Former UMass baseball coach Dick Bergquist died at his home in Amherst on Feb. 24, a few months shy of his 87th birthday. Bergquist was in a league with Jack Leaman, Vic Fusia and Dick Barber — the best of the best.
He took UMass to its only College World Series, won 392 games, and is the only player or coach to have had his number retired.
Bergquist’s childhood friend Courtney Woodcock reminisced about growing up across the street from him in Orange.
“We probably met when we were 2-years-old,” Woodcock chuckled. “We played a lot of catch and did a lot of bike riding and swimming. His family had a camp on Laurel Lake, and we’d ride up there and go fishing.”
Woodcock graduated from Orange High School one year ahead of Bergquist in 1949. “He lettered in every sport, but baseball was his best game. Even his freshman year, he was the best pitcher, and he had two good catchers. John Olari signed a pro contract out of high school and Arlan Barber went from Orange to Springfield College and then to the pros.
“He was one that never complained,” added Woodcock. “If you made a mistake he’d just say, ‘Shake it off we’ll be all right.’”
Bergquist played and learned under the legendary Earl Lorden, who began his coaching and teaching career at Turners Falls High School.
Meanwhile, Woodcock joined the Air Force and attended and umped in the minor leagues. In 1960, he moved his family to Greenfield where he taught science and “coached the lower ranks.”
All the while the East County Crew — Woodcock, Bergquist, Vic Colo, Bruce Jones and Joe Spadafora — continued to stay in contact.
“When we went to Florida we’d call him at The Villages, he and Sonja,” Woodcock said. “He liked The Villages, he thought that was the greatest. Vic Colo and I had a place in Daytona Beach which wasn’t too far, and Dick came over to visit.”
After he left coaching Bergquist became involved with the Olympics, the Pan Am Games and the American Baseball Coaches Association, yet never forgot his longtime friends.
“We knew each other for 85 years,” said Woodcock. “He was a gentleman, and he was always willing to help out no matter what.”