There are three different Bender
cards included in the T206
set. One is a portrait, one shows him pitching against a background that
does not include trees, and this slightly more artistic version, which
shows him pitching against a
background that does have trees. This version is the second most rare,
having a print run just barely larger than the No Trees card.
Rounded corners are consistent with the grade on this colorful offering. The top border is a little thin and the centering is slightly west on the canvas, but the main reason for the technical grade is some creasing, particularly one starting along the low right edge and traveling up to the center middle of the image. The back boasts the beautiful green ink associated with the Sovereign text, as well as some light tobacco staining for character. PSA has
only ever graded 20 total
examples of this Sovereign back version of the Bender.
Charles Albert "Chief"
Bender won 15 or more games in 9 of his first 12 seasons, en route to
212 career wins and a .6254 career winning percentage, 72nd all time. He
went 6-4 in his 10 World Series appearances, throwing 9 complete games.
The Athletics won 3 of the 5 World Series in which Bender appeared:
1910, 1911, and 1913. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall
of Fame in 1953.