#33

Jesse Berg

Nickname: Bergie

Bat/Throw: L/R

Birthday: 10/25

Years Playing With The Tigers: 12 years

Position(s): 3B/P currently, only position I haven't played during my career is CF

High School/Graduation Year: Red Rock Central - Class of 1997

College: Rochester Community College, Iowa Lakes Community College, MN West Community College, THE St. Cloud State University ('04 Grad)

Best Part Of Playing Amateur Baseball: the smell of pine tar, blowing a fastball past someone for strike three and staring at them while the catcher throws it around the horn, getting a clutch hit, the sound of the ball hitting a wood bat (when your teams hitting), being surrounded by a bunch of guys who love the game of baseball and know how the game should be played

Thoughts On Kyle Kraska: First time I met him I thought he was full of "it", but later found out that he can back it up. Great ball player and good for some laughs as well. OK, enough about Tic Tic already...

Other baseball experience (coaching, other teams): Red Rock Central HS ('93-'97), Iowa Lakes Community College ('98), assistant Coach at MW Comm. College ('99), St. Cloud St. ('02 for 5 weeks - coach found out my college eligibility was used up, imagine that!), Head Coach - Springfield Amateur Baseball ('02-'07)

Favorite Baseball Memory: All the State Amateur Baseball appearances I've been a part of as a player, coach, and draftee

Worst Baseball Memory: Any loss in the playoffs, especially in an elimination game

Favorite Baseball Movie: For Love of the Game, Bull Durham, Major League, Eight Men Out, 61*

Person Most Responsible For Developing Your Love For The Game Of Baseball: My Dad, Bruce, no questions asked

Best Teammate You've Ever Played With: Blair Gostonczik & Phil Clennon, both played with such high intensity and if they thought you weren't doing your job they'd let you know about it. They were right 95% of the time.

Favorite Song: "Two Step" Dave Matthews Band, Live at Luther College

Favorite Food: My Mom's pheasant casserole and pasta

Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump

Family: wife: Emily, son: Elway, daughter: Finnley

Job: Quality Supervisor, for a Monsanto - Foundation Corn plant in Aplington, IA

Random Fact:
For a snack I enjoy eating uncooked elbow macaroni.
I hold the majority of all major passing records for MN West Community College.
The first time I can ever remember playing catch was with my Dad. I had to be maybe 4 or 5. He looked at me, grinned, and threw me a curve ball. I had never seen one of those before and as it got closer and closer I almost s!?# my pants. It drilled me in the right foot. From that moment on I knew I wanted to be a pitcher.

Parting Thoughts:
"Though the distance between bases has always been 90 feet and home plate has remained 17 inches wide, baseball is forever new; a new season, a new game, a new batter. It is constantly surprising, endlessly fascinating, and alternately enrapturing or heart-breaking." Mark Mulvoy - SI
"Baseball is like a church. Many attend. Few understand." Leo Durocher