Charles Bender
⭐ Hall of Fame 1953
Born: 5/5/1884 in Crow Wing County, MN, USA
Died: 5/22/1954 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1903-04-20 | Final Game: 1925-07-21
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Charles Albert Bender
Biography
Charles Bender, born in 1884, was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball who made a significant impact from his debut on April 20, 1903, until his retirement on July 21, 1925. Known for his exceptional skill and strategic approach on the mound, Bender compiled a career record of 212 wins and 127 losses, showcasing his ability to dominate batters over the course of his 22-year career. With an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 2.46, he established himself as one of the era's leading pitchers, contributing to his team's success with a total of 1,711 strikeouts and 34 saves.
Bender played during a transformative time in baseball, navigating the transition from the deadball era into a more offensive-oriented game. His pitching style was characterized by a mix of speed and finesse, which allowed him to effectively challenge hitters and maintain low scoring against his teams. As a member of the Native American community, Bender also held historical significance as one of the early Indigenous players in baseball, paving the way for future generations of athletes. His legacy endures through his remarkable achievements and the respect he garnered from peers and fans alike.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 212 | 127 | 459 | 334 | 255 | 40 | 34 | 3017.0 | 2645 | 823 | 40 | 712 | 1711 | 2.46 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | PHA | AL | 17 | 14 | 36 | 33 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 270.0 | 239 | 92 | 65 | 127 | 3.07 | 77.3 |
| 1904 | PHA | AL | 10 | 11 | 29 | 20 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 203.7 | 167 | 65 | 59 | 149 | 2.87 | 3808.9 |
| 1905 | PHA | AL | 18 | 11 | 35 | 23 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 229.0 | 193 | 72 | 90 | 142 | 2.83 | -412.2 |
| 1906 | PHA | AL | 15 | 10 | 36 | 27 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 238.3 | 208 | 67 | 48 | 159 | 2.53 | 4067.6 |
| 1907 | PHA | AL | 16 | 8 | 33 | 24 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 219.3 | 185 | 50 | 34 | 112 | 2.05 | 4492.1 |
| 1908 | PHA | AL | 8 | 9 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 138.7 | 121 | 27 | 21 | 85 | 1.75 | 3144.1 |
| 1909 | PHA | AL | 18 | 8 | 34 | 29 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 250.0 | 196 | 46 | 45 | 161 | 1.66 | 6282.6 |
| 1910 | PHA | AL | 23 | 5 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 250.0 | 182 | 44 | 47 | 155 | 1.58 | 6348.4 |
| 1911 | PHA | AL | 17 | 5 | 31 | 24 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 216.3 | 198 | 52 | 58 | 114 | 2.16 | 3818.4 |
| 1912 | PHA | AL | 13 | 8 | 27 | 19 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 171.0 | 169 | 52 | 33 | 90 | 2.74 | 3991.5 |
| 1913 | PHA | AL | 21 | 10 | 48 | 21 | 14 | 2 | 13 | 236.7 | 208 | 58 | 59 | 135 | 2.21 | 4707.3 |
| 1914 | PHA | AL | 17 | 3 | 28 | 23 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 179.0 | 159 | 45 | 55 | 107 | 2.26 | 2040.9 |
| 1915 | BLF | FL | 4 | 16 | 26 | 23 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 178.3 | 198 | 79 | 37 | 89 | 3.99 | 1793.4 |
| 1916 | PHI | NL | 7 | 7 | 27 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 122.7 | 137 | 51 | 34 | 43 | 3.74 | -914.0 |
| 1917 | PHI | NL | 8 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 113.0 | 84 | 21 | 26 | 43 | 1.67 | 552.3 |
| 1925 | CHW | AL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18.00 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 507 | 1147 | 102 | 243 | 40 | 10 | 6 | 116 | 20 | 75 | 143 | 0.212 | 0.266 | 0.280 | 0.546 | -2722.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | PHA | AL | 43 | 120 | 10 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0.183 | -637.5 |
| 1904 | PHA | AL | 31 | 79 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 0.228 | -54.7 |
| 1905 | PHA | AL | 38 | 92 | 11 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 0.217 | -245.1 |
| 1906 | PHA | AL | 44 | 99 | 9 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 0.253 | 254.4 |
