MAY 5, 1884

OJIBWE CHARLES ALBERT “CHIEF” BENDER BORN—BASEBALL HALL OF FAME PITCHER

Born in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, and raised on the White Earth Indian Reservation, Bender first pitched at Carlisle Indian School. Discovered by Philadelphia Athletics owner Connie Mack pitching in an exhibition game, he won 17 games with a 3.07 earned-run average (ERA) for the A’s as a rookie in 1903. Bender’s career won-loss record with Philadelphia’s A’s (1903-14) & Phillies (1916 & 17) and Federal League Baltimore Terrapins was 212–127 (.625 winning %) with a 2.46 career ERA and 1 no-hitter. In his best year, 1910, he went 23-5 with a 1.58 ERA. In 5 World Series’, he won 6 of 10 starts with an ERA of 2.44. Bender later pitched & managed in the minor leagues (1919-1924); coached for the Chicago White Sox (1925–26); managed the U.S. Naval Academy team (1924-28); and served as scout, minor league manager & pitching coach for the A’s (1933-50). He entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953. Bender died in Philadelphia on May 22, 1954. His sister was famed educator Elizabeth Bender Roe Cloud.

Source: “Chief Bender,” National Baseball Hall of Fame.  Retrieved 10/11/2021, Bender, Chief | Baseball Hall of Fame
Photo: Paul Thompson (1878-1940). 1/7/1911.  Public Domain. Source: United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs Division
under the digital ID ppmsca.13541.Bender, Phila. Am. (loc.gov)