Bob Pender

Robert Edmund Pender

• Bats Right
• Height 5' 10 ½", Weight 192 lb.
• Born ~1867 in New Orleans, LA USA
• Died July 16, 1936 in New Orleans, LA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Robert Pender held multiple roles in professional baseball. He played, managed and umpired at the minor league level for many years.

His playing career began in 1886 and lasted through 1907. Records indicate that Pender, who played multiple positions including third base, first base and even pitcher, did not play in 1891 and 1902 (as per BR Minors in 2012 - many records of that era are still missing). His statistical record is incomplete, however it is known that in 1896, with the Richmond Bluebirds of the Virginia League, he hit .312 with 56 stolen bases (5th in the league) and in 1901, with the Selma Christians of the Southern Association, he hit .303 in 104 games. He played in the Interstate League in 1898 and 1899 and was called "the best third baseman [the Interstate League] has ever had," by the Youngstown Vindicator.

As a manager, he led the Petersburg Farmers (1895), Selma Christians (1901), Baton Rouge Cajuns (1902), Baton Rouge Red Sticks (1903-1904), Charleston Sea Gulls (1906) and Norfolk Tars (1907-1909). He led the Red Sticks to a league championship in 1903 and the Tars to a league championship in 1907.

He then became an umpire in the Virginia League and New York State League. In April 1909, he was chased by an angry mob after it was claimed he was intentionally trying to throw a game. He took refuge in the Roanoke jail.

He was the head baseball coach at Louisiana State University in 1912 and 1913.

Though Baseball Reference lists his birth year as 1867, his Sporting News contract card lists his birthdate as February 2, 1872.[1] If that is true, then he began his professional career, and was managing, at about 14 years old.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Playoffs	Notes
1887	Fort Smith Indians	Southwestern League				Replaced by George Jordan
1895	Petersburg Farmers	Virginia League	55-69	5th
1898	Youngstown Puddlers	Inter-State League
1902	Baton Rouge Cajuns	Cotton States League	53-54	2nd
1903	Baton Rouge Red Sticks	Cotton States League	74-42	1st
1904	Baton Rouge Red Sticks	Cotton States League	49-63	5th
1905	Jacksonville Jays	South Atlantic League	68-59	3rd
1906	Charleston Sea Gulls	South Atlantic League	48-61	5th
1907	Norfolk Tars	Virginia League	67-48	1st
1908	Norfolk Tars	Virginia League	52-78	6th
1909	Norfolk Tars	Virginia League				Replaced by Win Clark