Month: June 2024

Categories
Baseball Book Review NDN All-Star Info Ojibwe

BOOK REVIEW – “Chief Bender’s Burden”

NDN All-Stars "GOOD READS" book review header

“Chief Bender’s Burden: The Silent Struggle of a Baseball Star” by Tom Swift

"Chief Bender's Struggle" book cover

When I started reading “Chief Bender’s Burden: The Silent Struggle of a Baseball Star” by Tom Swift, I was immediately drawn into the story of the life of NDN All-Star #5 Charles Albert “Chief” Bender (Ojibwe), a famous baseball pitcher from the early 1900s. The book not only talks about Bender’s amazing baseball career but also about the tough times he faced because of his race and background.

Charles Bender, called “Chief,” (as most Native American ball players at the time were) was a star pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics. The book talks a lot about his pitching skills, his best games, and how he helped his team win. (A little known fact – Chief Bender was the inventor of the Slider – a pitch that is a mainstay in baseball to this day.) But what makes this book special is how it talks about Bender’s life away from baseball. For instance, he was an excellent shot and won many shooting tournaments.

One thing I really liked about the book is how well Tom Swift researched and told Bender’s story. He describes what it was like to be at the baseball games, how the teams worked, and what life was like back then. It made me feel like I was actually there, watching Bender pitch.

As Bender was a Native American, he faced a lot of racism and discrimination. The book shows how hard it was for him to deal with people judging him because of his background instead of his talent. His strength and determination to keep going, even when things were tough, are really inspiring. Bender’s story shows that he was not just a great player but also a strong and brave person.

The book covers Bender’s life from his early days in Minnesota, to his time at Carlisle Industrial School, to his major league career, and his life in baseball after his playing days were over. His Hall of Fame career is well detailed, and his reliability as a clutch pitcher is shown again and again. One great quote that stuck with me about Bender came from none other than Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack, who said: “If everything depended on one game, I just used Albert – the greatest money pitcher of all time.” Swift also describes Bender’s baseball knowledge and intellect when he describes Bender’s time as a coach.

Swift writes in a way that is easy to understand and interesting to read. The book is good for anyone who likes baseball or is interested in American history and social issues. It moves at a good pace, and you can tell that Swift really cares about Bender’s story.

“Chief Bender’s Burden” is a powerful and thought-provoking book. It shines a light on an important but often overlooked figure in baseball history. Tom Swift has written a great tribute to NDN All-Star #5 Charles Bender, and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an inspiring and educational read.

You can get your own copy of this book here.

 

 

#NDNAllstars #ChiefBender #Ojibwe #baseball #bookreview #TomSwift

 

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue to retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please visit our Patreon page.

Thank you for your support!

Categories
Chippewa Football NDN All-Star Info NDN All-Stars Firsts

NDN All-Star “FIRSTS” – The First Native American Pro Football Player

NDN All-Stars "FIRSTS" - George Shelafo, First Native American Professional Football player

In an earlier “FIRSTS” I talked about the importance of NDN All-Star #4 Louis Sockalexis (Penobscot) and his place in history as the first Native American baseball player.

What about football? There have been a lot of great professional football players with Native American heritage.  Players like the immortal Jim Thorpe, Hall of Famer Joe Guyon, Sonny Sixkiller, and more.  But – who was the FIRST?

The answer is NDN All-Star #198 George Shelafo (Chippewa). Shelafo holds the unique place in the history of American football as the first Native American to get paid to play the game.

Shelafo started his football career at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, famous for its pioneering football program under legendary coach Pop Warner. The Carlisle football team was known for its innovative strategies and for producing some of the most outstanding players of the time. He played at Carlisle from 1894-1896.

Shelafo took a big step in his football career in 1897 by signing with the Latrobe Athletic Association. Latrobe was the first football team to play an entire season with only professional players, a notable moment in the early days of professional football. David J. Berry, the manager of the Latrobe team, heavily recruited him – even though Shelafo already had plans to attend the University of Chicago that fall​.

This was a big decision for Shelafo. In the 1890s, people had mixed feelings about professional football. The sport was becoming popular, especially in working-class areas and was a big deal for local communities, bringing pride and a sense of identity. However, not everyone was happy about it. Some people thought that paying players ruined the “purity of the game,” which was supposed to be about building character and playing fair.

Newspapers wrote a lot about football, but they often focused on the roughness and injuries – so much so that there was a movement to ban football altogether. Taken in that light, Shelafo’s decision  to leave college and throw in with a professional team was not the easy decision that it is for players today.

The 1897 season was memorable for Shelafo and the now all professional Latrobe Athletic Association football team. They started the season strong with a 7-0-1 record including victories over the Pittsburgh Emeralds and the Western University of Pennsylvania​. Shelafo’s play on the field was a big part of these wins, highlighting his skills and athleticism. Playing in these games, Shelafo and his teammates helped to establish the credibility and competitiveness of professional football teams during that era.

As the first Native American to play football professionally, Shelafo helped pave the way for future generations of Native American athletes. His path from college football at Carlisle to playing professionally for Latrobe is evidence of the talent and determination of Native American players who contributed to the sport of football’s early development.

Shelafo’s pioneering role – while mostly overlooked at the time, draws attention to the influence of Native American athletes in shaping the game of American football. His story is a strong reminder of the rich history of early football and the critical role played by Native American pioneers like NDN All-Star #198 George Shelafo in the development of pro football.

#ndnallstars #georgeshelafo #Chippewa #Carlilsle #Latrobe #FIRSTS

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue to retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please visit our Patreon page.
Thank you for your support!