Alfred Bergman
Encyclopedia
Alfred Henry "Big Dutch" Bergman (September 27, 1889 in Peru, Indiana
– June 20, 1961 in Fort Wayne, Indiana
) was a multi-sport college athlete and a professional baseball
player.
"Big Dutch" Bergman is the only athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Notre Dame
to earn a total of eleven monograms (varsity letters), and also the only athlete to twice earn four letters in a single year. He played football
, baseball
, basketball
and was a team captain on the track team.
As the kickoff returner for the football team in 1911, Bergman would set a presently unbreakable record with a 105-yard return against Loyola
. (At the time, the fields were 110 yards long.) Three years later, Bergman would become the starting quarterback
for Jesse Harper
's 1914 team, which finished 6-2.
After graduation, Bergman would play professional baseball
for one season with the Cleveland Indians
. His brother Arthur
(known as "Little Dutch") would also attend Notre Dame
but would go on to achieve more fame as the head coach of the Washington Redskins
.
Peru, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,994 people, 5,410 households, and 3,397 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,815.5 people per square mile . There were 5,943 housing units at an average density of 1,287.7 per square mile...
– June 20, 1961 in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
) was a multi-sport college athlete and a professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player.
"Big Dutch" Bergman is the only athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
to earn a total of eleven monograms (varsity letters), and also the only athlete to twice earn four letters in a single year. He played football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and was a team captain on the track team.
As the kickoff returner for the football team in 1911, Bergman would set a presently unbreakable record with a 105-yard return against Loyola
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
. (At the time, the fields were 110 yards long.) Three years later, Bergman would become the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for Jesse Harper
Jesse Harper
-External links:* * at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
's 1914 team, which finished 6-2.
After graduation, Bergman would play professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
for one season with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. His brother Arthur
Dutch Bergman
Arthur J. "Dutch" Bergman was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now New Mexico State University, from 1922 to 1922 and at the The Catholic University of America from 1930 to 1940, compiling a...
(known as "Little Dutch") would also attend Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
but would go on to achieve more fame as the head coach of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.