The worst hitter ever to play regularly in the ML, his .170 career BA is 42 points
below any other batter with 2500 or more at-bats. His .139 in 1909 is the lowest
mark ever for a batting title qualifier. In the lineup for his arm, his 202 assists
the same year are the ninth best by a catcher; that July 24, he set a 20th-century
record by throwing out seven would-be basestealers. His brother Marty was also a
ML catcher.
(TG)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»July 17, 1909:
Brooklyn and Chicago swap shutouts, with George Bell topping Chicago's Orval Overall, 1–0, in the opener. Ed Reulbach comes back in the 2nd game to beat Kaiser Wilhelm, 4–0. Bill Bergen's hitless streak ends. Bergen's hitless streak started after he singled in his first at bat against the Giants on June 29, 1909. It ends in the second game today when, after sitting out the first game, he had a fourth inning infield single against Ed Reulbach. The catcher will hit just .139 this season, not a yearly low.
»August 23, 1909: With lefthander Jim Pastorius pitching, Brooklyn C Bill Bergen throws out six (erroneously listed as 7) of eight base-stealing Cardinals in a 9-1 St. Louis victory. Bergen's mark is a 20th century high, twice tied in 1915. In the first game of the doubleheader, it was Brooklyn's turn as they swiped six bases in a 7-0 win. The Cards steal two bases.
»June 10, 1911: At Pittsburgh, the Bucs Bobby Byrne steals 2B, 3B, and home in the same inning against Brooklyn. His swipe of 2B is on the back end of a double steal with Fred Clarke scoring on a contested play. When Brooklyn C Bill Bergen argues the call with Bill Klem, Byrne sneaks to 3B. After Dots Miller walks, the two pull of a double steal. Up 8–0 in the 8th, Pittsburgh tries a triple steal, and scores a run on a throwing error. But (as noted by Retrosheet) no steals are handed out on the play.
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