Pre-World War II Years
Bergman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up at 1543 North Appleton Street in the same neighborhood as professional boxer Jack Portney,film actor Steve Wayne (real name: Norman Weinberger), and Steve's brother Don Wayne.
According to a 1945 article in the Baltimore Evening Sun, while in high school (P.S. #91), Bergman lettered in baseball and football, but was more known for his baseball pitching abilities. He earned the nickname "Hank", because Baltimore fans said he reminded them of major league baseball star Hank Greenberg.With Bergman pitching, his high school baseball team from P.S. # 91, defeated P.S. # 115 to win the Baltimore City Championship in 1934. He was also a member of Baltimore's "Easterwood Boys", a youth group associated with Easterwood Park. In 1936, Bergman played in the 1936 PAL Newspost American Softball Tournament.
After graduating from Baltimore City College (High School) in 1938, Bergman played semi-professional softball for teams sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company. In 1940, his pitching earned his team the Baltimore City Amateur Softball Championship. The 1930s were still Depression years, and to earn extra money to help his widowed mother, Fannie Bloom, Bergman joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CC). Bergman worked on clearing swamps and building roads and highways. Also, Bergman competed as an amateur lightweight boxer. He compiled an undefeated record of 9–0-0 (9 knockouts) which included a bout with Tony LaPonte. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Civilian Conservation Corps, Bergman worked as an aircraft riveter prior to entering the United States military.
Read more about this topic: Hank Bergman
Famous quotes containing the words war and/or years:
“Our young people have come to look upon war as a kind of beneficent deity, which not only adds to the national honor but uplifts a nation and develops patriotism and courage. That is all true. But it is only fair, too, to let them know that the garments of the deity are filthy and that some of her influences debase and befoul a people.”
—Rebecca Harding Davis (1831–1910)
“But he answered his father, Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’”
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 15:29,30.