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.
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