DMB World Series Biography- Marty Bergen

Martin Bergen

BORN: 10/25/1871-North Brookfield, Mass

DIED: 1/19/1900-North Brookfield, Mass

Marty Bergen was the older brother of Bill Bergen, both catchers in the National League, but  with decidedly different stories. I have always morphed them together confusing their stories. It might have to do with all the catchers with the same sounding name:Marty Bergen, Bill Bergen, Wally Berger, Yogi Berra….how’s a guy supposed to keep them straight?

Bill Bergen has the distinction of being the worst hitter in the history of the game. His lifetime .170 average in 3,028 at bats is by far the epitome of the good field no hit ball player. No other player with over 2,500 at bats has hit under .210.

Marty Bergen’s story is one of the most tragic in the history of the game.

Marty Bergen played just 4 seasons(1896-1899) all with the Boston Beaneaters and finished with a .265 lifetime average. He was considered a fine defensive catcher with The Sporting News reporting that Bergen had one of the strongest throwing arms for a catcher ever.

His Manager Frank Selee was quoted as saying that Bergen was, “…one of the greatest ball players who ever went upon the diamond.’ And….”I knew Bergen was not in his right mind.”

He was moody, a loner, paranoid, confrontational with his fellow teammates, and a constant cause of dissent in the dugout. He would sit sideways on the bench during games….”in case one of my teammates tried to attack me.”

When his oldest son Martin died of diphtheria in April 1899 his behavior got even more erratic. He felt that the other players were plotting against him, and  would leave the team on several occasions to be with his family. He had numerous altercations with his teammates and was quoted as saying that, ”….he wanted to club them to death.”

When the Beaneaters finished in 2nd place, 8 games back in 1899, some felt it was because of the dissension caused by Bergen’s behavior. During the off season Bergen was even more despondent because he felt he was to blame for the teams play. He sought help from his physician, as well as his Minister, because he felt that he was,”……having strange ideas.” And he felt….”he was not right in the head.” He would accuse both his physician and wife of trying to poison him.

On the morning of  January 19, 1900 Bergen woke up early and started his day like any other. He lit a fire and started to prepare breakfast when he just snapped. He grabbed a long handled axe, entered his bedroom and beat his wife numerous times over the head with the blunt side of the axe while she lay sleeping in their bed. He then entered his son’s room and killed him with 1 blow to the head, using the blade side of the axe. He re-entered the kitchen and proceeded to bludgeon his daughter to death with his trusty axe.  He then picked up a straight razor and slit his own throat, almost severing his head in the process. He died on the kitchen floor next to his daughter.

Bill James compiled a list of baseball related suicides that occurred between 1900 and 1925. There were 25 suicides that also included Win Mercer, Chick Stahl, Arthur Irwin and Mrs Joe Tinker.

Batting Record
Year Team        G    AB    R    H  2B  3B  HR  RBI   BB   SO HBP  SH   SB   AVG   OBP   SLG   BFW Year Team
1896 BOS N      65   245   39   66   6   4   4   37   11   22   3   4    6  .269  .309  .376   0.3 1896 BOS N
1897 BOS N      87   327   47   81  11   3   2   45   18        4   2    5  .248  .295  .318   0.1 1897 BOS N
1898 BOS N     120   446   62  125  16   5   3   60   13        1   9    9  .280  .302  .359   0.4 1898 BOS N
1899 BOS N      72   260   32   67  11   3   1   34   10        2   0    4  .258  .290  .335  -0.1 1899 BOS N
Total(4 Years) 344  1278  180  339  44  15  10  176   52   22i 10  15   24  .265  .299  .347   0.7 Total
Year Team        G    AB    R    H  2B  3B  HR  RBI   BB   SO HBP  SH   SB   AVG   OBP   SLG   BFW Year Team