As a former resident and Brainerd native, I’m always interested in news about home, even though I haven’t lived there since 1952.
Recently I read that the Tampa Rays minor league manager was awarded the Chief Bender Award, who was an American Indian and born in Brainerd. He is also in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Does the city and Brainerd media fully recognize him and pay tribute to him?
Jim Stevens
St. Petersburg , Fla.
Comments (1)
Add commentWrong "Chief" Bender
The person after whom this award was named is not the "Chief" Bender from Brainerd. It's this guy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_%22Chief%22_Bender
I believe the Crow Wing County Historical Society Museum has some information about our "Chief" Bender (and Leslie "Bullet Joe" Bush, another Brainerd area ballplayer) in their exhibits.