Peter Bergeron
Encyclopedia
Peter Francis Bergeron is a former professional baseball
outfielder
. Bergeron appeared 308 Major League games, all of which were played with the Montreal Expos
over five different seasons. He was known as primarily being a leadoff hitter, with above average speed and defensive skills. However his offensive ability and career .226 batting average eventually led to his demise.
in Greenfield, Massachusetts
and was a 4 year starter on the varsity baseball team. In his senior year he was named the 1996 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year, sponsored by Gatorade
. He signed a letter of intent to play baseball in college at Clemson University
but decided to sign a professional contract instead.
in the 4th round of the 1996 MLB amateur draft
. After spending the 1996 and 1997 seasons in the Dodgers farm system his rights were traded in the middle of the 1998 season to the Expos in an exchange that sent himself, Jonathan Tucker
, Wilton Guerrero
, and Ted Lilly
to Montreal in exchange for Mark Grudzielanek
, Hiram Bocachica
and Carlos Pérez (baseball).
In 1999 Bergeron split time with the Ottawa Lynx
and Harrisburg Senators
. In a total of 100 games for the two teams he would hit a combined .320 with 23 stolen bases as a leadoff hitter. Bergeron made his Major League Baseball debut with the Montreal Expos
on September 7, . 2000 was Bergeron's only full season in the majors. He served as the regular leadoff hitter for the Expos and hit .245 with 5 home runs, 31 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 148 games played.
Bergeron would spend the next two years splitting time between Montreal
and their Triple A affiliate Ottawa. In 2003 he would spend the entire season with the AAA Edmonton Trappers
. In 2004 Bergeron started the season with the Expos, however, after only 12 games and a batting average of .214 he was again sent to AAA Edmonton. On June 7, 2004 Bergeron and Saul Rivera
were traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
for Jason Childers
and Jason Belcher. Bergeron was assigned to the Indianapolis Indians
and would spend the remainder of the season there. At the end of the 2004 season Bergeron was granted free agency and was signed by the Chicago Cubs
in an attempt to make the team's roster during spring training. After the 2005 spring training Bergeron was one of the final players cut from the major league roster and decided to sign a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles
. He played the 2005 season with the AA Bowie Baysox
batting .296 with 5 home runs, 33 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 91 games. Following that season he was again granted free agency.
In 2006 Bergeron signed on with the Philadelphia Phillies
and split the season with the AA Reading Phillies
and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
. He would have a very successful season in 124 games, hitting a combined .333, which included batting .351 at Reading. Bergeron would also hit 9 home runs and 43 RBI. This was his highest home run total in a professional season and ranked second in terms of RBI. However, Phillies management was quoted as stating that Bergeron was basically used to fill out a minor league roster spot and that they had no intention of bringing him up to the major league club.
2007 was Bergeron's last season in professional baseball. He would start the season with the York Revolution
of the Independent Atlantic League
in their inaugural season. He would play in 70 games with the Revolution hitting .275 with 3 home runs and 20 RBI, before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates
AA Altoona Curve
. Bergeron played in 33 games with the Curve hitting .240.
, as well as the head coach of the 18u Georgia Roadrunner Travel Team.
who has played in the major leagues. The other 2 being Steve Partenheimer
and Dave Wissman
. Bergeron however, is the only one of the three to play a full season. As Wissman only played 16 major league games, while Partenheimer has the distinction of playing in just one.
- Bergeron was the first player to be signed in the history of the York Revolution
franchise.
- Bergeron was also a standout running quarterback
in high school, having rushed for 1,012 yards in his junior season and 1,831 in his senior year in which he also led his team to a Western Massachusetts
Super Bowl berth. After signing professionally in 1996 he was told by many Division 1 and Division I-AA college football coaches that if baseball did not work out, he had an open invitation to go back to school to play football, as either a tailback
or defensive back
.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. Bergeron appeared 308 Major League games, all of which were played with the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
over five different seasons. He was known as primarily being a leadoff hitter, with above average speed and defensive skills. However his offensive ability and career .226 batting average eventually led to his demise.
High school
Bergeron attended Greenfield High SchoolGreenfield High School (Massachusetts)
Greenfield High School is located in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The mascot for Greenfield High School is the "Green Wave" represented by a green ocean wave.-External links:*...
in Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield is a city in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,456 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Franklin County Fair...
and was a 4 year starter on the varsity baseball team. In his senior year he was named the 1996 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year, sponsored by Gatorade
Gatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
. He signed a letter of intent to play baseball in college at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
but decided to sign a professional contract instead.
Professional career
Bergeron was drafted shortly after graduating high school by the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the 4th round of the 1996 MLB amateur draft
1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
. After spending the 1996 and 1997 seasons in the Dodgers farm system his rights were traded in the middle of the 1998 season to the Expos in an exchange that sent himself, Jonathan Tucker
Jonathan Tucker
Jonathan Moss Tucker is an American film and television actor, best known for his roles in the movies The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hostage, In the Valley of Elah and The Ruins, and The Black Donnellys on television....
