Bill Bergesch

Louis William Bergesch

• Born circa 1922 in St. Louis, MO USA
• Died May 10, 2011 in Connecticut USA

Biographical Information

Bill Bergesch is a former baseball front office executive for many major league teams. Beginning with the Omaha Cardinals farm team in the 1950s, he rose to Assistant General Manager of the Kansas City Athletics in 1961 and organized the New York Mets farm system in 1962, remaining there until 1978.

Bergesch then joined the New York Yankees as director of scouting. Within two years, he became Vice President of Baseball Operations, a position that at the time assumed the responsibilities of assistant GM in 1980-1981, and General Manager from 1982 to 1984. His years there coicided with the height of owner George Steinbrenner's follies, when he would continually change the personnel in the team's front office. Bergesch then moved to the Cincinnati Reds in 1985 to serve as a General Manager until he was fired by Marge Schott in 1987. For all intents and purposes, Bergesch was retired until 1991, when he rejoined with the Yankees on a per diem basis as Gene Michael's Assistant General Manager. He would serve in this capacity until 1994 and he stayed with the club on undefined terms until the following year.

Bergesch retired in Connecticut. He continued to visit the Yankees' spring training in Tampa, FL for a number of years afterwards. He died at a retirement home in Connecticut in 2011.

Preceded by Gene Michael

New York Yankees General Manager 1982-1983

Succeeded by Murray Cook

Preceded by Bob Howsam

Cincinnati Reds General Manager 1984-1987

Succeeded by Murray Cook

Record as a General Manager

Draft Picks

1st Round Picks - Yankees

• 1982: No Pick (lost for signing Dave Collins)
• 1983: No Pick (lost for signing Steve Kemp

Other Notable Selections - Yankees

• 1982: 2nd round (50th overall) OF Bo Jackson - McAdory High School - Did Not Sign
• 1982: 5th round (128th overall) C B.J. Surhoff - Rye High School - Did Not Sign
• 1983: 5th round (119th overall) P Todd Stottlemyre - Davis High School - Did Not Sign

1st Round Picks - Reds

• 1984: 5th overall P Pat Pacillo - Seton Hall University
• 1985: 4th overall SS Barry Larkin - University of Michigan
• 1986: 17th overall P Scott Scudder - Prairiland High School
• 1987: 18th overall P Jack Armstrong - University of Oklahoma

Other Notable Selections - Reds

• 1987: 7th round (180th overall) OF Reggie Sanders - Spartanburg Methodist College

Significant Trades

Yankees

• November 4, 1981 traded Freddie Toliver and Brian Ryder to the Cincinnati Reds for Ken Griffey, Sr.
• March 30, 1982 traded Andy McGaffigan and Ted Wilborn to the San Francisco Giants for Doyle Alexander
• April 1, 1982 traded Pat Tabler to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Caudill and Jay Howell
• April 1, 1982 traded Bill Caudill, Gene Nelson and Bobby Brown to the Seattle Mariners for Shane Rawley
• April 10, 1982 traded Ron Davis, Paul Boris and Greg Gagne to the Minnesota Twins for Roy Smalley
• August 8, 1982 traded Bucky Dent to the Texas Rangers for Lee Mazzilli
• August 31, 1982 traded Tommy John to the California Angels for Dennis Rasmussen
• December 9, 1982 traded Dave Collins, Fred McGriff and Mike Morgan to the Toronto Blue Jays for Dale Murray and Tom Dodd
• August 10, 1983 traded Jerry Mumphrey to the Houston Astros for Omar Moreno
• August 26, 1983 traded Dennis Rasmussen and Edwin Rodriguez to the San Diego Padres for John Montefusco

Reds

• July 26, 1984 traded Dan Driessen to the Montreal Expos for Andy McGaffigan and Jim Jefferson
• August 16, 1984 traded Tom Lawless to the Montreal Expos for Pete Rose
• July 19, 1985 traded Duane Walker and Jeff Russell to the Texas Rangers for Buddy Bell
• August 8, 1985 traded Freddie Toliver, Tom Foley and Alan Knicely to the Philadelphia Phillies for Bo Diaz and Greg Simpson
• December 11, 1985 traded Jay Tibbs, Andy McGaffigan, John Stuper and Dann Bilardello for John Denny and Sal Butera
• March 31, 1986 traded Wayne Krenchicki to the Montreal Expos for Norm Charlton

Significant Signings

Yankees

• December 23, 1981 signed Dave Collins as a Free Agent from Cincinnati Reds
• February 21, 1981 signed Roberto Kelly as a amateur free agent
• December 1, 1982 signed Don Baylor as a free agent from California Angels
• December 9, 1982 signed Steve Kemp as a free agent from Chicago White Sox

Reds

• December 7, 1983 signed Dave Parker as a free agent from Pittsburgh Pirates