27 Facts About Bill Bergesch

Louis William Bergesch was an American Major League Baseball executive.

Bill Bergesch attended Washington University in St Louis prior to Pearl Harbor, but joined the US Army in 1942.

Bill Bergesch served in the First Special Service Force, a unit trained for specialized assault and mountain combat, and a precursor to the US Army Green Berets.

Bill Bergesch obtained the non-commissioned rank of Platoon Sergeant, and served in combat in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.

Bill Bergesch was again wounded, this time seriously, during the disastrous attempted crossing of the Gari known as the Battle of Rapido River in January, 1944, that battle occurring in the opening stages of the larger, simultaneous Battle of Monte Cassino, which continued until May Bergesch received a second Purple Heart.

Bill Bergesch was paralyzed on the right side of his body for a substantial period of time.

Bill Bergesch was returned to the US and was discharged the service 15 June 1944.

Bill Bergesch then returned to Washington University, where he graduated in 1946, with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Bill Bergesch was admitted to and briefly attended Washington University School of Law, but withdrew after less than one full academic year, in order to pursue other opportunities in professional baseball management.

Bill Bergesch taught himself to play left-handed, made the team and continued to play, and was named team captain in his senior year.

Bill Bergesch married Virginia Kammerer, another graduate of Washington University and St Louis native, in 1947.

Bill Bergesch was sent to Albany, Georgia, to serve as general manager of a local franchise team owned by the Cardinals.

Bill Bergesch was called to the St Louis head office in 1960.

In 1962, Bill Bergesch moved to the New York Mets, their first season, as assistant general manager and director of minor league operations, where he was largely responsible for building a farm system for the new team.

In 1964, Bill Bergesch joined the New York Yankees as manager of stadium operations.

Bill Bergesch remained with the Yankees during the CBS era through 1968.

Bill Bergesch became president of the New York Generals of the National Professional Soccer League in 1968.

Bill Bergesch rejoined the Yankees in 1977 as director of scouting.

Bill Bergesch received 1977 and 1978 World Series rings from this period of engagement with the Yankees.

Responsible for the conduct of the 1979 draft, Bill Bergesch would leave a mark on the following decade and a half of Yankees baseball by drafting Don Mattingly.

Bill Bergesch left the Yankees in 1984, moving to Cincinnati as executive vice president and general manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

Bill Bergesch attempted to build the team around a core of highly regarded young players, in addition to veterans like Dave Parker and Terry Francona.

However, Bill Bergesch was otherwise unable to capitalize on an excess of young and highly touted position players including Kurt Stillwell, Tracy Jones, and Kal Daniels, under circumstances which compelled him to trade them for pitching.

Bill Bergesch rejoined the Yankees in 1991, first on a consulting basis, and then more formally, although his responsibilities were only loosely defined.

Bill Madden in his book "Steinbrenner" depicts Bergesch as having a backroom advisory presence during this period, which set the stage for the Yankees' periods of dominance later in the decade.

Bill Bergesch received a third World Series ring for the 1996 season, and formally retired in early 1997.

Bill Bergesch continued to attend the Yankees' spring training in Tampa, Florida, through 2008.