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Two popular former Tigers have returned to the organization. Former Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson and his bench coach Alan Trammell are in Lakeland in various roles. Trammell, long-time shortstop for the Tigers, will be a spring instructor and have front office duties in Detroit during the rest of the year. Gibson will be stationed in the television broadcast booth as a color commentator. By the way, the Tigers had the highest rated local telecasts of all big league clubs last year. It should go higher this year with the addition of Gibson and former pitcher Jack Morris to the broadcast team.
Trammell, Gibson, and Morris were all part of the 1984 World Series champion Tigers. It was a memorable year for me: not only my rookie season as a Tigers front office head but a World Series ring to boot!
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One of the most memorable men on that 1984 team was first baseman/outfielder Dave Bergman. Dave used to tell me of all the bar mitzvah invitations he would receive (and how much more mail he received during the years he played with the Yankees.) His name also led to speaking invitations for Jewish organizations.
There was only one problem: Bergie wasn’t Jewish. But a greater mensch you couldn’t find. After his 17-year baseball career Bergman opted for a career as a financial adviser in the Detroit area and was known for his work in behalf of several charitable causes for children and adults. He also found time to manage Little League teams.
Bergman stayed in touch with many of his former teammates until cancer claimed him recently at age 61. Former Tigers catcher Lance Parrish summed up his friend this way: “Bergie was just a terrific person. A joy to be around even though he was on the quiet side. When he talked, you listened. He was very much an intellectual with interesting insights into the game. He was a great father to his sons and daughter and a great husband.”
Bergman fought cancer for the past three years with class and dignity, the same traits he displayed as a man and player.
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If you’ll be in Florida on Sunday, March 22, take in the Minnesota Twins/Miami Marlins game in Jupiter; it’s Jewish Heritage Day at the ballpark.
