This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
Addendem: The ring does not come in original presentational case as stated on the LOA.
Sheldon “Chief” Bender was the definition of “baseball lifer”. Bender signed with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals and spent the 1930s playing in their extensive farm system. His career was interrupted by WWII where he was a Marine Raider. After the war he transitioned to player-manager in the Cardinals organization. 1949 found Bender with the Albany Cardinals of the Georgia-Florida League. Bender had an 11-3 record on the mound and led the Cardinals to the pennant, received this ring in appreciation. After winning the ’49 pennant, Bender worked his way to becoming an executive with the Cincinnati Reds where he is credited with assembling the famed Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s. This is Bender’s 1949 Championship ring. Made of 10K gold, the ring has a single Cz mounted on a black stone surrounded by “GEORGIA FLORIDA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. The left and right shanks have the Cardinals logo above a baseball diamond and ribbon engraved with “ALBANY” and “1949”. The ring is accompanied by a 1949 Albany Cardinals official scorecard in NM/MT condition featuring a career profile of their manager. A very well-preserved minor league championship ring earned by the man who assembled the Big Red Machine. Bender family COA.