"Charles Albert Bender (1883-1954) Right handed pitcher.
1903-1917, 25 A's Baltimore (FL), Phillies, White Sox.
3017 ip, 210-127, 2.46 ERA. Elected to the HAll in 1953.
Bender, for many years the only American Indian elected to the Hall of Fame,
boldly created his own opportunities in a world still basically hostile
toward his race. His father was a German settler in Minnesota, his mother a
Chippewa. He grew up on a reservation, and was sent to a church-run school
in Philadelphia when he was eight. After being returned to his mother, he
bolted the reservation at 13 to attend the Carlisle school in Penssylvania.
He accepted his Indian identity, stoically doffing his cap to cheers for
"The Chief", but signed his autographs "Charley Bender". Being an Indian
gave him separate glamour among the sons of white immigrants with whom he
played, and small boys whooped their admiration. But it was his pitching
skills that made him stand out.
Bender's career with the A's included 2 seasons as league leader in winning
percentage (1910:23-5;1914:17-3). He pitched a no-hitter against Cleveland
in 1910. In the 1905 World Series, in which every game was a shut-out,
Bender blanked the Giants 3-0 in game two, the only game Connie Macks club
won. Bender's 6-4 WS record included 9 complete games. Bender jumped to the
outlaw federal league in 1915 and experienced his most dimal record (4-16).
An all-around player, Bender appeared in several games as an infielder and
outfielder, and pinchhit 29 times. He was an expert sign stealer, practicing
the art from the coaches box between starts. He steered clear of temptations
which wrecked others' careers such as that of the briefly phenomenal Louis
Sockalexis, whose disastrous misadventures were used to deny opportunity to
other Native Americans. After his playing career effectively ended with the
Phillies in 1917, Bender managed in the minors and coached in the Majors. He
maintained a solid family life in Philadelphia, based on values adopted
while living on a Quaker farm during his school boy summers."
I have his career stats. I you're interested, Email me at:
Valencia@DGS.DGSYS.com
Take care......
Mick