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Bender In Action (Video)

While writing “Chief Bender’s Burden,” I looked everywhere I could think of for footage of Charles Bender. In my dreams I would discover lost in-game pitching footage. More realistically, I thought I had shot at something — a demonstration or even an off-field appearance. The man was, after all, in a movie. I swung and missed everywhere. But I didn’t look in all the right places because a short segment has now turned up on YouTube. Perhaps it won’t be the treat for you that it is for me, but if you’re interested, Bender is the man standing with a bat over his shoulder at about 1:08 and — best of all — there he is pitching at 1:25 or so. Hey, was that a nickel curve?

This post was added on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 by Tom Swift at 10:22 and is filed under Albert.

5 Responses to “Bender In Action (Video)”

  1. Andy Alt (Jun.17 09 at 08:42)

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    I don’t suppose there’d be any chance he might show up in this:

    Reel Baseball: Baseball Films of the Silent Era (1899)

    http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Reel_Baseball_Baseball_Films_of_the_Silent_Era/70063659?lnkce=seRtLn&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&strkid=778055264_9_0

    Enjoy some of the earliest portrayals of baseball in films through this winning collection of 11 shorts and two feature films. Highlights include Headin’ Home, Babe Ruth’s film debut in which he stars as himself, and The Busher, the story of a minor league pitcher making it to the big leagues. In addition to a rare look at early baseball, the short films also include laughs from cartoon favorite Felix the Cat and comic John Bunny.

    The date Netflix is showing is 1899, and I saw the Baseball Bug movie came out in 1911. So it’s unlikely that the movie is included on the DVD.

    If I were you, I’d go to google.com/alerts and sign up for automated google alerts. Enter your search terms and select the comprehensive option.

  2. Andy Alt (Jun.17 09 at 08:45)

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    Since Babe Ruth was born in 1895, it’s very probable the date Netflix has for the DVD is wrong and was made after 1899.

  3. TS (Jun.17 09 at 10:26)

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    Thanks for the comments, Andy, but, no, Bender does not appear in either one. The years go through 1926 — so you’re right that 1899 is wrong. For those scoring at home, here’s a breakdown of what is on those two DVDs:

    http://www.kino.com/video/item.php?film_id=852

  4. Adam (Jun.17 09 at 14:33)

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    The guy with the bat at 1:12 looks an awful lot like Bender as well.

  5. Adam (Jun.17 09 at 14:36)

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    I should have read your post more carefully. I’m glad I could say what had already been said.

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