Dave Oldfield

 

Dave Oldfield was a switch-hitting, left-handed-throwing catcher for three teams in the 1880s.

David Oldfield (his full name) was born in Philadelphia on December 18, in 1864 or earlier. His parents, William and Sarah, were born in Yorkshire, England, in 1829 and emigrated to the US in 1854; David was their fourth of six children. The June 1870 census shows the family living in Philadelphia. William is a blacksmith; oldest daughter Lucy, born before the emigration, is out of the house; William Jr. is ten, David is listed as seven, which would put his birth in 1862; Martha is five; and Joseph is two months. Second child Thomas would have been eleven, but he died of scarlet fever a year previously.

In the 1880 census, also taken in June, addresses are now given, and the Oldfields are at 2740 C Street in Philadelphia. William is a laborer; William Jr., 20, works in a worsted mill; David, listed as 17, is a milkman; Martha, 15, works in a hosiery mill, and Joseph is not listed—he would pass away two years later, at age 12, so I don’t know where he was during the census.

Milkman David was also playing baseball. The June 9, 1883, edition of the Carbon Advocate of Lehighton, Pennsylvania, reported that “Several professional base ball players have been engaged to play in a professional club recently formed in Easton.” One of the players listed was named Oldfield, and I assume that was Dave, though I found no evidence of his playing for Easton. The next day’s Sporting Life, which was published in Philadelphia, showed him catching and batting second for local amateur team Hartville against Five-Twenty; “In the ninth inning Oldfield put the ball over the right field fence, bringing home three runs and scoring himself.” He appeared in more box scores for Hartville in July and August, catching and batting first, second, or third.

Along the way, though, he somehow hooked up briefly with the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association. On June 26 he caught for them in an exhibition game against Dayton, which seems to have been an independent town team; then on the 28^th he made his official major league debut in Columbus, going 0-for 4 and making three errors in nine chances (plus five passed balls) as catcher. But then he was back to Hartville.

In mid-August Dave joined the Ironsides team of Lancaster, which seems, at this point anyway, to have been an independent semipro team, playing games against professional, semipro and amateur teams. He caught and played in the outfield for the Ironsides. From the September 26 Lancaster Daily Intelligencer:

Dave Oldfield, one of the finest baseball players the Ironsides club has ever had, left the nine last night. Some time ago Oldfield and Hyndman, who had been playing with the Hartvilles, of Philadelphia, were engaged to come here and work as a change [backup] battery, each to get the same salary. Oldfield played a fine game behind the bat or in the field and was considered the safest batter in the nine. Hyndman did not come up to the expectation of the management in any position. About a week ago three new players, who had been on the Easton club, were hired and the club then consisted of twelve men. This number was considered too large by the management and they made up their minds to get rid of at least one player. On Saturday Hyndman was released. Oldfield was in Philadelphia at the time and returned to Lancaster last night. He informed the manager that he would no longer play with the club because of his friend’s release. After receiving what money was due him he returned to Philadelphia. He goes to Chester to-day, having joined the Houston club of that place. Oldfield says that when he and Hyndman left Philadelphia to come to Lancaster they agreed to stick together, and if one was released the other would leave also; he wants to be as good as his word. It is claimed by friends of Hyndman that he was not given a sufficient chance in this city, as he always played a good game with the Hartvilles, where he had a high batting average. Be that as it may, he did not play well here, and as sorry as the club are to lose Oldfield they could not retain Hyndman.

Dave played for Houston briefly, but by October 10 he was back with the Ironsides. On October 23, during the team’s final game of the season, he refused to enter the game at catcher because he had caught three pitchers the day before; he was immediately released.

The stats also credit Dave with an unspecified number of games in 1883 with Altoona of the Western Interstate League and one game with the Brooklyn Greys of the Interstate Association. If he did play with those teams, it was presumably before June. On December 12 it was reported that he had been rehired by the Ironsides for 1884.

