Did Chief Bender Scout?

[FrankWakefield]

Yes he was. For several years.

He coached for the White Sox in 1925 and 1926. For the Giants in 1931. For the A's 1951-1953. In 1939 he was a scout for the A's, and did that for numerous years thereafter. He was coach for the Naval Academy's baseball team for a while. Chief was a well educated fellow, he was considered an expert on gemstones. Mr. Mack thought the world of him.

[bace]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

Yes he was. For several years.

can you tell me what years he was, and for what team?

[FrankWakefield]

He was a scout or minor league instructor for the A's for most of those years when he wasn't coaching elsewhere during those years I set out above. I think he was with the A's as a scout/instructor through the 1949 season, maybe 1950. And it's my recollection that he was in the Cincinnati Reds organization as a scout or instructor in the late 1960s. Surely there's a Reds fan here that would recall that.

FW

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

He was fairly expired by the late 1960's.

I think he also ran a clothing store in Philly.

[slidekellyslide]

I used to own some photos from the 1940s of Bender instructing some minor leaguers. He was in his A's uniform while the minor leaguers were in "Pioneers" uniforms.

[Sterling Sports Auctions]

Maybe he scouted for Sitting Bull.

Lee

[FrankWakefield]

J B is right... the Chief had departed us in 1954. Maybe he had a son that did something in the Reds organization, and they called him 'Chief' too. Aren't there any Reds fans any more??


I just found this, and this would be the guy I recall hearing on the radio, he never made it to the majors, he had a 66-40 record in 9 seasons in the minors:

Longtime Reds Scout Bender Dies

Former farm director spent 39 years with Reds organization

FROM: MLB.com ~
By Mark Sheldon

CLEARWATER, Fla.

A revered member of the Reds' organization passed away
Wednesday, when former farm director Sheldon "Chief"
Bender died at Fort Hamilton Hospital in Ohio. He was 88.

Bender died at Fort Hamilton Hospital in Ohio. He spent 64
years in baseball as a player, manager and executive -- the
last 39 of them with Cincinnati. Funeral arrangements were
incomplete.

As the organization's Minor League director from 1967-89,
Bender was brought in by general manager Bob Howsam
and presided over a bountiful system that provided the seed
for the Big Red Machine. Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion,
Ken Griffey Sr. and Don Gullett later became stars in the
1970s.

Howsam died last week of heart failure at the age of 89.

"In the last three months we lost three very special men in
Chief, Joe Nuxhall and Bob Howsam," Reds owner and CEO
Bob Castellini said in a statement. "Each left his own legacy here,
and they all made very important contributions to the success
of our proud franchise. Our thoughts and prayers are with their
families."

Players later developed under Bender included Mario Soto, Tom
Browning, Paul O'Neill, Ron Oester, Chris Sabo, Eric Davis and
Barry Larkin.

In 1990, Bender became the senior advisor for player development.
He retired in 2005, but remained a frequent visitor at Great
American Ball Park.

A World War II veteran who earned a Purple Heart during his
service, Bender played and managed in the Minor Leagues for 12
seasons [1]. From 1948-66, he was with the Cardinals' organization.

To honor him in 2002, the Reds renamed their Minor League
Player of the Year to the Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award.
---
[1] Bender was a player with St.Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York
Giants and Philadelphia organizations, from 1938-4, 1946-53 and 1957. He
was both a pitcher and an infielder.

[TheBig6]

Originally Posted by bowlingshoegiverouterguy

maybe he scouted for sitting bull.

Lee

lmao