Quote:
Originally Posted by packs
Very cool. Lately I've been thinking of finding a focus for my collection. Can I ask you how you settled on Bender?
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Thanks Tony , thanks Packs and to answer your question I grew up about 30 miles from where the White Earth Indian Reservation in MN was where Chief Bender grew up until he ran away at the age of around 11 or so. I grew up playing Hockey and our toughest oppenent was Wadena.
The two best players they had were the Bender brothers and this old man told us one day in the warming house before the game that the reason they were so good and fast was because they had the great Chief Bender blood running in their veins. I had never heard of Chief Bender until then, that was in the early 80's and I always wanted to collect him but didn't get serious until I read Tom Swifts book 'The Burden of Chief Bender' and then I became obsessed with his cards. The crazy part was Tom Swift couldn't find any relatives to interview from his book but for sure the Bender brothers were related, he was probably thier great uncle, they looked just like his portrait picture almost identical. With all the research Tom Swift did I can't believe he couldn't track down any blood relatives, just adds more mystery to the Great Chief. He was also the first MN born player elected to the HOF.
Anyways I have always felt a connection to him and also have a tiny trace of Indian blood myself as my great grandmother was either half or full blooded Indian.