07 Oct Getting to Know Alex Bregman
Name: Alexander David Bregman
Born: March 30, 1994 (age 25 years)
Position: Third baseman
College: LSU
Salary: In 2019, Bregman will earn a base salary of $640,500 and a signing bonus of $10,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $2,307,166.
Chilhood History: Bregman is Jewish and was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was a member of Albuquerque’s Congregation Albert growing up and lived in the Northeast Heights section of Albuquerque. His father, Sam Bregman, and his mother, Jackie Bregman, are both lawyers, and he has two younger siblings, Jessica and Anthony. His grandfather Stan Bregman was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants.His grandfather was general counsel for the Washington Senators from the late 1960s until the team moved to Texas in 1971 in a sale that he negotiated, and he helped the club sign Hall of Famer Ted Williams as the team’s general manager. His grandfather saw all of his games in high school. His great-grandfather Samuel “Bo” Bregman immigrated from Russia to Washington, D.C., around 1900 and married Sadie Hurwitz Bregman.
Hobbies: Love chess & collecting baseball cards
Favorite ball player growing up: Derek Jeter
Your grandfather was the general counsel for the Washington Senators, and your father played at the University of New Mexico. Were you always drawn to the game of baseball, or did you play other sports as well? I’ve always been drawn to baseball. Ever since I was five years old, when my dad would bring a baseball card home from work, I just fell in love with the game. I’d play in the cul de sac with my mom and him, and it’s been fun.
Are you the type of guy that handles pressure well? I believe that pressure is a privilege. When you put pressure on yourself in practice, you’re able to come through in the pressure situations, so I never really put pressure on myself. The only times I did were in practice.
What does it take to achieve the kind of success you have had? My personal belief is that everyone is created equally. In my opinion, talent doesn’t exist. I think it comes down to being obsessed with what you want to be. If you are obsessed with what you want to be, you will find a way to make it happen. You just have to decide. Personally, I haven’t ever been willing to accept that anyone is going to be doing more than I am to get better at this game. It’s not just about what you want, it’s about how hard you are willing to work to get what you want. If you want to be a Division I baseball player, work for it. If you want to be the valedictorian, work for it. Regardless of what it is, wanting something is a lot different than working for something.
What is about you that makes you so fearless? I don’t know. I think it’s just due to the preparation I put in in the off season and Spring Training, and knowing that I have such good teammates around me, that I just need to do my part and pull my end of the rope.
Who would you say are your biggest fans? I would say my parents are my two biggest fans. My brother and sister as well. We’re a close family, and we always will be. The camaraderie on your Astros team seems really special in the clubhouse.
Give us an idea what it’s like, what makes this team so special? All you guys are like brothers. We’d run through walls for each other. We’re a family. It’s one of the reasons why we’re successful as a team. We hold each other accountable, and we get after it.
How does it feel to have Jewish fans all over the world? It’s definitely cool to have Jewish fans around the world give their support. It keeps you motivated to know that everyone has your back.
Going into the season, what was your main goal this year? To win it all. I think there’s only one goal, and that’s to win another World Series. It’s the same goal every year. We’re still chasing the same thing every time we step on this ball field, and that’s to win another World Series for Houston.
How excited are you about about playing in the playoffs? Definitely excited! There’s going to be a lot of hype and a lot of noise, but when we go on the field every day, it’s about one thing, and that’s the next pitch, winning the next pitch and winning the next inning and winning the next game. That’s all that matters.