The Kid comes to Chicago

Kid Gleason with commissioner Kenesaw Landis

After 30 years in the game as a player and coach, 53-year-old Kid Gleason finally gets his chance to manage in the majors 105 years ago today as he is hired by the Chicago White Sox to run a talented, albeit underachieving, team coming off a sixth-place finish under Pants Rowland.

Gleason promptly leads the White Sox in 1919 to an 88-52 record and the American League pennant.

The storyline, though, goes from spectacular to sinful as, unbeknownst to Gleason, key players from his team conspire to throw the World Series against Cincinnati and subsequently find themselves banned from baseball after the 1920 season by newly anointed commissioner Kenesaw Landis.

Gleason stays with the White Sox through 1923, but never again reaches the World Series with them.

He eventually takes part in two World Series winners as a coach for Connie Mack with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1929 and '30.

Kid Gleason with Connie Mack