Bill Bergen was one of the best defensive catchers in his day. The Brooklyn Dodgers backstop was also one of the worst offensive players in MLB history.
Born on this day in 1878, Bill Bergen played for 20 years between the majors and the minors. He spent his first three seasons with the Cincinnati Reds before being purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to the 1904 campaign. He would spend 11 years in the majors, and was typically the Dodgers starter behind the plate.
The brother of Marty Bergen, he continued the family legacy of being a stellar defensive catcher. Possessing a tremendous arm, the Brooklyn Dodgers catcher led the National League in assists three times. Although he appeared in just 941 career games, Bergen ranks ninth all time with 1444 assists.
It was that glove that kept Bergen in the majors. To call his offense mediocre would be an insult to mediocrity. With a .200 batting average being known as the Mendoza Line in reference to light hitting infielder Mario Mendoza, a batting average in the .100s could be known as a Bergen. In fact, only once in his 11 years did he have a season with a batting average over .200, hitting .227 in 1903.
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Those woes in the batter’s box are why Bergen is remembered today. Arguably the worst hitter in MLB history, his career .170 batting average is the worst of any non pitcher with 1000 or more career at bats. If the line is moved to 2000 at bats, Bergen is the worst hitter ever, including pitchers. Overall, he had a .170/.194/.201 batting line, hitting two homers (one in his rookie year) and producing an OPS+ of 21 in 3228 plate appearances.
Over his final three seasons, Bergen produced a miserable .147/.174/.162 batting line, for an OPS+ of 1. Yes, one. In 1911, he had 250 plate appearances, and a -3 OPS+. Yet, because of that glove and his excellent arm, he received 822 at bats. In that time, he had all of ten extra base hits and 30 walks. That walk total was over one third of his career total.
Bergen actually received some attention nearly a century after his time in the majors ended. In 2011, Craig Counsell went through a horrific 0-44 stretch before getting a base hit. That streak of futility matched Bergen, who was 0-44 during the 1909 campaign. Counsell ended up with a .178 batting average that year, while Bergen ended his season with a .137 batting average.
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Bill Bergen was a brilliant defensive catcher with the Dodgers. That glove led to an 11 year career, although he was completely unable to hit his way out of a wet paper sack.