On February 25, 1884, Dave married Ellen Christian in Philadelphia; the church records showed his age as 21, again suggesting an 1862 birth year. He spent the season with the Ironsides, catching and playing some outfield. The Ironsides played a lot of games against teams from the professional Eastern League; by June the Eastern League standings in Sporting Life included a notation of each team’s record versus the Ironsides, and by August the Ironsides were included in the standings. From the September 3 Sporting Life:

At Newark Aug. 28 the Domestic and Ironsides clubs played the most remarkable game of the Eastern League season, fifteen innings being played for a single run. Each club excelled itself on the field and the battery work was splendid, Oldfield making some remarkable catches and Stone assisting in the finest double play ever seen in Newark. In the twelfth inning McTamany led off with a triple and Bradley got first on a fumble by Lufberry. Oldfield hit safe to left, but Gaunt by a beautiful lightning throw caught McTamany at the plate and Bradley was put out at third on Stone’s swift return of the ball. The winning run was scored in the fifteenth inning by Oldfield on a wild throw by McDonald. Curry’s umpiring was very fine. The game lasted but 2 hours and 15 minutes, nine innings being played in 1h., 22m.

It must have been quite the beautiful lightning throw to catch a runner trying to score from third on a single to the outfield.

The stats show Dave with a .274 batting average and .338 slugging percentage in 237 at-bats in 55 league games. After the season the Ironsides beat an independent team called the Lancaster Club, or the Lancasters, in a seven-game series for the championship of Lancaster. Along the way, on June 16, Dave’s sister Martha had given birth; the baby died the next day and Martha died on the 21^st.

From the November 12 Sporting Life:

Mr. Von Der Ahe [St. Louis Browns owner] is coming East next month to hunt up another catcher. He has some idea of trying Oldfield, who, by the way, made a good record this year. He stood fourth among Eastern League catchers with a [fielding] average of .855.

On December 3 Sporting Life reported: “We have a letter for David Oldfield.” No word on whether he ever got it. His next mention there, April 22, 1885, was much less trivial: “Dave Oldfield has lost his child by death.” Daughter Annie, born in February, passed away on April 16.

Dave did not get signed by Mr. Von Der Ahe, but instead returned to the Eastern League. The Ironsides team disbanded, so the Lancaster Club joined the league, and Dave joined them. From the May 27 Sporting Life Lancaster report:

The base ball business is very bad in this city, and although the Lancaster Club has been playing excellent ball since their return home, the guarantee money has been drawn at but a few games since the opening. As a consequence the management of the club is disheartened. If the crowd do not increase it will be impossible to keep the club up…Hiland, McTamany and Oldfield are doing great hitting for the home team and all are doing fine fielding.

July 1:

Oldfield is compelled to do considerable work just now on the Lancaster Club, but he does it well. Besides being one of the finest catchers in the Eastern League, he is hitting the ball right on the nose.

August 12:

Lancaster Joins the Great Army of Defunct Clubs—The Causes Thereof

LANCASTER, August 7.--…The members of the team arrived home on Wednesday evening and are now in this city. They remain here in expectation of receiving their salaries, which is owing them…Oldfield, who is one of the finest catchers in the Eastern League, will also likely go to Brooklyn, although he has numerous offers elsewhere…

The Lancaster Club started out with good prospects this year, but bad management on the part of the stockholders has ruined them. Last year the town supported two professional clubs, but the Ironsides were the only one in an association. They managed to exist the whole season and showed a splendid record in the Eastern League. This season the Ironsides people put no club in the field, but agreed to let the Lancasters have full swing. The result was that the ill-feeling of patrons of the clubs prevented many Ironsides people from attending the Lancaster games. Since the opening the crowds have been very small and the guarantee was not drawn at the majority of games…

A week later Sporting Life reported that Dave had indeed signed with the Brooklyn Grays of the American Association, along with Jim “Thrown Out at Home Trying to Score From Third on a Single” McTamany. It looks like Dave made his Brooklyn debut, his second major league game, on August 18. The Brooklyn report in the September 2 Sporting Life said that “McTamany and Oldfield, recently added to the team, have made an excellent impression.” After the season the Grays played an exhibition series against the New York Metropolitans of the National League; the Sporting Life report on game two, which Brooklyn won 5-0, said that “Harkins pitched an unusually strong game, and Oldfield, who was put in to catch his speedy but frequently wild delivery, did a very creditable piece of work, and proved a surprise to his friends.”

