Sean Bergman
Encyclopedia
Sean Frederick Bergman is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the Detroit Tigers
, San Diego Padres
, Houston Astros
, Atlanta Braves
, and Minnesota Twins
between and . Bergman attended Joliet Catholic High School in Joliet, Illinois, before attending Southern Illinois University
.
Standing at 6'4", 205 pounds (one source puts him at 225 pounds), Bergman was originally drafted by the Tigers 115th overall in the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft
.
He spent his first professional season, , with the Niagara Falls Rapids
of the New York-Penn League. In 15 games with them, he went five and seven with a 4.46 ERA
. A starter
, he struck out
77 batters in just over 84 innings of work.
He started the season with the Lakeland Tigers
, going five and two with them, with a 2.49 ERA. He finished his second professional season with a nine and nine record, posting a 3.41 ERA. This is because after his promotion to the London Tigers
, he went only four and seven with a 4.28 ERA.
Although his minor league season was statistically lackluster (eight and nine with a 4.38 ERA), he still must have impressed the big-league Tigers enough to earn a promotion. He made his major league debut on July 7 of that year against the Minnesota Twins. Oddly, the first team he faced in his career would end up being the last team he played for. Overall, he went 1-4 in nine games with the Tigers in 1993. He walked
23 and struck out 19 in 39+ innings. One notable achievement though is that he pitched a complete game
in the first start of his career.
He spent most of with the Toledo Mud Hens
, posting an 11-8 record. He started three games in the majors, going 2-1. Bergman spent the majority of the season in the majors. In 28 games started, he posted a 7-10 record with a 5.12 ERA. His 13 wild pitch
es were second in the league, trailing only Al Leiter
's 14. He did pitch one shutout
, which put him ninth in the league.
Right before the season, he was traded by the Tigers with Cade Gaspar
and Todd Steverson
to the San Diego Padres for Raul Casanova
, Richie Lewis
, and Melvin Nieves
.
He spent two seasons with the Padres, posting a combined record of 8-12 with an ERA of 5.17. After the season, he was traded from the Padres to the Houston Astros for James Mouton
. was perhaps Bergman's best season—he posted a record of 12-9 with a 3.72 ERA. He walked only 42 batters in 172 innings of work. In 1998, he gave up home runs to both Sammy Sosa
and Mark McGwire
as they both chased Roger Maris
' single-season home run record.
He started with the Astros, but after posting a 4-6 record with a 5.36 ERA for the Astros to start the season, he was released and signed with the Atlanta Braves
. He appeared in relief in six games with the Braves, posting a solid 2.84 ERA.
Selected off waivers by the Twins after the 1999 season, he was brought in to try to aid a team who had a struggling starting rotation. He did not make it any better. He started 14 games for them, posted a 9.66 ERA, and by late June, was released. His big league career ended on June 17, 2000, but his pro career did not. He bounced around the minors until , even playing in Japan
in .
Overall, he went 39-47 with a 5.28 ERA in 196 games. He walked 272 batters and struck out 455 in 750 innings of work.
At last check, he lived in Bryan, Ohio
.
Bergman currently is the pitching coach at the NCAA Division II level, coaching the Findlay Oilers
Bergman currently teaches Physical Education at Hicksville Elementary School in Hicksville, Ohio
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, and Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
between and . Bergman attended Joliet Catholic High School in Joliet, Illinois, before attending Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
.
Standing at 6'4", 205 pounds (one source puts him at 225 pounds), Bergman was originally drafted by the Tigers 115th overall in the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft
1991 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Other notable players:...
.
He spent his first professional season, , with the Niagara Falls Rapids
Niagara Falls Rapids
The Niagara Falls Rapids were a Class-A minor league baseball team located in Niagara Falls, New York. They were formerly known as the Niagara Falls Sox, from 1982 to 1985, and were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. The team played in the New York - Penn League, and were affiliated with the...
of the New York-Penn League. In 15 games with them, he went five and seven with a 4.46 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. A starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, he struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
77 batters in just over 84 innings of work.
He started the season with the Lakeland Tigers
Lakeland Tigers
The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a minor league baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida.Home games are played at Joker Marchant Stadium; opened in 1966 and renovated in 2003. The park, which also doubles as the Detroit Tigers spring training home, seats 8,500 fans...
