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10. Chief Bender

10. Chief Bender
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: May 5, 1884 in Crow Wing County, MN USA
  • Weight: 185 lbs.
  • Height: 6'2"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: April 20, 1903
  • Final Game: July 21, 1925
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1910
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1910
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1911
  • MVP - 1913
 
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Charles Albert “Chief” Bender signed as a Free Agent before the 1903 Season with the Philadelphia Athletics, and the "City of Brotherly Love" would be his home for the next 12 seasons.  Bender would be considered one of the nicest guys of the American League, but more importantly, he was one of the better hurlers in the game.

Bender would have at least 15 Wins in nine of his seasons with Philadelphia, and he would also finish in the top ten in ERA seven times, and in 1909, he would lead the AL in FIP and SO/BB.  The Athletics were an excellent team, and he was a huge part of Philadelphia's three World Series wins in the 1910s.  Bender would win six Games with a 2.44 ERA for Philly in the World Series over his five trips to the World Series.

Historically speaking, Bender is credited (though disputed) with developing the slider.  He would also record a no-hitter in 1910.

He would overall post a record of 193-102 with 1,535 Strikeouts for the Philadelphia Athletics.

Bender was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953, but he sadly passed away in between when he was elected and the induction ceremony.  Bender would later be named to the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 1991, and the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Pitcher
  • Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent before the 1903 Season.
  • Departed: Released 10/??/14.
  • Games Played: 385
  • Notable Statistics: 193 Wins
    102 Losses
    2.32 ERA
    288 Games Started
    228 Complete Games
    36 Shutouts
    87 Games Finished
    28 Saves
    2,602.0 Innings Pitched
    1,536 Strikeouts
    2.23 FIP
    1.091 WHIP
    2.50 SO/BB
    46.0 bWAR

    10 Playoff Games
    6 Wins
    4 Losses
    2.44 ERA
    10 Games Started
    9 Complete Games
    1 Shutout
    85 Innings Pitched
    59 Strikeouts
    1.01 WHIP
    2.67 SO/BB
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1910, 1911 & 1913)
    Lowest BB/9 (1912)
    Most Saves (1906 & 1913)
    Highest SO/BB (1909)
    Most Games Finished (1913)
    Lowest FIP (1909)

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