sentence: after a playing career as an infielder ( pre-war ) and pitcher ( post-war ) in the minor leagues , bender worked in the st. louis cardinals organization , managing for five seasons ( 1949 -- 1953 ) in their minor league system with albany of the class d georgia-florida league and columbus of the class a sally league , winning two league championships and compiling a lifetime record of 409 -- 286 ( .588 ) .