The South Bend Benders, based in South Bend, Indiana, first wore the name in 1911, the year after their predecessor club, the South Bend Bronchos, won the 1910 Central League championship at 88-50 under managers Ed Wheeler and Midge Craven. Future Hall of Famer Max Carey played for South Bend in both 1909 and that 1910 title season, stealing 36 bases in 1910.
1911 got complicated. South Bend started the season as the Benders before relocating to Grand Rapids in July, and a different club, formerly the Evansville Strikers, moved in to finish the year as the South Bend Bux. The Benders name returned for 1912, when the Central League expanded to twelve teams; South Bend finished last at 41-88, 36 games behind the front-running Fort Wayne Railroaders, and the franchise folded afterward.
South Bend came back in 1914 as the Benders again, this time in the Class C Southern Michigan League, finishing fourth at 85-60. The following year, under the new name Factors, the club won that league's 1915 championship.
The Benders returned to the Central League for 1916 and 1917. The 1917 club combined rosters with the Peoria Distillers partway through the season, finishing third overall at 66-55, before losing the playoff to the Grand Rapids Black Sox, four games to three. The Benders name was not used again; a South Bend club returned to the Central League in 1932 as the Twins, folding midseason alongside the Canton Terriers, and the city went without professional baseball until the Midwest League arrived in 1988.
The slightly tipsy beer glass on this design is a playful nod to the slang sense of going on a "bender," not a connection drawn from any historical record. There's no documented tie between the team and drinking culture; the mascot is simply a fun visual pun on the name.
The Central League itself was a Class B circuit that ran, often sporadically, from 1903 into the 1930s (with a later 1948-51 revival), fielding teams mostly from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Retro Baseball Revival celebrates historic baseball teams with unique apparel, honoring their legacy and bringing history to one-of-a-kind clothing with our old school retro baseball tees from defunct Minor League Baseball teams. All of our high quality apparel is designed, printed, and shipped within the USA. This collection features 100% original designs based on the history and nicknames of historic minor league teams.
Our premium lightweight shirts are the hugely popular Bella+Canvas brand 3001 tees. They are much lighter and thinner feeling than a traditional heavyweight tee. They also are more form fitting and feel more snug. These are generally 90% to 100% cotton, although please note that heather colors in this item are 52% cotton.
Size Guide: Fit is true to size or a little snug. Considering ordering one size up if you are normally between sizes.
Brand: Bella Canvas | Product ID: 3001
- Made with 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, a lightweight fabric (4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)) that is easy to layer, breathable. Perfect for active and leisure wear.
- The retail fit that is perfect for casual and semi-formal settings. The crew neckline adds a classic, neat style that's perfect for accessorizing.
- Bella+Canvas manufactures all its products in the US and internationally in humane, no-sweat-shop, sustainable way and is part of the Fair Labor Association as well as Platinum WRAP certified.
- The tear-away label minimizes skin irritations.
- Fabric blends: Ash and Heather Prism colors - 99% cotton, 1% polyester; Heather and Solid Blend colors - 52% cotton, 48% polyester; Athletic Heather and Black Heather - 90% cotton, 10% polyester.
