Chief Bender

Bender in 1911

Charles Albert "Chief" Bender (May 5, 1884 - May 22, 1954) was one of the great pitchers in major league baseball in the first two decades of the 20th century, and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bender was born in Crow Wing County, Minnesota as a member of the Chippewa tribe - he faced discrimination throughout his career, not least of which was the derisive nickname ("Chief") by which he is almost exclusively known today. After graduating from Carlisle Indian School , Bender went on to a stellar career as a starting pitcher from 1903 to 1917, primarily with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics (though with stints at the end of his career with the Baltimore Terrapins , the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Chicago White Sox).

Over his career, his win-loss record was 212-167, for a .625 winning percentage (a category in which he would lead the American League in three seasons). His talent was even more noticeable in the high-pressure environment of the World Series: in five trips to the championship series, he managed six wins and a 2.44 ERA. In the 1911 series, he pitched three complete games, which set the record for most complete games pitched in a six-game series. He also threw a no-hitter in 1910.

Bender was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1953, less than one year before his death in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the age of 70.

External links

• Chief Bender's career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com