Bill Gleason

Who was Bill Gleason?

William G. "Bill" Gleason was a shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from 1882 through 1889 for three different teams of the American Association. Listed at 5 ft 8 in, 170 lb., Gleason batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His older brother, Jack Gleason, was also a ballplayer.

Gleason entered the majors in 1882 with the St. Louis Browns, playing for them six years before joining the Philadelphia Athletics and Louisville Colonels. His most productive season came in 1887, when he posted career numbers in batting average, runs, hits, and on-base percentage. A member of three St. Louis champion teams from 1885 to 1887, in 1883 and 1885 he led the league in games played.

In an eight-season career, Gleason was a .267 hitter with seven home runs and 298 RBI in 798 games, including 613 runs, 111 doubles, and 35 triples. Incomplete data shows him stealing 70 bases and getting hit by 52 pitches.

Gleason died in his native St. Louis at the age of 73.