Winner of the 2009 Seymour Medal
“Swift manages to combine a ‘you are there’ quality with a historical perspective, not only of turn-of-the-century baseball and beyond, but of the unique problems facing Bender … The author does so without excess sentiment, leaving it for the readers to discover for themselves the ‘burden’ of being blessed with talent but the ‘wrong’ skin color.”
“For a Minnesota baseball fan, [Chief Bender’s Burden] is must reading.”
Nick Coleman, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Chief Bender’s Burden named one of ten noteworthy books of 2008 by Kansas City Star history writer Brian Burnes.
“Unbelievable storytelling.”
Don Shelby, WCCO Radio/TV
‘Chief’ Bender Biography A Gem
“A wonderful and impressively thorough new biography … Swift’s mission is to reassert Bender as an important figure in the history of the game, both as a player and a groundbreaking figure. His book does well in both ways.”
The Chicago Sun-Times
“Swift’s account of the treatment of Native Americans and his richly detailed portrait of Philadelphia at the beginning of the 20th century will … interest general readers.”
Minnesota Monthly
“This is a book worth reading and owning. It is well written and the research extensive and impressive. It is clearly the definitive biography of Charles Albert Bender and should be read and enjoyed by all those interested in baseball and all those who find human tragedies and triumphs both inspiring and instructive.”
Minnesota History magazine
“I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know much about baseball, but Tom Swift sweeps readers — even those clueless about the game — up in this epic, eye-opening, turn-of-the-century tale. … Swift combines painstaking research with great storytelling to take us along on Bender’s remarkable journey.”
Gail Huganir, Central PA magazine
“Too bad baseball’s Hall of Fame doesn’t have a Most Valuable Book category. Tom Swift’s biography of historic hurler Charles A. Bender … qualifies hands down.”
TC Daily Planet
“Swift’s book is an apt memorial to this almost-forgotten baseball hero.”
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
“In Swift’s hands, Bender’s life unfolds gradually, as though he were a character in a novel, and the prejudice he experienced, though never justified, is set within the context of the times. Carefully researched — and documented — as well as stylishly written (uncommon in the genre), this belongs in most baseball collections.”
Wes Lukowsky, Booklist
“Signal thanks to journalist Swift for this authoritative biography of Charles Albert Bender. … Swift sets aside the myths about this most famous American Indian player while vividly describing him. … [This book] is for all interested in the First Nations, quite apart from baseball.”
Library Journal
(Starred Review)
“Chief Bender’s Burden [is] another fine offering from the University of Nebraska Press, a steady source of excellent baseball books.”
King Kaufmann, Salon.com
“Fans of baseball’s pre-golden age will appreciate the scholarship that went into Chief Bender’s Burden, Tom Swift’s sad but sweet biography of the Native American pitcher.”
Ron Kaplan, ForeWord
“Chief Bender’s Burden: The Silent Struggle of a Baseball Star is a fascinating study of the hardship and prejudice Bender endured, and the character he showed in the face of it all.”
Pat Borzi, MinnPost.com
“Journalist Tom Swift has crafted a substantial, vivid story of one of the best pitchers of the game’s early years. … As we look forward to the 2008 campaign … it’s worth remembering a time when it was a bit harder for a Native American to play America’s game.”
Mike Millard, The Boston Phoenix
“I’m not a big sports fan, but this is much more than a sports book. It is an historical document, it is a profile of an extraordinary man, and it is an insight into our nation’s character and values.”
Jim Wishner, The Connection
“An entertaining, absorbing read. Tom Swift paints a vivid portrait of Charles ‘Chief’ Bender, an American Indian who … conquered mighty opponents as he struggled to cope with the effects of virulent prejudice. Swift breathes life into a long-dead hero who merits remembrance.”
Tom Stanton
Author of “The Final Season”
“Meticulously researched and eloquently written, Chief Bender’s Burden brings alive a true master of America’s game. … One contemporary commentator called him ‘the coolest pitcher in the game,’ and this is the coolest book on the shelf.”
Bill Crawford
Author of “All American: The Rise
and Fall of Jim Thorpe”
“Tom Swift has created an outstanding, perceptive, memorable biography of a Native American Indian member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.”
Gerald Vizenor
Author of “The People Named the Chippewa”
“Vividly written and carefully crafted, this book charges like a steam train, fueled by compassion and puffing with rousing courage.”
Tom Adelman
Author of “The Long Ball”
“Tom Swift has done a great service to Chief Bender and to baseball historians by telling the full and accurate story of Bender’s life for the first time.”
Norman Macht
Author of “Connie Mack and the
Early Years of Baseball”