| 1907 | PHA | AL | 45 | 100 | 10 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0.230 | -125.2 |
| 1908 | PHA | AL | 20 | 50 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 0.220 | 42.2 |
| 1909 | PHA | AL | 40 | 93 | 6 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 0.215 | -229.8 |
| 1910 | PHA | AL | 36 | 93 | 6 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0.269 | 75.6 |
| 1911 | PHA | AL | 32 | 79 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.165 | -625.1 |
| 1912 | PHA | AL | 27 | 60 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.150 | -382.9 |
| 1913 | PHA | AL | 48 | 78 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 0.154 | -471.2 |
| 1914 | PHA | AL | 28 | 62 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 0.145 | -376.8 |
| 1915 | BLF | FL | 26 | 60 | 7 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0.267 | 53.0 |
| 1916 | PHI | NL | 28 | 43 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0.279 | 0.0 |
| 1917 | PHI | NL | 20 | 39 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.205 | 0.0 |
| 1925 | CHW | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 32 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.094 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | WS | PHA | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1913 | WS | PHA | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1911 | WS | PHA | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.091 |
| 1910 | WS | PHA | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.333 |
| 1905 | WS | PHA | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 85.0 | 65 | 23 | 21 | 59 | 2.44 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | WS | PHA | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.3 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 10.12 |
| 1913 | WS | PHA | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 18.0 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 4.00 |
| 1911 | WS | PHA | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 26.0 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 1.04 |
| 1910 | WS | PHA | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 18.7 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 1.93 |
| 1905 | WS | PHA | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 17.0 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 1.06 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 6 | 2 | 54 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 5 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P | 459 | 168 | 173 | 809 | 55 | 24 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | PHA | P | 36 | 0 | 12 | 79 | 9 | 0 |
| 1903 | PHA | 1B | 3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1903 | PHA | OF | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1904 | PHA | P | 29 | 20 | 13 | 48 | 7 | 0 |
| 1905 | PHA | P | 35 | 23 | 14 | 77 | 3 | 2 |
| 1906 | PHA | P | 36 | 27 | 25 | 54 | 8 | 1 |
| 1906 | PHA | OF | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1907 | PHA | P | 33 | 24 | 14 | 57 | 5 | 2 |
| 1907 | PHA | 1B | 2 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1907 | PHA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1908 | PHA | P | 18 | 17 | 12 | 28 | 3 | 0 |
| 1908 | PHA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1909 | PHA | P | 34 | 29 | 13 | 78 | 4 | 1 |
| 1910 | PHA | P | 30 | 28 | 13 | 85 | 3 | 3 |
| 1911 | PHA | P | 31 | 0 | 11 | 58 | 0 | 4 |
| 1912 | PHA | P | 27 | 0 | 6 | 36 | 2 | 2 |
| 1913 | PHA | P | 48 | 0 | 8 | 56 | 2 | 1 |
| 1914 | PHA | P | 28 | 0 | 7 | 47 | 2 | 0 |
| 1915 | BLF | P | 26 | 0 | 12 | 45 | 4 | 3 |
| 1916 | PHI | P | 27 | 0 | 8 | 39 | 2 | 1 |
| 1916 | PHI | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1917 | PHI | P | 20 | 0 | 5 | 22 | 1 | 4 |
| 1925 | CHA | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 459 |
| First Base | 7 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Center Field | 4 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | P4 |
| 1910 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | P4 |
| 1910 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | P3 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson College | Carlisle | PA | 1902 |
| Carlisle Indian Industrial School | Carlisle | PA | 1901, 1902 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 22th | 2.0 | 64 | 0 |