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Home › Hall of Famers ›
Bender, Chief
Charles Albert Bender
Born:
May 5, 1884, Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Died:
May 22, 1954, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bats:
Right
Throws:
Right
Played For:
Philadelphia A's (1903-14), Baltimore Terrapins (Federal League, 1915), Philadelphia Phillies (1916-17), Chicago White Sox (1925)
Elected to the Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee:
1953
Biography:
Possessing a solid fastball, excellent curveball and outstanding control, Chief Bender also developed a slider to help him win 212 games during his 16-year Major League career. He led the American League in winning percentage three seasons, tossed a no-hitter in 1910 and retired from the game with 1,711 strikeouts. Bender also pitched in five World Series, going 6-4 with an ERA of 2.44. A member of the Chippewa tribe and a graduate of the Carlisle Indian School, Bender overcame subtle discrimination and a derisive nickname to become one of the top pitchers of his era.
Click here to see additional information provided by Baseball-Reference
Did You Know:
that Chief Bender is credited with inventing the nickel curve, also known as the slider?
If I had all the men I've ever handled and they were in their prime and there was one game I wanted to win above all others, Albert would be my man.
Connie Mack
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This Day in Baseball History
On May 22, 1926, the St. Louis Cardinals hold “Rogers Hornsby Day” in honor of their star player-manager. Hornsby, the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1925, receives $1,000 in gold during a pre-game ceremony.