Dave hit .320/.414/.360 for Brooklyn in 25 at-bats in ten games, appearing in nine at catcher and two in the outfield. While with Lancaster he hit .269 and slugged .311 in 219 at-bats in 51 games. He appeared on the Brooklyn reserve list over the off-season.

After son William was born on April 10, Dave returned to Brooklyn in 1886, but was the number three catcher and didn’t play a lot. In July, having gotten into just 14 games, he moved to the Washington Nationals of the National League. The Washington report in the July 28 Sporting Life included:

Last week the wires were kept busy endeavoring to secure new material to strengthen the club, and the result was that we have secured Oldfield, who is a very clever catcher, and he has joined the team.

A week later Sporting Life reported that “Washington is pleased with Oldfield.” He played in just 21 games for them, though, hitting just .149; adding in his Brooklyn stats, which were somewhat better, his numbers for the year were .183/.226/.206 in 126 at-bats in 35 games—25 at catcher and ten in the outfield.

On December 22 the Milwaukee Journal reported that Dave had signed with Oshkosh. The Toronto report in the Sporting Life of January 26, 1887, included this:

I have seen a letter from a reliable party in Chicago denying the report of Decker’s impersonating Oldfield in Chicago. It is about time this player was let alone.

I have no clue what that meant. A week later Dave appeared on the roster of the Oswego Starchboxes [!] of the International Association. On February 23 Sporting Life announced that they had another letter for him. He played catcher, center field, and second base for the Starchboxes, usually hitting fourth, fifth, or sixth, but the team disbanded in early June. From the June 4 Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Oswego club lost $2,000 before it disbanded. Its three best men have been gobbled up. Utica gets Jim Brouthers, Toronto Dave Oldfield and Newark will sign Hayes.

Dave caught and played right field for the Canucks. By the end of the season he was usually hitting ninth, though the only stats I found for him, in the Toronto report in the December 28 Sporting Life, showed him with a .353 batting average, along with an .893 slugging percentage and 13 stolen bases. Along with the stats was a review of the Canucks’ season, which included this:

Oldfield was one of the favorites of last season’s team. Quiet and unassuming, he made hosts of friends. When Traffley’s hands gave out Oldfield was [illegible], and it is no reflection upon the Baltimore catcher’s ability to say that Oldfield was the more acceptable.

Dave was on the Toronto reserve list over the off-season and played for them again in 1888. During the season there was periodic speculation that the New York Giants might want him, to catch Ed Crane, but he stayed in Toronto. His season stats show him with 314 at-bats in 56 games, which is impossible; the other numbers include a .194 batting average and .264 slugging percentage, and two home runs, which may have been his first as a professional.

On January 16, 1889, the Saginaw News reported: “’Davy’ Oldfield wants too much money for the size of Toronto’s pie and cannot play there unless he comes down in his price.” On February 8 Ellen died of tuberculous laryngitis. On March 6 Sporting Life reported that “Catcher Dave Oldfield’s wife died in Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago” and also that “Toronto has given Hamilton permission to negotiate with catcher Oldfield.” On March 20 Dave’s testimonial appeared in an ad for Decker Safety Catching Gloves:

I have used your Decker Safety Catching Gloves and think them superior to any in the market. I have given them a fair trial and find them to be the best glove I have ever used.—DAVID OLDFIELD, Toronto Base Ball Club.

