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Atlanta Braves history: A dark day of violence

By Benjamin Chase

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 28: The mask of catcher Brett Hayes #9 of the Florida Marlins (not pictured) is shown between plays against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 28: The mask of catcher Brett Hayes #9 of the Florida Marlins (not pictured) is shown between plays against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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On this day in 1900, the Atlanta Braves franchise had one of the darkest, bizarre, incredible events in the history of the organization occur.

Many will view tragedies of the team as dark days for the Atlanta Braves franchise – losing a playoff game, moving the franchise, etc. However, none hold a candle to the story of Marty Bergen.

Born on October 25, 1871, Bergen began his baseball exploits playing on amateur teams for the legendary manager and owner Connie Mack. He made his major league debut with the Boston Beaneaters in 1896.

Bergen soon developed a reputation as one of the best defensive catchers not just present in the game at that time, but that the game had possibly ever known. Many felt Bergen was doing things behind the plate that redefined athleticism at the position, a position once felt to be someone needed to present a target for the pitcher and not much more.

He was more than just a glove as well. Most would scoff at his career .265/.299/.347 line, but for a catcher in his era, that line was quite good. His overall package was so good that in the first few years of Hall of Fame elections, Bergen would receive votes each year, he was so highly regarded as a player for his 4-year career.

However, Bergen had demons on and off the field. He suffered from mental illness that leaked over to the field, causing rifts with teammates at times and even physical altercations, like the time he slapped star pitcher Vic Willis for no apparent reason.

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His mental illness grew progressively worse, and Bergen began to suspect his teammates were laughing at him and randomly disappear in the middle of road trips. When his son died unexpectedly, Bergen progressed even more quickly down the spiral, and things reached a tipping point in 1899, when his season was ended by a broken hip.

Bergen had sought the help of professionals at the time for help with his issues, knowing something was wrong, but he declined medication offered to him at the time (though medications at the time for mental illness very well could have made him even worse).

Tragedy struck on January 19, 1900. Bergen snapped, killing his wife and two young children with an axe before then using a razor to take his own life. Only Billy Hamilton represented the Atlanta Braves organization at Bergen’s funeral.

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While a superstar player, Marty Bergen was a tragic story, and his horrible ending is one that remains a black mark in Atlanta Braves franchise history at the turn of the 20th century.

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