# Kid Gleason — Jack Keefe Stories character guide

> Kid Gleason in Jack Keefe Stories by Ring Lardner.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gleason, Kid, So Gleason, Well Gleason

**First appearance:** 0001-jack-keefe-stories

## Snapshot

The White Sox manager, a dry, needling veteran who sees straight through Jack and isn't above a deadpan joke at his expense.

## Who they are

Gleason handles pitchers the way he handles babies—with a mix of patience and blunt truth—and Jack can't decide whether to trust him or resent him. He jollies the left-handers Jack despises, refuses to flatter Jack's arm, and answers complaints with wisecracks about sore-armed pitchers who still have both arms. His running commentary is the closest thing the book has to a reality check on Jack's self-image.

## Relationships

### [Al Blanchard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/al_blanchard)

_professional_

Al and Kid Gleason have a professional relationship, likely as player and manager or coach.

### [Al Blanchard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/al_blanchard)

_professional_

Al and Kid Gleason have a professional relationship, likely as player and manager or coach.

## In the story

### [Jack Keefe Stories](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/jack-keefe-stories)

A baseball figure associated with the White Sox.

### [A Busher's Letters Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/a-busher-s-letters-home)

A coach or veteran player who critiques Jack's fielding and offers to teach him.

### [The Busher Comes Back](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-comes-back)

White Sox assistant manager; jokes with Jack and acknowledges his improvement.

### [The Busher's Kid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-s-kid)

Visits Jack to see the baby and jokes about Jack's parenting.

### [Call for Mr. Keefe!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/call-for-mr-keefe)

Jack's teammate; exchanges banter with Jack about enlisting.

### [Jack the Kaiser Killer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/jack-the-kaiser-killer)

Mentioned as a White Sox figure Jack expects to see at the World Series.

### [The Busher Reenlists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-reenlists)

The new manager of the White Sox, whom Jack feels loyal to.

### [The Battle of Texas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-battle-of-texas)

Manager who checks for bottle goods, arranges Florrie's surprise visit, and coaches Jack during practice.

### [Along Came Ruth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/along-came-ruth)

Jack's manager; mediates Jack's family dispute, threatens to reveal Jack's past, and offers a bonus for beating Philadelphia.

### [The Courtship of T. Dorgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-courtship-of-t-dorgan)

Jack's manager who advises him to keep his new contract quiet and uses him in key games.

### [The Busher Pulls a Mays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/chapters/the-busher-pulls-a-mays)

White Sox manager; confronts Jack about his unauthorized trip to Atlantic City and pulls him from a game early.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters/kid_gleason
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jack_keefe_stories_se/characters