Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17
WIN, LOSE OR
UKAW By FRANCIS sTANN
Kid Gleason, Manager

{ EXCEPT ON NFREQUENT and appropriate occasions,
AL Lopez manages with velvet glove the last mana
ger to win pennant with the White Sox different
breed of cat Bill Gleason called The Kid" 40 years
and then stood by in helpless rage the BLACK Sox
threw the World Series.
Il The Kid was not young man when he became the
ox manager in 1912 succeeding Pants Rowland whom
he had coached He So and had gained his nickname
much earlier because of his small size. Gleason looked
more like an ex-pug than an ex-baseball player.
He stood ST. but he tough and he bore the scars
Of many fight, with and without rules He had on
the Camden NJ j. waterfront to break in with the Phies
In 1888
~ DurabeP The Kid lasted 20 years the big leagues as
apayer Versatile? He pitcher the first eight
and very good tricky second basenan the last a.
So *&ssY
~ THERE IS NO accurate way of measuring him as a
manager Most of the key Of his 1919 pennant team
holdoyers from the 1917 White Sox who had for
Rowland Some qualified observers that had not
been the Series scandal the l9 would gone
down in history the greatest club assembled.
Greater than the 1927 Yankees the Philadelphia
Athletics and all the others
1t possible that Gleason from the
Big Fix The Sox began to slide under The Kid in 1920
when they runnersup After that they dropped
deep into the second division and in 1928 Gleason fin
ished
1 Lopez White Sox appear to be harmonious happy
crew Geason Sox the opposite and took pains to
hide their feelings toward each other although far
the Kid himself concerned the Sox respected feared
him. BOTH But Eddie Collins the star second baseman
hadn't spoken to Chick Gand the first baseman for
than two years before the 1919 Series Nor Collins and
Swede Risberg, the shortstop friendly
Z Risberg, in turn, couldn't abide Ray Schalk the
catcher neither Collins nor schak hit It of with Out
eders Joe Jackson and Happy Fesch 1t must have been
team Of great ability to win in spite of the lack of esprit
de corps.
i 4 THE KID WAS DISTINCTIVE manager in several
dc
Stengel Connie Mack any other great manager voun
ariy doubling the teams doctor and trainer Gleason
did He expert at wrapping tape and as willing as
he was unlicensed to dispense pills and ointment.
81 Collins was appointed field captain, usually token
honor Gleason however the second baseman wide
authority much to the resentment of the antCoins fac
ton In his book "The Chicago White Son. the gifted War
rem Brown tells of time when Collins complained about
the lack of cooperation he receiving.
& Some of these fellows want to do Just the opposite
of what tell them" Collins said 1881
b The Kid was unsympathetic replying that he didn't
hnk any captain of his would be dumb to be unable
to figure out countermove.
eff you want em to bunt tell e to hit straightaway
Gleason snapped f you want EN- to hit and rum tell EN-
to bunt. Do have to do all your thinking for your"
K
Z THE KID WAS SHREWD enough to detect something
rotten in Denmark after the first Series game when Gin
cnnau beat his best pitcher Eddie Ccotte ell In fact
Gleason strained few friendships by his early charges
one was New YORK Sports editor VINO met MIN OUT
side the hotel in Cincinnati.
: Tough luck Kid" he commiserated.
Tough luck?" Gleason snarled "You ought to know
what's happening!"
4. The writer perplexed.
4 "our club threw that game today" Gleason accused
H. you ought to be ashamed of yourself" scolded the
editor, turning away.
- Actually Gleason is described by odtimers having
been of merry hel-raising sort than grim type.
Once John McGraw threw big dinner party and seated
Gleason his old teammate the Baltimore Orioles next
to distinguished Army general Noting that Gleason
particularly bosterous that night McGraw cautioned The
Kid against annoying the brass.
. "Nuts," Gleason replied. "Me and the lieutenant are
getting along SWELL amt we. Loot?"
s Icy the army officer snapped, IT. sir, full gen
seral" 500
M a. sir" Gleason retorted lam full manager How in
hell to know you're general2 can't your leg
gings"
s. Even the renowned wit, Bugs Baer, who was toast
MASTER had trouble topping that one.