadelphia Quakers
Last MLB appearance
August 27, 1912, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.261
Home runs15
Runs batted in824
Win–loss record138–131
Earned run average3.79
Strikeouts744
Teams
As player
As manager
As coach

William Jethro"Kid"Gleason(October 26, 1866 – January 2, 1933) was an AmericanMajor League Baseball(MLB) player andmanager.Gleason managed theChicago White Soxfrom 1919 through 1923. His first season as a big league manager was notable for his team's appearance in theWorld Seriesand the ensuingBlack Sox Scandal,although Gleason was not involved in the scandal. After leaving the White Sox, Gleason was on thecoachingstaff for thePhiladelphia Athletics,until 1931.

Early life[edit]

Gleason was born inCamden, New Jersey.He acquired the nickname "Kid" early in life, not only because of his short stature (growing to only 5-foot-7, 155 pounds)[1]but also because of his quite energetic, youthful nature. His family later moved to thePocono Mountainsin northeast Pennsylvania, where his father worked as a coal miner.[1]

Playing career[edit]

Gleason in 1888

Gleason played two seasons in the minor leagues of northern Pennsylvania. In 1886, withWilliamsportof the Pennsylvania State League, he batted.355 and stole 20 bases in 36 games.[2]Gleason debuted as apitcherwith thePhiladelphia Quakerson April 20, 1888, after impressing Hall of Fame managerHarry Wrightduring an exhibition game against theUniversity of Pennsylvania.[1]After enjoying mixed success as a pitcher in 1888 and 1889, Gleason opted to stay in the National League under Wright instead of moving to thePlayers' Leagueset up in 1890.[1]His 1890 season was his best as a pitcher, with 38 wins, a 2.63 ERA, 54 complete games, and 506 innings pitched.[1][3]

Gleason was sold to theSt. Louis Brownsfor the 1892 season, where he played for two and a half seasons as a starting pitcher and reserve fielder. With St. Louis, he made appearances as an outfielder, first baseman, second baseman, and shortstop, and hit.235.[1]

After being shipped to theBaltimore Oriolespartway through the 1894 season, Gleason pitched effectively in 20 starts and also batted.349, helping Baltimore to a National League pennant.[1]Early in the 1895 season, managerNed Hanlonmoved Gleason to second base full time, where he hit well but fielded poorly that year. Baltimore repeated as NL champions, but Hanlon traded Gleason in the offseason to theNew York Giants.[1]

In New York, Gleason played five seasons as the regular second baseman, hitting a respectable.271 overall but with little power.[3]He served as ateam captain,and in that capacity may have invented theintentional walkduring an 1897 game by advising his pitcher to walk a strong hitter to face a weaker one.[1]Gleason also earned local fame on April 26, 1900, for helping New York firemen rescue residents from an apartment fire.[1]

Gleason joined the newAmerican Leaguein 1901, starting at second base for two years with theDetroit Tigers.[3]From 1903 to 1908, he returned to Philadelphia and hit.250 over the period; he led the NL insacrifice buntsin 1904 and 1905.[3]

Gleason compiled a.261 careerbatting average.He retired as a player after the 1908 season at the age of 42, having appeared as a player in just two games for thePhilliesthat year. However, four years later, Gleason would make an unlikely return to the big leagues as a player, with his two at-bats in one game atsecond basefor the White Sox in 1912 making Gleason one of only 29 MLB players to have played in four different decades.

Gleason led the league inputoutsandassiststhree times each, though he also led inerrorsfour times. He ranks seventh all-time in errors as a second baseman.[3]

Coaching career[edit]

Gleason began his coaching career in 1908 with the Phillies as a player-coach. The Phillies unconditionally released Gleason on April 12, 1910, prior to Opening Day. At the time, thePhiladelphia Inquirercalled Gleason "one of the most popular players who ever donned a Philadelphia uniform."[4]

After sitting out 1910 and 1911, Gleason joined theChicago White Soxin 1912, where he made one appearance as a player and became a coach under managerJimmy Callahan.[1]

Gleason became manager of the White Sox on December 31, 1918, following the dismissal ofPants Rowland.In his first season, the team won the pennant but lost theWorld Seriesto theCincinnati Reds,resulting in allegations the White Sox had been paid by gamblers to "throw"the Series. The ensuingscandalresulted in lifetime bans from baseball for eight White Sox players. Gleason, however, was not involved in the gambling, and some sources noted he was among those who alerted White Sox ownerCharles Comiskeyof the fix. Although he felt betrayed and disappointed by his 1919 team, he continued to manage the White Sox through the 1923 season.

After leaving in 1923, Gleason went on in 1926 to coach under managerConnie Mackwith thePhiladelphia Athleticsuntil retiring after the 1931 season.[1]As a coach, Gleason won twoWorld Serieschampionships with the Athletics, in1929and1930.

Death[edit]

Gleason died due to a heart ailment in 1933, at the age of 66, inPhiladelphia.His funeral was attended by an estimated 5,000 people, including baseball luminaries such as CommissionerKenesaw Mountain Landisand Hall of Fame managerJohn McGraw.He is buried in Philadelphia'sNorthwood Cemetery.[1]

In popular culture[edit]

Gleason has been referenced in pop culture in several books, and is a prominent supporting character inRing Lardner's 1916 novelYou Know Me Al.He is portrayed by actorJohn Mahoneyin the 1988 filmEight Men Out,based onEliot Asinof's book of the same name.

Managerial record[edit]

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Games Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
CWS 1919 140 88 52 .629 1st in AL 3 5 .375 LostWorld Series(CIN)
CWS 1920 154 96 58 .623 2nd in AL – – – –
CWS 1921 154 62 92 .403 7th in AL – – – –
CWS 1922 154 77 77 .500 5th in AL – – – –
CWS 1923 154 69 85 .448 7th in AL – – – –
Total 756 392 364 .519 3 5 .375

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghijklmKid Gleasonat theSABR Baseball Biography Project,by Dan Lindner, Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  2. ^Kofoed, J.C. (April 19, 1916). "A Twenty-Five Year Record".Baseball Magazine(6).
  3. ^abcde"Kid Gleason Stats".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedJuly 2,2022.
  4. ^"Who's Champion Still in Doubt".Philadelphia Inquirer.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. April 13, 1910. p. 10.

External links[edit]

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