Major League Baseball Player. A steady catcher for the National Leagues Boston Beaneaters during his 4 year Major League career, he was considered to be a fine defensive catcher and a decent hitter. However, he suffered from mental illness. He often complained of being poked and prodded and chased by unseen people, and also heard voices, even during games. He also showed signs of depression, and had anxiety attacks as well. Mental illness was often looked upon as a "disease of Satan" by many in the medical establishment of the time, and the amount of help or treatment that he could have received would have been minuscule and crude at best. His condition became so bad during his last season that teammates and coaches began staying clear of him. He suffered a broken hip during the 1899 season, an injury many thought was career ending. There was much speculation about the injury, as some doctors felt that he would be able continue his career if his hip healed properly. The injury caused him to grow more melancholy, although there were no signs that he would do anything drastic to himself or others. In the early morning hours of January 19, 1900, Bergen took an ax and proceeded to kill his two small children and then his wife. From there he took a straight razor and slit his own throat. The murder/suicide shocked the community, the baseball world and the nation at large. Bergen, who was only 28 years old, and his family, were buried in the Saint Joseph's Cemetery in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, several days later. His grave remained unmarked for many years until legendary Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack paid for a headstone. Martin Bergen was the brother of Major Leaguer Bill Bergen. For his career, he batted .265 with 10 home runs and 176 RBI.
Major League Baseball Player. A steady catcher for the National Leagues Boston Beaneaters during his 4 year Major League career, he was considered to be a fine defensive catcher and a decent hitter. However, he suffered from mental illness. He often complained of being poked and prodded and chased by unseen people, and also heard voices, even during games. He also showed signs of depression, and had anxiety attacks as well. Mental illness was often looked upon as a "disease of Satan" by many in the medical establishment of the time, and the amount of help or treatment that he could have received would have been minuscule and crude at best. His condition became so bad during his last season that teammates and coaches began staying clear of him. He suffered a broken hip during the 1899 season, an injury many thought was career ending. There was much speculation about the injury, as some doctors felt that he would be able continue his career if his hip healed properly. The injury caused him to grow more melancholy, although there were no signs that he would do anything drastic to himself or others. In the early morning hours of January 19, 1900, Bergen took an ax and proceeded to kill his two small children and then his wife. From there he took a straight razor and slit his own throat. The murder/suicide shocked the community, the baseball world and the nation at large. Bergen, who was only 28 years old, and his family, were buried in the Saint Joseph's Cemetery in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, several days later. His grave remained unmarked for many years until legendary Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack paid for a headstone. Martin Bergen was the brother of Major Leaguer Bill Bergen. For his career, he batted .265 with 10 home runs and 176 RBI.
Bio by: Frank Russo
Family Members
Advertisement
