Charles Albert Bender
Born: May 5, 1884, Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Died: May 22, 1954, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Batted: right
Threw: right
Played for: Philadelphia Athletics, Baltimore Terrapins, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox
Elected to Hall of Fame by Committee on Baseball Veterans: 1953
Charles Albert Bender overcame subtle discrimination including the derisive nickname "Chief" to become one of the top pitchers of the dead ball era. A member of the Chippewa tribe and a graduate of Carlisle Indian School, Bender won 212 games over 16 seasons, mostly for Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics. He led the American League in winning percentage three times, tossed a no-hitter in 1910, and was one of the first World Series stars, winning six games and posting a 2.44 ERA in five career series.
Did you know?... that Chief Bender is credited with inventing the nickel curve, also known as the slider?
