Sheldon "Chief" Bender

Who was Sheldon "Chief" Bender?

Sheldon "Chief" Bender was an American player and manager in minor league baseball and a scout, scouting director and farm system director in Major League Baseball who spent 64 years in the game.

Bender is most closely identified with the Cincinnati Reds, where he spent 39 years as a front office executive and consultant. An associate of general manager Bob Howsam, Bender was the Cincinnati farm system director of the "Big Red Machine" era and served in that post for 22 years, 1967–1988. His system produced such players as Ken Griffey, Sr., Dave Concepción, Don Gullett, Eric Davis and Paul O'Neill. The Reds' minor league player of the year award is named after him.