Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-11
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAW By FRANCIS sTANN
Memories of Kid Gleason

IT CAME OVER THE WIRE, squb perhaps so or so
words long, that William Billy Gleason one-time big
Lacquer had The sports desk promptly checked
If this THE Gleason his ob called for Then
somebody remembered that william kid Gleason died in
early 1888
Nonetheess the wheels of Renaissance were set in
motion Kid Gleason, short, stockily built guy out of
Camden, N j.. ball player to remember. In many
respects he could be likened the late Griffith
Kid started out pitcher and SO and "a for
the old PhlieS in 1890 and 81 And in 1892 he won 20
for the Cards.
He pitched eight years Then overnight
second baSeman. And pretty good one too. Not Nap
Lajoe Charlie Gehrnger perhaps but firsstring
second baseman for the champion Baltimore Orioles.
HE WAS A MANAGER. TOO. Indeed, Kid Gleason was
the of the Chicago White Sox during the World
which they Black Sox years Kid
steadastly refused talk about the Chicago Cincinnati
SERIES yet he the who blew the original whistle
1t happened early in that infamous series Gleason went
to his boss, Charles Comiskey, and said
Il can't put finger on it, but there's something fishy
about this series"
Comiskey-the Old Roman-wasted no time He took the
Kid Gleason being speaking with his
erstwhe friend President Johnson the
League and with deep feeling for Garry Hermann of the
Reds, he reused John Heydler at 3 in Pullman
compartment
To Heydler, who president of the National League
Comkey poured forth his fears as reayed by Gleason
Johnson he confessed Il can't go to Herr
mann, either. So I'm telling you"
HEYDLER, ONCE PRINTER AT The Evening STAR
dressed with alacfy and sought Johnson, who
riding the train When Heydler repeated Comiskeys
charges, via Gleason johnson snorted:
That's the yep of a beaten curl"
Yet it to be established later that eight members
Of the White Sox did agree throw the Series
exied for life. Gleason right Comiskey right
Heydle right and what all led up the appoint
ment of basebals first commissioner Judge Kenesaw Noun
tain Lands
There various connection with Kid Glea-
and the Sox scandal One that Gleason nearly full
year after Jackson Cicote Co. decided to Dump visited
ComSkey at mis- office and laid it out for him.
Il guess the truth is about to out" Comiskey
said, sadly.
Gleason nodded equally solemn. you right
now?" he asked Il get for today. Cicotte will
break down. He's the weak He'll crack confession
is the only way to clean it up Shall get him?"
GO ahead" ComSkey said, heavy in heart
IN THE YEARS that followed, Kid Gleason mentioned
before refused to discuss the Black Kid would
talk about anything but. He used to play with John j.
McGraw the old Orioles Frank Yeuter of the Philadelphia
Bulletin, who of Boswell the Kid was saying
this the telephone:
Its funny thing but while Gleason and McGraw
McGraw in the nose"
why didn't he take shot at it?" the question.
Search me- Yeutter replied Gleason always that
McGraw managed to be missing else he had big bunch
of BIS around to protect him."
Kid Gleason eventually developed into a sort of
cop cop in baseball uniform, that is He got work
as coach with Connie Mack along with Eddie Collins
He was the tough guy-the buffer-hated and yet
spected He rode herd Cochrane Grove Earnshaw Sim
Miller Haas and the of the gents who
might have been the greatest team of all time.