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Posted By: Kevin Cummings

This might surprise some people, but I think Chief Bender and Rube Waddell are not as good as they are cracked up to be.

Bender had just two 20 win seasons in what amounted to a 13 year career and never led the league in any meaningful pitching category (ERA, wins, strikeouts).

While Waddell did lead the league several times (ERA in 1900 and 1905; wins in 1905 and strikeouts 5 years running), his career was basically only 11 years and he didn't even win 200 games.

Both certainly good pitchers, but compared to someone like Walter Johnson pale by comparison.