RIP Chief Bender

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080227&content_id=2392164&vkey=news_ci n&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- A revered member of the Reds' organization passed away Wednesday with the death of former farm director Sheldon "Chief" Bender.

Bender, who was 88, 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.

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.

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

In 1989, Bender became the senior advisor for player development. He retired in 2005, but remained a frequent visitor at Great American Ball Park.

To honor him in 2002, the Reds renamed their Minor League Player of the Year to the Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award.