Author: Tom Swift
Charles Albert Bender (1884-1954) was the go-to pitcher on one of the greatest teams in the history of baseball: the Philadelphia Athletics club that won four American League pennants and three World Series titles between 1910 and 1914. When legendary manager Connie Mack needed a big win, Bender was his first choice to take the mound. Then, after one terrible game, Game 1 of the '14 World Series, everything fell apart. Bender started the day as one of the most reliable players in the sport. At the end of the day, he was a has-been. It is one of the cruelest, most mystifying tales in the game. As Swift's biography clearly attests, the reality was more complicated.
The Chief Bender story is about a lot more than baseball. Bender was a member of the Ojibwa tribe, thus the sadly inevitable nickname. While not the first Native American in Major League baseball, he was almost certainly the most successful. Racial prejudice was a fact of his life from beginning to end. An alumnus of the now infamous Carlisle Indian School, Bender endured taunts and slurs from players, fans and journalists throughout his career. Even the obituary writers couldn't resist. "Chief Bender Answers Call to Happy Hunting Grounds," wrote The Sporting News.
Swift's account is very engaging. The story is told in medias res, interspersing tales of that fateful day in 1914 with summaries of earlier triumphs. As a result, it's occasionally confusing to remember which game is presently under examination. Regardless, the point is clearly made: Bender was a phenomenal pitcher and his "one bad day" and its aftermath were the culmination of numerous external factors. His baseball contemporaries held him in very high regard. Ty Cobb, one of history's most notoriously bigoted athletes, considered him the most intelligent pitcher he'd ever faced. Discussion of his life after pitching is relatively brief, but warming. Bender managed to stay in the sport in one capacity or another for the rest of his life and was remembered with affectionate admiration by those who knew him.
Do you like to read about basketball, too? I just read a book I was planning to profile for the Coffeehouse and I think by July, there will be other books I'd want to profile. There were three I considered profiling this month! I do recommend it, though, if there's an interest.
ReplyDeleteI've read some excellent basketball books, actually. The Last Amateurs by John Feinstein was really good. What's the one you read?
DeleteSorry you've decided against the Coffeehouse this month, though I do understand how life gets busy.
I read Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson and got a lot out of it. I think basketball is ripe for metaphor, and may be why I like it above all spectator sports (with the exception of Olympic ice-skating.) The other two books I had considered doing for Coffeehouse this month were Exploding the Phone by Phil Lapsley and Saltwater Buddha by Jamal Yogis. I think I got both of those author names right. Too lazy to look them up ...
DeleteIn any event, I see you have a lot of people signed up. Good, good. If I find that I can, I'll sign back up as the week progresses. If not, count on me for July.
I love basketball. However, I'm not too big on the NBA. I'm sure that seems contradictory but it's been over 15 years since I could stand to watch an NBA game beginning to end. I have devoted substantial portions of my life to watching college games, though. Probably the best job I've ever had was PA announcer at my college's basketball games, both men's and women's. I'd have done it for free and yet they paid me.
DeleteI've heard Jackson's book is good. He's an interesting guy. I shall add it to the list.
I hope you will change your mind and join us this month. You've been a big part of the genesis of the whole idea. It wouldn't be the same without you.
The main reason I liked the Jackson book was because of his synthesis of Christian mysticism, Zen philosophy and Lakota beliefs. There were some very valuable moments in the reading for me.
DeleteHow cool that you were a PA announcer for the college games. Sounds like a really good time.
And I'm not trying to be a goof about joining up again. This month has thrown a coupla curve balls at me and the coming week is going to be pretty singular for me and my family. I'll see.
I understand. I hope all is well. There will always be a chair for you at the Coffeehouse.
DeleteThis sound so interesting but I think I would end up in tears.
ReplyDeleteI love Baseball !
One of the few nice thing my and I did together was any city we traveled to if there was a game we would go. I got to visit lot of stadiums that way. (Baltimore has the best food ! or did when I visited)
To show how much I like baseball we had season tickets to the California Angles. (not that stupid name the last owner gave them) Though all the tough years and when they won the World Series we got to go ! We would go up to LA but I stop going when the fans got so bad plus it was a long drive.
cheers, parsnip
Always delighted to find a fellow fan, Parsnip!
DeleteTear jerker? Maybe. If you want a baseball book that will make you cry, The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski is excellent. It's about Buck O'Neill, easily the sport's most lovable character.
This sounds like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it - not the best baseball bio I've read but it's pretty good. Ted Williams by Leigh Montville was better. A different era entirely, but a far more satisfying read.
DeleteDid you ever read the Ring Lardner baseball stories?
DeleteI have not. Are they good?
DeleteThey are pretty good and give a vivid picture of what baseball was like in the dead ball era. Lardner was famous for being a journalist and writing the musical "Guys and Dolls."
DeleteHis most famous baseball story was "You can call me Al"
Found it: You Know Me Al, published in 1914 which fits in nicely with the Chief Bender saga. On the list it goes.
DeleteNow I've got the Paul Simon song stuck in my head. We just watched the Classic Albums documentary about Graceland last night - good stuff.
You are right, that is the proper title. A couple of his books are available through Gutenberg:
Deletehttp://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/2457
Thank you for the link!
Delete