Dave did sign with Hamilton, and he did a lot of the catching for them until mid-July, when he was released. He hit .200 with a .260 slugging percentage in 150 at-bats in 43 games. Hamilton was managed by Dave’s former Brooklyn teammate Ed Swartwood, who looked back at his time in Hamilton in the February 21, 1891, Pittsburgh report in Sporting Life:

“Well, that is what I get for one little incident,” said Ed Swartwood this afternoon, after reading a clip from a Columbus paper that he was a good ball player, but had a bad habit of trying to arouse antagonisms in a club. “Now, all comes from my Hamilton, Ont., experience. You will likely remember the rocky time I had there as manager. One evening I was out with Davy Oldfield. Neither was drinking. We left for home about 11 o’clock. Imagine my surprise the next day when McKay, who was president of the club, sent for me and said I must fine Oldfield $100 for being intoxicated all evening and night. I demurred, saying that I knew Oldfield had been all right when I left him, and said I would investigate a little before imposing the fine. I asked Davy, and he said the story was an untruth, and he was willing to go before the accusers. I took him to McKay, and he sent for the men who told him of the occurrence. They declined to come over. Under this I believed Oldfield. I refused to fine the man, and then those people started stories that I shielded some of the players and aroused trouble in the team. Their assertion has thus stuck to me. You know how the Kanucks acted finally.”

Following his release I found no more information about Dave until April 5, 1890, when the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal reported:

Dave Oldfield is likely to play in Toronto this season. He has sent his terms to the management, but they think the figures are high. Dave was never afraid to ask enough for himself.

On the same day Sporting Life reported that he was negotiating with the Buffalo Bisons, also of the International Association, but added that “Oldfield is also wanted by Toronto, and may go there.” A week that same publication reported that he had signed with Buffalo; on May 17 their Buffalo correspondent observed:

Davy Oldfield is somewhat shorter than when he used to catch Doc Shepard in Toronto, but he is a fine catcher now just as he was then. He is stopping all sorts of balls, and stole third base off Goodfellow amid plaudits and shrieks of pleased surprise from adjacent locomotives, on Thursday last.

Also from the Buffalo correspondent, June 7: “Davy Oldfield’s work is first-class again and he is well nigh the star catcher of the League.” But by the time that appeared in print, the team had moved to Montreal. A week or so later Montreal dropped out of the league, and their place in the league, and their record, was taken by Grand Rapids—but that was a whole new group of players. Dave had 49 at-bats in 15 games for Buffalo/Montreal, hitting .204, with all ten of his hits being singles.

This seems to have been the end of Dave’s professional career, and other than censuses and city directories, he disappears. In the 1890 Philadelphia city directory his occupation is listed as “helper,” and he lives with his parents at 2914 Boudinot; brother William Jr. has a “stoves” business next door at 2916 and lives at 2732 C Street. In 1891 David has gone into the stoves business with William as “Oldfield and Brother,” with the business address given as 2914 Boudinot. In 1892 Oldfield and Brother’s line is given as “junk.” In 1894 the business address returns to 2916 Boudinot, while David continues to live with his parents at 2914 and William continues at 2732 C Street.

On January 11, 1895, William Sr. died at the age of 75. On November 18, 1896, David got remarried, to 23-year-old Ellen McMillen. The 1897 city directory shows Oldfield and Brother’s business as “iron,” and the business address returns to 2914 Boudinot, where David lives with Ellen #2 and his mother Sarah. Brother William is now at 2918 Boudinot. On December 20 Ellen gave birth to daughter Eva; on February 14, 1899, to daughter Edna; and on November 1, 1900, to son Thomas. The 1900 census, taken in June, shows David, Ellen, Eva, and Edna at 2953 D Street; David’s occupation is given as “dealer old iron.” David’s 14-year-old son with Ellen #1, William, lives with his grandmother.

The 1901 city directory shows the brothers’ business once again as “junk,” with David now living at 2955 D Street, with no address given for the business, William still at 2918 Boudinot, and Sarah at 2914. In 1902 the junk business is at 2911 C Street, the brothers retain their home addresses, and Sarah is not listed; on November 2 Ellen gave birth to fourth child John Henry. In 1905 the junk business is at 2918 Boudinot, William’s home, while David is still at 2955 D Street. Brother William had not been listed as “Jr.” since their father died, but in this edition of the directory a William Jr. is listed—as a music teacher, living at 2914 Boudinot with Sarah. This is David’s son William, now 19; brother William didn’t have a son William until 1908.