, going five and two with them, with a 2.49 ERA. He finished his second professional season with a nine and nine record, posting a 3.41 ERA. This is because after his promotion to the London Tigers
London Tigers
The London Tigers were a professional AA baseball team that played in the Eastern League from 1989 to 1993. They played at Labatt Memorial Park in London, Ontario, and were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers.-History:...
, he went only four and seven with a 4.28 ERA.
Although his minor league season was statistically lackluster (eight and nine with a 4.38 ERA), he still must have impressed the big-league Tigers enough to earn a promotion. He made his major league debut on July 7 of that year against the Minnesota Twins. Oddly, the first team he faced in his career would end up being the last team he played for. Overall, he went 1-4 in nine games with the Tigers in 1993. He walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
23 and struck out 19 in 39+ innings. One notable achievement though is that he pitched a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
in the first start of his career.
He spent most of with the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
, posting an 11-8 record. He started three games in the majors, going 2-1. Bergman spent the majority of the season in the majors. In 28 games started, he posted a 7-10 record with a 5.12 ERA. His 13 wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
es were second in the league, trailing only Al Leiter
Al Leiter
Alois Terry "Al" Leiter is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He is now a studio analyst for MLB Network, and a color commentator for the YES Network.-Early career :Leiter attended Central Regional High School....
's 14. He did pitch one shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
, which put him ninth in the league.
Right before the season, he was traded by the Tigers with Cade Gaspar
Cade Gaspar
Cade Gaspar is a retired American professional baseball pitcher and the son of former outfielder Rod Gaspar. A right-hander, he was 6'3" tall but weighed only 175 pounds...
and Todd Steverson
Todd Steverson
Todd Anthony Steverson is a former right-handed left and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres...
to the San Diego Padres for Raul Casanova
Raul Casanova
Raul Casanova was a Major League Baseball catcher from 1996 to 2008 with the exception of 1999 and 2006.-Minor leagues:He was drafted 220th overall, in the eighth round of the draft by the New York Mets....
, Richie Lewis
Richie Lewis
Richie Todd Lewis is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to for the Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds. He attended Southside High School in Muncie, where his father was the coach for many years...
, and Melvin Nieves
Melvin Nieves
Melvin Nieves Ramos is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1992 until 1998, and two seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball in 1999-2000...
.
He spent two seasons with the Padres, posting a combined record of 8-12 with an ERA of 5.17. After the season, he was traded from the Padres to the Houston Astros for James Mouton
James Mouton
James Raleigh Mouton is a former professional baseball player. An outfielder, he played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1994 until 2001, for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos and Milwaukee Brewers.- Early career :Mouton was originally drafted by the...
. was perhaps Bergman's best season—he posted a record of 12-9 with a 3.72 ERA. He walked only 42 batters in 172 innings of work. In 1998, he gave up home runs to both Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....
and Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
as they both chased Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
' single-season home run record.
He started with the Astros, but after posting a 4-6 record with a 5.36 ERA for the Astros to start the season, he was released and signed with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. He appeared in relief in six games with the Braves, posting a solid 2.84 ERA.
Selected off waivers by the Twins after the 1999 season, he was brought in to try to aid a team who had a struggling starting rotation. He did not make it any better. He started 14 games for them, posted a 9.66 ERA, and by late June, was released. His big league career ended on June 17, 2000, but his pro career did not. He bounced around the minors until , even playing in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in .
Overall, he went 39-47 with a 5.28 ERA in 196 games. He walked 272 batters and struck out 455 in 750 innings of work.
At last check, he lived in Bryan, Ohio
Bryan, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,333 people, 3,528 households, and 2,155 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,821.7 people per square mile . There were 3,733 housing units at an average density of 816.1 per square mile...
.
Bergman currently is the pitching coach at the NCAA Division II level, coaching the Findlay Oilers
Bergman currently teaches Physical Education at Hicksville Elementary School in Hicksville, Ohio
Hicksville, Ohio
Hicksville is a village in Defiance County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,649 at the 2000 census.-History:Hicksville was founded by a group of land speculators. Led by Henry W. Hicks, the Hicks Land Company platted the community in 1835 and 1836...
.