Dave Bergman

Born in Evanston, Dave Bergman was drafted in the 12th round out of high school by his hometown Chicago Cubs in 1971, but opted instead to attend Illinois State University. He became the Redbirds’ first D-I All-American, won the 1973 Cape Cod League batting title, and was selected in the 2nd round in 1974 by the New York Yankees. Bergman made his MLB debut in a seven-game stint for the Yankees in 1975, returned for five games in 1977, was traded to the Astros in the offseason, swapped to the Giants four years later, dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies on March 24, 1984 – and before the dust could settle, was traded again that same day, with Willie Hernández, to the Detroit Tigers.

It was with the Tigers that Bergman found his home both on and off the field. In his first year with Detroit, the magical 1984 Tigers “Bless You Boys” championship season, he capped a 13-pitch at-bat against Toronto’s Roy Lee Jackson with a game-winning three-run homer into the upper deck on June 4 – a moment so immediately memorable and thrilling that the day forever became known as “The Dave Bergman Game.”

Bergman played the final nine seasons of his 17-year Major League career in Detroit, totaling 871 games while playing first base (with a patented, sudden hidden-ball trick), left field, right field and designated hitter. Strikingly, he only struck out 248 times while drawing 268 walks.

Upon his retirement from playing, Dave Bergman gave back to his community with the founding of the 13U-18U Grosse Pointe Baseball Organization Redbirds – named for his beloved Illinois State Redbirds – which led directly to hundreds of college baseball scholarships for Redbirds players. Bergman delivered further support and opportunities to youth baseball players around the state by hosting the Michigan High School Baseball Showcase.