, Wilton Guerrero
Wilton Guerrero
Wilton Alvaro Guerrero is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Montreal Expos , Cincinnati Reds , and Kansas City Royals ....
, and Ted Lilly
Ted Lilly
Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Lilly III , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats and throws left-handed...
to Montreal in exchange for Mark Grudzielanek
Mark Grudzielanek
Mark James Grudzielanek is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop. Grudzielanek played six different teams during his 15-season career. He batted and threw right-handed.-Early years:...
, Hiram Bocachica
Hiram Bocachica
Hiram Gabriel Bocachica Colon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is 5'11" and weighs around 195 pounds.-Major league career:...
and Carlos Pérez (baseball).
In 1999 Bergeron split time with the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
and Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
. In a total of 100 games for the two teams he would hit a combined .320 with 23 stolen bases as a leadoff hitter. Bergeron made his Major League Baseball debut with the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
on September 7, . 2000 was Bergeron's only full season in the majors. He served as the regular leadoff hitter for the Expos and hit .245 with 5 home runs, 31 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 148 games played.
Bergeron would spend the next two years splitting time between Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and their Triple A affiliate Ottawa. In 2003 he would spend the entire season with the AAA Edmonton Trappers
Edmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
. In 2004 Bergeron started the season with the Expos, however, after only 12 games and a batting average of .214 he was again sent to AAA Edmonton. On June 7, 2004 Bergeron and Saul Rivera
Saul Rivera
Rabell Saúl Rivera is a right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher currently a free agent.-Career:...
were traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Jason Childers
Jason Childers
Jason Lee Childers is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays organization.He is the brother of Matt Childers.-External links:...
and Jason Belcher. Bergeron was assigned to the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
and would spend the remainder of the season there. At the end of the 2004 season Bergeron was granted free agency and was signed by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in an attempt to make the team's roster during spring training. After the 2005 spring training Bergeron was one of the final players cut from the major league roster and decided to sign a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He played the 2005 season with the AA Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
batting .296 with 5 home runs, 33 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 91 games. Following that season he was again granted free agency.
In 2006 Bergeron signed on with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and split the season with the AA Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees are a professional minor league baseball club located based in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area. They currently play in the International League's Northern Division and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club...
. He would have a very successful season in 124 games, hitting a combined .333, which included batting .351 at Reading. Bergeron would also hit 9 home runs and 43 RBI. This was his highest home run total in a professional season and ranked second in terms of RBI. However, Phillies management was quoted as stating that Bergeron was basically used to fill out a minor league roster spot and that they had no intention of bringing him up to the major league club.
2007 was Bergeron's last season in professional baseball. He would start the season with the York Revolution
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
in their inaugural season. He would play in 70 games with the Revolution hitting .275 with 3 home runs and 20 RBI, before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
AA Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
. Bergeron played in 33 games with the Curve hitting .240.
Retirement and present day
Prior to the 2008 season, Bergeron stated in a local hometown newspaper article that he would most likely retire from professional baseball, citing the fact that continuing to play minor-league baseball on a small salary, while having to rent apartments for his family would amount to losing a considerable amount of money. Bergeron is currently very much still involved in baseball, now from a coaching standpoint. He currently runs "Barrett Baseball", a training school in Alpharetta, Georgia that is owned by former teammate and friend of Bergeron's, Michael Barrett. He also is the head coach of the varsity baseball team at King's Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, GeorgiaAlpharetta, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile . There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile...
, as well as the head coach of the 18u Georgia Roadrunner Travel Team.
Trivia
- Bergeron is one of only 3 persons born in Greenfield, MassachusettsGreenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield is a city in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,456 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Franklin County Fair...
who has played in the major leagues. The other 2 being Steve Partenheimer
Steve Partenheimer
Harold Philip "Steve" Partenheimer was a Major League Baseball player who played one game with the Detroit Tigers on June 28, 1913....
and Dave Wissman
Dave Wissman
David Alvin Wissman is a former Major League Baseball player. Wissman played for Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1964 season. He played just sixteen games in his career, having four hits in 27 at-bats, a .148 batting avereage. Wissman was signed by the Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1961.-External...
. Bergeron however, is the only one of the three to play a full season. As Wissman only played 16 major league games, while Partenheimer has the distinction of playing in just one.
- Bergeron was the first player to be signed in the history of the York Revolution
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
franchise.
- Bergeron was also a standout running 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...
in high school, having rushed for 1,012 yards in his junior season and 1,831 in his senior year in which he also led his team to a Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires, the Pioneer Valley, and some or all of the Swift River Valley. The region is always considered to include Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, and the...
Super Bowl berth. After signing professionally in 1996 he was told by many Division 1 and Division I-AA college football coaches that if baseball did not work out, he had an open invitation to go back to school to play football, as either a tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
or defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
.