Dave Bergman dies at the age of 61
By Kris Whelan
Baseball has lost a former world champion, and the state of Illinois has lost a son. Former major league baseball player Dave Bergman lost his battle with bile duct cancer yesterday, Feb. 2.
Dave Bergman, who played his rookie season with the New York Yankees, went on to play for the Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants and finished his career with the Detroit Tigers where he played nine years.
Former Tigers teammate Lance Parish was one of the people to pay tribute to Bergman.
"“Everybody on the team loved him. He was a great friend and a great teammate.”"
Tributes have have come pouring in on Twitter for the former World Series champion.
We are saddened to announce that Dave Bergman has passed away. pic.twitter.com/EmdacgsRjV
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 2, 2015
World Series champion Dave Bergman passes away at age 61 http://t.co/1VJyRd0Y1l pic.twitter.com/ylQcMZMiyW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 3, 2015
RIP former Tigers first baseman Dave Bergman, who in 1984 put up one of the scrappiest at-bats that ever was. https://t.co/1pLNLZ4zXJ
— Christian Hoard (@christianhoard) February 3, 2015
The high point of Bergman’s career came in 1984, when he and the Detroit Tigers defeated the San Diego Padres in the World Series. Bergman would go on to play with the Tigers until 1992, when he retired from the game.
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Bergman stayed in Detroit after retirement eventually making his home Southfield, Michigan.
After the loss of his friend and former MLB player Hoe Niekro, Bergman served as a fundraiser for The Joe Niekro foundation.
MSN reported that long time friend and former co-worker Robert Wike had this to say following Bergman’s passing.
"“A true professional. He was giving in his ways and he served the kids. Anybody that needed him, he’d go out of his way to help.”"
There have been a lot of nice tributes that paint a lovely picture of Dave Bergman’s life. He lost his fight with Cancer at the age of 61, and will be fondly remembered by Major League Baseball fans and everyone who knew him.