Closer to the title

Nine years after being discovered by manager Connie Mack while pitching semi-pro ball on Harrisburg’s City Island, pitcher Charles Albert “Chief” Bender 114 years ago today beats Christy Mathewson and the New York Giants 4-2 to give the Philadelphia A’s a 3-1 lead in the 1911 World Series.

The fourth game of the Series takes place in front of a Tuesday afternoon crowd of 24,355 at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, where Bender pitches his second complete game in as many Series starts.

Charles Bender

The A’s capture the title two days later as Bender – the pride of the Carlisle Indian School and Dickinson College – wins again, this time 13-2, against the Giants’ Red Ames and reliever Hooks Wiltse in front of a Thursday afternoon crowd of 20,485 in North Philly.

Once again, Bender pitches a complete game, allowing two unearned runs to lower his Series earned-run average to a miniscule 1.05 with only three earned runs allowed over 26 innings.

The World Series title in 1911 is the second straight for the Athletics, who return to the Series in 1913 to again beat the Giants.

That one takes only five games with Bender – as he does in 1911 – accounting for two of Philadelphia’s four victories in the Series.

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