The Washington herald., 1914-09-27
MAY
gain KID BERTH
During Federal Leagues In
vasion Gleason Ful6Ils His
Pledge to Comiskey.
TURNS DOWN BIG OFFER
Clubs Are Scarcely on Pacific Ocean
Before Outlaws" Make Bid for
White Sox Players.

William Gleason kept his word and he
IL going to be rewarded. You don't
know who william Gleason Is? Weh
kid" Gleason, then. Now you know
the famous old war horse" Of the dia-
mond who will find that the fulhlment OF
pledge in baseball Is worth some
thing. ...n
In October. 1913. when Charles Com
iskey started with Jim Callahan, man.
ager, and the White Sox. on a tour OF
the world, he called KID Gleason into
his private ONCE and asked him to look
after the stay-at-homes and recruits al
the spring training camp until Callahan
returned. At that time, neither man be-
Iieved that the Federal League was going
TO expand and try to grab all the good
ball players in sight. Comiskey merely
wanted Gleason to round the Sox up
and pilot them to California. And KID
promised he would do IL.
It happened that the White Sox and
Giants scarcely were on the Pacific
Ocean before the Federal League agents
began to get busy. They signed Otto
Knabe, of the Phillies: Joe Tinker, of
the Reds, and other prominent players.
And then the purveyors of gold went to
Gleason. They made him an offer
which. il is said. would have meant
more money in one year than CoHnskey
was paving him in three or four.
Sorry. l can't accept IT," was Glea-
sons prompt reply. Il promised Comey
would look after the boys at the
training camp until Cal got there and
I will keep my word
The agents pleaded: they told Gleason
that Mr.. Comiskey would not expect him
to turn down such a big offer: they in
sisted that he cable his boss and ask
for his release.
NO use. boys" Gleason said. 'Tf
had not given my word, I'd consider your
offer. Probably I will II il comes my
way again Now, it's out Of the ques-
tion.'
Gleason corraled the sox. as he prom
ised he would. and when Comiskey and
Callahan returned, they found their play
ers in California hard at work Several
would have Jumped. IL is said, II the
kid had not talked to them and ad-
vised them to wait until Comiskey had
an opportunity TO meet the Feds terms.
Now the 1914 season IS nearly ended
and the Sox have been a rousing sue
cess. II is rumored that there will be
a change next spring and Gleason will
succeed Callahan as manager. That Is
the reward Comiskey may give him for
his faithfulness at a time when he might
have virtually ruined the Chicago ball
Kid Gleason is one Of the most
popular players who ever wore uni
form in Philadelphia He started his
career with the williamsport, Pa, team
in 1855 and later Joined the Phillies. He
was a pitcher at that time, but went
to Baltimore, where he became an in
fielder and was on the same team with
John McGraw. Hughey Jennings. Willie
Keller. Jack Doyle, Joe Kelly, Wilberl
Robinson and other famous stars Of the
nineties.
In 1903 Gleason returned to the PhiI-
lies and was the regular second base
man until 1907. when he taught Otto
Knabs the tricks of the position and
quit in favor of the younger man. The
Kid remained with the club as cOach
until 1910. when a change in management
came and he asked for his release. He
went to Chicago and has been the coach
of the Sox ever since. Gleason was
born in Camden and lives in Philadel-
phia in the OF season.