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Albert (Chief) Bender baseball card from 1912
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Hall of Fame Pitchers
Charles Albert "Chief" Bender was the pitcher you wanted if you had to win a game, according to Connie Mack, the famous gentleman manager of the Philadelphia Athletics. Bender got the nickname "Chief" because he was one-quarter Chippewa Indian. Although he didn't like the nickname Chief because many people were prejudiced against Native Americans, Bender didn't complain. He did, however, sign autographs as "Charles Bender." He won more than 200 games and led the A's to five World Series. Bender had a special pitch that was halfway between a fastball and a curve, which became known as the slider or "nickel curve." It's a key pitch in the arsenal of many pitchers today. Bender was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1953.
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