6 4 , ▁Ber gesch ▁joined ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Yan ke es ▁as ▁Stadium ▁Manager . ▁ ▁Prior ▁to ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁season , ▁the ▁Yan ke es ' ▁Tra vel ing ▁Secretary ▁Bruce ▁Henry ▁was ▁str icken ▁with ▁a ▁serious ▁ill ness ; ▁as ▁a ▁result , ▁Ber gesch ▁was ▁given ▁the ▁additional ▁respons ib ilities ▁until ▁Henry ' s ▁return ▁late ▁in ▁the ▁season . ▁He ▁remained ▁with ▁the ▁Yan ke es ▁during ▁the ▁CBS ▁era ▁through ▁ 1 9 6 8 . ▁ ▁Professional ▁Soccer ▁He ▁became ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Gener als , ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁franch ise ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁professional ▁s occer ▁league ▁in ▁the ▁US , ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 8 . ▁The ▁s occer ▁league ▁played ▁for ▁two ▁seasons , ▁then ▁was ▁dis band ed ▁in ▁favor ▁of ▁the ▁North ▁American ▁Soccer ▁League ▁( N AS L ). ▁Ber gesch ▁at ▁this ▁point ▁moved ▁to ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Cos mos ▁s occer ▁team ▁where ▁his ▁greatest ▁accomplish ment ▁was ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁successful ▁signing ▁of ▁Brazil ian ▁s occer ▁legend ▁Pel é ▁out ▁of ▁semi - ret irement ▁to ▁play ▁in ▁America ▁for ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Cos mos . ▁ ▁Second ▁Ten ure ▁With ▁the ▁Yan ke es ▁Ber gesch ▁rejo ined ▁the ▁Yan ke es ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁as ▁Director ▁of ▁Sc out ing . ▁He ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Vice ▁President ▁of ▁Baseball ▁Oper ations ▁– ▁and ▁served ▁in ▁actual ity ▁as ▁General ▁Manager ▁in ▁ 1 9