Dave Bergman

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Dave Bergman
First baseman
Born: (1953-06-06)June 6, 1953
Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
Died: February 2, 2015(2015-02-02) (aged 61)
Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 26, 1975, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
October 4, 1992, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Batting average.258
Home runs54
Runs batted in289
Teams
Career highlights and awards

David Bruce Bergman (June 6, 1953 – February 2, 2015) was an American Major League Baseball first baseman, designated hitter and left fielder who played between 1975 and 1992.

Early life

Born in

Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and won the league batting title in 1973.[4][5] His uniform number 12 was retired at Illinois State in 1994.[6][7]

Playing career

Bergman was drafted by the

runs batted in.[7]

Drafted by the

Eastern League in 1975.[7][9] He played in only 12 games with the Yankees between 1975 and 1977, before being traded to the Houston Astros in December 1977. In four years with the Astros from 1978–1981, Bergman was a part-time player who never had more than 186 at bats or one home run in a season. In the 1980 National League West tie-breaker game, Bergman, in place of Art Howe at first base, recorded the final out of the game when he fielded a liner by himself that clinched the 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers that gave the Astros their first division title.[10]

He was signed by Yankees scout Lou Maguolo.[citation needed]

Bergman, along with Jeffrey Leonard, was traded from the Houston Astros to the San Francisco Giants for Mike Ivie on April 20, 1981.[11] In 1983, Bergman appeared in 90 games for the Giants and hit six home runs with a .286 batting average.

On March 24, 1984, Bergman was traded twice; from the Giants to the Phillies, then from the Phillies to the Tigers. Bergman was the starting first baseman for the Detroit Tigers team that defeated the San Diego Padres in the 1984 World Series. He appeared in 120 games for the 1984 Tigers and had a career-high 44 RBIs and seven home runs.

On June 4, 1984, Bergman came to bat in the bottom of the 10th inning with two men on base and two outs in a game against the second-place Toronto Blue Jays, who at that time trailed the Tigers by five games. Bergman fouled off seven pitches, and on a full count hit the 13th pitch of the at bat into the upper deck at Tiger Stadium for a walk-off, three-run home run. In his season-long diary that became the book Bless You Boys, Detroit manager, Sparky Anderson, wrote, "Tonight I saw the greatest at bat in my life...Bergie fouled off seven pitches and then picked one practically off the ground and drilled it into the upper deck in right. What a battle! Bergie was up there a full seven minutes."[12]

He hit a career high .294 for the Tigers in 1988, and in August 1989, he broke up a Nolan Ryan no-hitter with a one-out single in the ninth inning.[6] On August 5, 1989, Bergman recorded a putout of Chicago White Sox shortstop Ozzie Guillén using the hidden ball trick.[13]

Bergman played nine seasons for the Tigers, with most of his time spent as a left-handed batting platoon or reserve player. During his last seasons, he backed up Cecil Fielder at first base while also seeing time at designated hitter.

Playing style

Bergman at Detroit Tigers Fantasy Camp in 2012

Bergman was noted for his extreme righty/lefty splits, which led to his long career as a

Adjusted OPS of 101, mostly on the strength of his on-base ability. Bergman was noted for his strike zone judgment, and accumulated more base on balls than strikeouts
over the course of his career (380 to 347).

Personal life

Bergman lived in the Detroit area after retirement, making Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, his home beginning in 1985.[15] He served as a partner and senior portfolio analyst with Sigma Investment Counselors in Southfield, Michigan.[16]

Bergman was a good friend of

brain aneurysm, Bergman began working with the Joe Niekro Foundation[permanent dead link] and committed his efforts to supporting research, treatment and awareness of brain aneurysms, AVMs and hemorrhagic strokes. He also spent time working with youth and high school programs, and served as a trustee for former Tigers manager Sparky Anderson's C.A.T.C.H. charity.[16]

Death

Bergman died on February 2, 2015, at the age of 61, following a long illness with

bile duct cancer. He was married to Cathy, and three children.[17][18]

References

  1. ^ "Baseball Reference.com's entry on Dave Bergman being drafted from Maine South".
  2. ProQuest 176000919
    .
  3. ^ Tucker, Steve (January 30, 2008). "Maine South: A past stocked with surprises". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  4. ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  5. ^ Gray, John (July 11, 1974). "Cardinals Streak to Lead as They Take Four Straight Games". The Cape Codder. Orleans, MA. p. 30.
  6. ^ a b c d Kerby, Ray (October 16, 2001). "An Interview with Dave Bergman". Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c d "Dave Bergman profile". ISU Athletics. Archived from the original on January 11, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  8. ^ "Illinois State Athletics All-Americans". Archived from the original on May 16, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  9. ^ "Dave Bergman". Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  10. ^ "Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score: October 6, 1980".
  11. ^ "Giants Trade Ivie to Astros for Two Players," The New York Times, Tuesday, April 21, 1981. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  12. ISBN 0-8092-5307-0
    .
  13. ^ "The Ploy's The Thing". Sports Illustrated. June 10, 2013.
  14. ^ "Career Batting Splits".
  15. ^ "1984 Detroit Tigers stars Dave Rozema and Dave Bergman deliver 'give-it-all' message at St. Stan's". January 20, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  16. ^ a b Watkins, Shelly (June 26, 2011). "Former Tiger Dave Bergman is All About the Cause". Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  17. ^ Beck, Jason (February 2, 2015). "Former Tiger Bergman dies at 61". Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  18. ^ Fenech, Anthony (February 2, 2015). "'Sad day': 1984 Tiger Dave Bergman dies at 61". Retrieved February 2, 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dave_Bergman&oldid=1192568740"