A’s will honor longtime beat writer Ron Bergman

Ron Bergman, a longtime A’s beat writer and author of “Mustache Gang,” a book chronicling the 1972 championship season, will be enshrined in the A’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

Bergman, who died in 2015, will be the first journalist inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. The A’s unveiled their first class last year: Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Dave Stewart and Charlie Finley.

This year’s full class will be enshrined next month.

“Bergie was a classic,” said equipment manager Steve Vucinich, the only current A’s employee who was with the team during Oakland’s World Series runs in the ’70s. “He’s the first journalist I really got to know. I was a 15yearold kid when I met him. I got to be friends with him over the years. My third day on the job was Catfish Hunter’s perfect game, and Bergie had three different stories in the Tribune the next day.”

An onfield ceremony will be held at the Coliseum before Tuesday night’s YankeesA’s game. Bergman’s children, Adam and Anne, will represent the family.

Also, the Ron Bergman Award will be given annually to a journalist for his or her meritorious contributions to covering the A’s.

“Last season, we inducted the inaugural class of the Athletics Hall of Fame to honor the legends who have helped shape our identity and bring us success,” A’s President Dave Kaval said. “Likewise, we have to recognize the individuals who have helped cover our franchise and share stories with our fans throughout the years. We are excited to celebrate Ron Bergman’s journalistic contributions and to establish this award in his honor.”

Bergman also covered the Warriors, Raiders and college sports for the Oakland Tribune and the San Jose Mercury News.