Kid Gleason
Encyclopedia
William J. "Kid" Gleason (October 26, 1866 – January 2, 1933) was an American professional athlete and Major League Baseball
player and manager
. Gleason is best known as the manager of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, the team made infamous by the Black Sox scandal
, in which Gleason's players conspired to intentionally lose the World Series
.
Gleason was born in Camden
, New Jersey
. He acquired the nickname "Kid" early in life, not only because of his short stature but also because of his energetic, youthful nature. Gleason debuted as a pitcher
with the Philadelphia Phillies
on April 20, 1888. He enjoyed several successful seasons, especially 1890 (38 wins), before becoming a second baseman
. He was the starting second baseman for the old Baltimore Orioles
in 1895. Gleason compiled a .261 career batting average
before retiring after the 1912 season. With his two at-bats in one game in 1912, he became a member of the small group of men, 29 to date, who have played major league baseball in four decades.
He began his career as a manager with the White Sox on December 31, 1918. In his first season, the team won the pennant but lost the World Series. The Black Sox scandal resulted in lifetime bans from baseball for eight White Sox players. Gleason, however, had no knowledge of the conspiracy, although some sources note that he was amongst those who alerted White Sox owner Charles Comiskey
to the fix. Although he felt betrayed and disappointed by his 1919 team, he continued to manage the White Sox until 1923.
After leaving in 1923, Kid Gleason would go on to coach under manager Connie Mack
with the Philadelphia Athletics until his death of a heart ailment in 1933, at the age of 66, in Philadelphia
, Pennsylvania
. He is buried in Philadelphia's Northwood Cemetery
.
He won 2 World Series
championships with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1929
and 1930
.
Gleason has been referenced in pop culture in several books, and is a prominent supporting character in Ring Lardner
's 1916 novel You Know Me Al
. He also appears in the film Eight Men Out
(portrayed by John Mahoney
).
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
. Gleason is best known as the manager of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, the team made infamous by the Black Sox scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
, in which Gleason's players conspired to intentionally lose the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He acquired the nickname "Kid" early in life, not only because of his short stature but also because of his energetic, youthful nature. Gleason debuted as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on April 20, 1888. He enjoyed several successful seasons, especially 1890 (38 wins), before becoming a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. He was the starting second baseman for the old Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
in 1895. Gleason compiled a .261 career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
before retiring after the 1912 season. With his two at-bats in one game in 1912, he became a member of the small group of men, 29 to date, who have played major league baseball in four decades.
He began his career as a manager with the White Sox on December 31, 1918. In his first season, the team won the pennant but lost the World Series. The Black Sox scandal resulted in lifetime bans from baseball for eight White Sox players. Gleason, however, had no knowledge of the conspiracy, although some sources note that he was amongst those who alerted White Sox owner Charles Comiskey
Charles Comiskey
Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key person in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
to the fix. Although he felt betrayed and disappointed by his 1919 team, he continued to manage the White Sox until 1923.
After leaving in 1923, Kid Gleason would go on to coach under manager Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
with the Philadelphia Athletics until his death of a heart ailment in 1933, at the age of 66, in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He is buried in Philadelphia's Northwood Cemetery
Northwood Cemetery
Northwood Cemetery is a cemetery located in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was established in 1878.-Notable interments:* George Bradley Major League Baseball player....
.
He won 2 World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
championships with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1929
1929 World Series
In the 1929 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs in five games.The famous "Mack Attack" occurred in 1929, named for manager of the Athletics, Connie Mack, in which the Athletics overcame an eight-run deficit by scoring ten runs in the seventh inning of Game 4...
and 1930
1930 World Series
In the 1930 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in six games, 4–2. Philadelphia's pitching ace Lefty Grove won two games.The St...
.
Gleason has been referenced in pop culture in several books, and is a prominent supporting character in Ring Lardner
Ring Lardner
Ringgold Wilmer Lardner was an American sports columnist and short story writer best known for his satirical takes on the sports world, marriage, and the theatre.-Personal life:...
's 1916 novel You Know Me Al
You Know Me Al
You Know Me Al is a book by Ring Lardner, and, after, a nationally-syndicated comic strip which Lardner scripted, drawn by Will B. Johnstone and Dick Dorgan...
. He also appears in the film Eight Men Out
Eight Men Out
Eight Men Out is an American dramatic sports film, released in 1988 and based on Eliot Asinof 1963 book 8 Men Out. It was written and directed by John Sayles....
(portrayed by John Mahoney
John Mahoney
John Mahoney is a British born American actor, known for playing Martin "Marty" Crane, the retired police officer, father of Kelsey Grammer's Dr...
).
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com - playing statistics and managing record