Digest

This episode of Crime in Sports delves into the life and tragic demise of Marty Bergen, a talented baseball catcher who struggled with mental illness. The episode begins by introducing Bergen's early life and his journey to the major leagues, where he played for the Boston Bean Eaters. Despite his exceptional catching abilities, Bergen's mental instability caused problems, leading to conflicts with teammates and managers. The episode explores the state of baseball and medicine in the late 19th century, highlighting the limited understanding and treatment options for mental illness at the time. The episode then recounts the events leading up to Bergen's tragic murder-suicide, detailing his deteriorating mental health, his erratic behavior, and his neglect of his family. The episode describes the horrific events of January 19th, 1900, when Bergen murdered his wife and two children with an axe before attempting to sever his own head with a razor. The episode concludes with a discussion of Bergen's legacy, highlighting his talent as a catcher but also his struggles with mental illness. The episode emphasizes the societal attitudes towards mental health in the late 19th century, highlighting the lack of understanding and support for those struggling with mental illness.

Outlines

00:00:48

Marty Bergen: The Catcher Who Went Crazy

This chapter introduces Marty Bergen, a talented baseball catcher who was plagued by mental illness. The episode explores his early life, his baseball career, and his struggles with paranoia and erratic behavior.

00:30:20

Marty Bergen's Major League Debut and Early Career

This chapter details Marty Bergen's journey to the major leagues, where he played for the Boston Bean Eaters. Despite his talent, his mental instability continued to cause problems, leading to conflicts with teammates and managers.

00:39:07

Baseball and Medicine in the 19th Century

This chapter discusses the state of baseball and medicine in the late 19th century, including the use of "Vino Colafra," a tonic marketed for various ailments.

00:49:53

Marty Bergen's Reputation and Abilities

This chapter explores the conflicting opinions on Marty Bergen's abilities as a catcher, with some praising his skills while others criticize his erratic behavior.

00:53:39

Marty Bergen's Downfall and Mental Deterioration

This chapter details Marty Bergen's increasingly erratic behavior, culminating in a physical altercation with a teammate during breakfast.

01:02:44

Marty Bergen's Mental Illness and Treatment

This chapter discusses Marty Bergen's potential diagnoses, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and the limited medical treatments available in the 1800s.

01:08:43

Marty Bergen's Final Years in Baseball

This chapter recounts Marty Bergen's final years in baseball, marked by his deteriorating mental health, his son's death, and his eventual departure from the team.

01:21:05

Marty Bergen's Legacy and Impact

This chapter concludes with a discussion of Marty Bergen's legacy, highlighting his talent as a catcher but also his struggles with mental illness.

01:35:43

The Tragic Story of Martin Bergen

This chapter introduces Martin Bergen, a former catcher for the Boston baseball team, and details the events leading up to his tragic murder-suicide. Bergen's mental health deteriorates, and he exhibits erratic behavior, including disappearing from the team and neglecting his family.

01:43:31

The Murder-Suicide

This chapter describes the horrific events of January 19th, 1900, when Martin Bergen murders his wife and two children with an axe before attempting to sever his own head with a razor. The discovery of the bodies and the subsequent investigation are detailed.

01:51:09

The Aftermath and Reactions

This chapter explores the aftermath of the tragedy, including the reactions of the community, Bergen's former teammates, and the media. The story of the murders becomes a national sensation, and Bergen's mental state is widely discussed.

02:11:57

Advertisements and Other Martin Bergens

This chapter features a variety of advertisements from the era, including a play called "Too Much Johnson" and a product called "Casserox" that claims to cure tapeworms. The chapter also explores the existence of other individuals named Martin Bergen, including a jockey and a bridge player.

02:20:04

Bergen's Legacy and Mental Health in the 19th Century

This chapter discusses Bergen's legacy as a baseball player and the impact of his mental illness on his life and career. The chapter also explores the societal attitudes towards mental health at the time and the lack of understanding and support for those struggling with mental illness.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were some of the challenges Marty Bergen faced in his baseball career?

  Marty Bergen faced numerous challenges due to his mental illness, including conflicts with teammates, erratic behavior, and a tendency to leave the team unexpectedly.

• How did the medical understanding of mental illness differ in the late 19th century?

  In the late 19th century, mental illness was not well understood, and treatments were limited. Bromides were commonly used as sedatives, but there were no effective medications for conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

• What was the significance of Marty Bergen's catching abilities?

  Marty Bergen was considered one of the best defensive catchers of his time, known for his strong arm and ability to throw out base stealers. His skills were highly valued by teams, despite his behavioral issues.

• How did Marty Bergen's mental illness impact his relationships with his teammates?

  Marty Bergen's paranoia and erratic behavior created tension and distrust among his teammates. They often avoided him and were concerned for their safety around him.

• What was the ultimate outcome of Marty Bergen's baseball career?

  Marty Bergen's mental illness ultimately led to his departure from baseball. He left the team several times and never fully recovered from his struggles. His career ended prematurely, leaving a legacy of both talent and tragedy.

• What were some of the signs that Martin Bergen was struggling with mental health issues?

  Bergen exhibited erratic behavior, including disappearing from the team without explanation, neglecting his family, and expressing paranoia and delusions. He also had a history of fits of melancholy and was known to be moody and despondent.

• How did the community react to the murders?

  The community was shocked and horrified by the tragedy. Hundreds of people gathered around the Bergen house to try to see the bodies and witness the aftermath. The murders became a national sensation, and Bergen's mental state was widely discussed.

• What was the impact of Bergen's mental illness on his baseball career?

  Bergen's mental illness caused him to be unreliable and unpredictable, making him difficult to manage for his team. His erratic behavior and absences from the team led to tension and frustration among his teammates and management. Ultimately, his mental illness contributed to his downfall as a baseball player.

Show Notes