Books and articles about Kid Gleason

Best known today as the betrayed manager of the infamous Black Sox, Gleason was a star player of the 1890s. He began as a pitcher with the Phillies. After two losing seasons, he blossomed with a 38-17 mark in 1890 when desertions to the Players' League stripped the Phillies of their regular starters. He never approached that level again, although he twice more topped 20 wins. When the distance from the mound to the plate was increased in 1894, he lost his effectiveness.

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A timely hitter and heady player, Gleason switched to second base, helping the Orioles win a pennant in 1895. He was traded the next year to the Giants, where he was named team captain. According to some reports, he was the first to order an intentional base on balls as a way to bypass a strong hitter. In 1897 he had his best offensive year, hitting .319 with 106 RBI. He jumped to the AL in 1901, then returned to the Phillies in 1903 for four more years as the regular second baseman. He stole 328 career bases.

After retiring as a player, he served first as a coach, then as the manager of the White Sox. Nicknamed Kid in part because he was 5'7" but mostly for his enthusiasm, his heart was broken by his players' sellout of the 1919 WS. He continued as manager of the crippled team through 1923, then became a coach for Connie Mack in Philadelphia. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 18, 1889: The Brotherhood meets and expels members who have signed National League contracts, including Jack Glasscock, John Clarkson, Kid Gleason, and George Miller. Among those expelled, Jake Beckley, Joe Mulvey, and Ed Delahanty would eventually jump back to the PL and be reinstated. » April 26, 1900: On their way to the Polo Grounds, New York Giants George Davis, Kid Gleason, and Mike Grady spot smoke rising from an apartment building and rush to help with the rescue. Davis climbs a fireman's ladder to rescue a woman who fainted in the heat, and Gleason and Davis help a woman and child down a fire escape. Forty five families are left homeless from the major blaze. Then the trio, with Davis stroking a triple, help the Giants tie Boston 5-5 after nine innings, then rally with a five spot to tie again in the bottom of the 10th. » September 14, 1900: At the Polo Grounds, the Giants pull off the first triple play of the 20th century. With Chicago's Johnny Kling behind the plate, Jack Doyle, George Davis and Kid Gleason do the deed. It'll be another 10 years before a trifecta is pulled off in the NL. » February 9, 1901: Giants and Pirates outfielder Tom O'Brien, 28 dies in Phoenix. A popular player with the Giants, O'Brien played for Pirates in 1900, then accompanied the Giants and Dodgers last fall on a trip to Cuba for a series of exhibition games. On the boat trip over, he was told that if he drank enough sea water he'd be sick, but would then be cured of any sea sickness. Both O'Brien and Kid Gleason became violently ill following the prescription, but O'Brien was so affected that all his internal organs were damaged, and he never recovered. » March 7, 1903: In the first trade under the peace treaty, the Giants send their 1902 part-time manager Heinie Smith to Detroit for 2B Kid Gleason, who is immediately moved to the Phils where he will end a 20-year playing career. » June 20, 1906: At Exposition Park, Honus Wagner clubs one of the longest hits in park history, but only makes it to 3B. Rounding first he is clipped by 1B Kid Gleason, and Wagner limps his way to a triple. A pinch runner, Harry Smith, scores for the Pirates on a fly and the Phils then generously allow Wagner to return to SS. But the injury will force him to miss three games. » December 31, 1918: Kid Gleason replaces Pants Rowland as White Sox manager following the team's skid to 5th. » October 2, 1919: Charles Comiskey tells NL president Heydler that Sox manager Kid Gleason is suspicious of his players. Heydler confers with Ban Johnson, who takes no action, fearing it will look like revenge against Comiskey, with whom he has been feuding. As the games unfold, reporters Ring Lardner and Christy Mathewson do not like what they see. Chicago reporter Hugh Fullerton will raise questions during the winter. Comiskey will offer a reward for information, but the 1920 season will open with the same lineup for Chicago, minus Chick Gandil, who will be in the PCL. » October 26, 1923: Frank Chance signs to manage the White Sox replacing Kid Gleason, but he will resign February 17, 1924, because of illness. Coach Johnny Evers, named acting manager, will fill the job the entire season. » May 19, 1927: White Sox players give their former manager Eddie Collins a wristwatch and diamond stickpin on his return to Chicago with the A's, then win 3–0 behind Tommy Thomas' 6th straight win. In addition to new Sox manager Ray Schalk, there are three ex-Sox managers present: the A's Eddie Collins and Kid Gleason, and umpire Clarence Rowland. Another ex-manager, Ty Cobb of the Tigers, hits in his 19th straight game.