How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

Biddle Field, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1930. Cabinet card photograph of Charles Albert "Chief" Bender, signed in pencil on mount "N. Guth / .30" at right below image. 7 3/4 x 5 3/4 in. (197 x 146 mm) print on 14 x 10 in. (356 x 254 mm) card. Scattered minor wear to mount.

Charles Albert "Chief" Bender (1884-1954) was a Native American professional baseball pitcher, who is credited with the invention of the slider. Bender spent most of his career pitching for the then powerhouse Philadelphia Athletics (1903-14), where he won nearly 200 games and six World Series, and led the American league in winning percentage. As iconic Athletics manager Connie Mack stated about Bender, "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." In 1915, Bender left Philadelphia to play for the Baltimore Terrapins in the short-lived Federal League, but returned to play for the National League Philadelphia Phillies in 1916 and 1917. During his career he pitched 3,017 innings with an earned run average of 2.46, and a record of 212-127. In the years that followed he worked for a variety of teams as a coach, scout, and manager. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.

The present photograph shows Bender with Frederick Fegan at Biddle Field, at Dickinson College, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Bender first started playing baseball at Carlisle Indian School, which he attended from 1896-1902. Following his graduation he briefly attended Dickinson College's prep school, while also playing for the semipro Harrisburg Athletic Club, before he got his start in the majors for the Philadelphia Athletics.