100 Year History

One Hundred Years and Counting:

As the Bertman Original Ball Park Mustard emerged in 1921, Joe’s spicy, vinegar-based brown mustard became the hit of his clients, particularly League Park, home of the Cleveland Indians. Drawing on European mustard traditions, Bertman’s popularity among Cleveland’s German and Eastern European immigrant communities began to grow.

By the 1930s, Bertman’s mustard had become a staple at League Park, and when the Cleveland Indians moved to Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1932, Bertman’s followed. The presence at these venues cemented its status as a Cleveland tradition. With Joe Bertman’s hands-on approach whether making sales calls, loading trucks, or concocting new products , a culture of a strong work ethic developed. After World War II, Bertman expanded his sales territory from Cleveland to Pittsburgh and Toledo, managing a fleet of trucks and a robust sales force while securing exclusive distribution rights to various food products.