Alfred Bergman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfred Henry "Big Dutch" Bergman (born September 27, 1889 in Peru, Indiana; died June 20, 1961 in Fort Wayne, Indiana) was a multi-sport college athlete and a professional baseball player.

"Big Dutch" Bergman is the only athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Notre Dame to earn a total of eleven monograms (varsity letters), and also the only athlete to twice earn four letters in a single year. He played football, baseball, basketball and was a team captain on the track team.

As the kickoff returner for the football team in 1911, Bergman would set a presently unbreakable record with a 105-yard return against Loyola. (At the time, the fields were 110 yards long.) Three years later, Bergman would become the starting quarterback for Jesse Harper's 1914 team, which finished 6-2.

After graduation, Bergman would play professional baseball for one season with the Cleveland Indians. His brother Arthur (known as "Little Dutch") would also attend Notre Dame but would go on to achieve more fame as the head coach of the Washington Redskins.