Tun Berger
Born: 12/6/1867 in Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Died: 6/10/1907 in Pittsburgh, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1890-05-09 | Final Game: 1892-08-28
Throws: R | Height: 5'6" | Weight: 178 lbs
Full name: John Henry Berger
Biography
Tun Berger, born in 1867, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the early years of Major League Baseball, which was characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more robust offensive game. Berger played as a position player from 1890 to 1892, appearing in a total of 173 games during his career. He finished with 150 hits, demonstrating a consistent ability to make contact at the plate, while also contributing to his teams with 57 RBIs and a batting average of .241.
Known for his speed on the basepaths, Berger stole 18 bases throughout his career, showcasing his agility and strategic base running in a time when such skills were highly valued. He hit one home run, a notable achievement in an era when power hitting was not as prevalent as it would later become. Berger's contributions to the game during its formative years helped pave the way for the evolving strategies that would define baseball in the 20th century. His career in the majors concluded on August 28, 1892, leaving behind a legacy as one of the many players who helped shape the early landscape of professional baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 173 | 622 | 88 | 150 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 57 | 18 | 54 | 42 | 0.241 | 0.313 | 0.301 | 0.614 | -951.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | PIT | NL | 104 | 391 | 64 | 104 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 11 | 35 | 23 | 0.266 | -171.2 |
| 1891 | PIT | NL | 43 | 134 | 15 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 0.239 | -201.0 |
| 1892 | WAS | NL | 26 | 97 | 9 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 0.144 | -579.5 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 23 | 0 | 52 | 57 | 11 | 2 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C | 48 | 0 | 168 | 65 | 31 | 1 |
| OF | 43 | 0 | 73 | 11 | 8 | 1 |
| SS | 57 | 0 | 100 | 151 | 49 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | PIT | C | 21 | 0 | 76 | 37 | 20 | 1 |
| 1890 | PIT | 2B | 6 | 0 | 11 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 1890 | PIT | 3B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1890 | PIT | SS | 33 | 0 | 62 | 104 | 26 | 8 |
| 1890 | PIT | OF | 41 | 0 | 72 | 11 | 8 | 1 |
| 1891 | PIT | C | 18 | 0 | 63 | 17 | 7 | 0 |
| 1891 | PIT | 2B | 17 | 0 | 41 | 41 | 10 | 1 |
| 1891 | PIT | SS | 6 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 1 |
| 1891 | PIT | OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1892 | WAS | C | 9 | 0 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| 1892 | WAS | SS | 18 | 0 | 27 | 41 | 10 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 48 |
| Second Base | 23 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Shortstop | 57 |
| Left Field | 4 |
| Center Field | 4 |
| Right Field | 37 |