On January 19, 1906, after a pause of just over three years, Ellen gave birth to daughter Florence. In the 1908 directory the brothers seem to have gone their separate ways. David is in the junk business, living at 2955 D, William is in the metals business, living at 2918 Boudinot, and “William Jr.” is a bookkeeper, living at 2914 Boudinot with Sarah. On December 14, 1909, Ellen gave birth to daughter Ellen.

The April 1910 census shows David, Ellen, Eva, Edna, Thomas, John Henry, Florence, and baby Ellen at 2955 D Street; David is listed as a laborer in a scrap iron yard. His age is given as 47, still suggesting an 1862 birthdate. Son William is 23 and a hotel clerk, living with grandmother Sarah at 2914 Boudinot. Brother William, 49, a junk dealer, lives at 2918 Boudinot with his wife and six kids, the oldest of whom, David, is a 21-year-old express driver, and has started getting his own listings in the city directory.

In the 1911 directory our David does not appear, nor does son William, while brother William has taken his son David into the junk business as William Oldfield and Son. On December 11 of that year Ellen died giving birth to Martha, who in turn passed away May 6, 1912, of malnutrition. Our David is still missing from the 1912 directory, while son William reappears at 2914 Boudinot with Sarah, as a stenographer. In 1913 David and son William are again both missing from the directory, as is Sarah, who died on August 16.

In 1916 David returns to the directory, though with no occupation given, at 2734 C Street. William Jr. is a foreman living at 536 E Allegheny Avenue. Brother William is still in the junk business at 2918 Boudinot, while his son David, listed as David Jr., is back to being a driver and living in Sarah’s old place, 2914 Boudinot. In 1917 David and son William vanish again; the total number of Oldfields varies so much that it seems like some years the directory was more thorough than others, so an absence may not mean a lot. In 1918 David is a watchman living at 2734 C Street and the William Jr. listing is the same as in 1916.

The June 1920 census found 56-year-old (suggesting 1863 birth year) David, a watchman in the carpet industry, living at 815 Ontario Street with four of his children. A 17-year-old son “Willi” is listed as a carpet beamer, but it’s John Henry who would have been 17 at that time. Florence and Ellen are in school, and 20-year-old Edna is there with her husband and year-old daughter.

The 1921 directory shows David as a watchman, now at 2732 C Street. In 1922 he’s an “officer,” at 2736 C Street. In 1924 he’s in scrap iron, at 2718 C Street. The 1930 census shows him as an inspector for the city water department, a boarder at 2722 C Street with William Hutchine and his wife Magret. Edna and family are at 2732, and Eva and family are at 2734. David is listed as married, but no wife is living with him. His age is given as 68, which would give him a birth year of 1861. The 1935 directory shows him as a ”helper,” living at 2732 C Street.

On August 28, 1939, David died. The death certificate gives his age as 75 and his birth year as 1867, which doesn’t add up. His address is given as 2731 C Street, the cause of death is “soft type carcinoma of prostate,” which had an onset of May 1939, and “metastatic carcinoma of pelvic girdle and spinal column.” The informant is son Thomas. His tombstone shows his birth year as 1864.

Son William died in 1951. David’s children with Ellen #2, other than baby Martha, all lived to between 1975 and 1986.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/O/Poldfd101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/oldfida01.shtml

Chuck Machemehl

 

Chuck Machemehl was a relief pitcher for the 1971 Cleveland Indians.

Charles Walter Machemehl II was born April 20, 1946, in Brenham, Texas, the county seat of Washington County, between Houston and Austin. He was a star pitcher in high school; in his senior year, 1964, Brenham lost 1-0 to Jasper in the district playoffs, as Chuck beat out a bunt single in the second for the only Brenham hit off his future Indians teammate, Phil Hennigan.

Chuck then attended Texas Christian University, where he majored in business finance and was used as both a starter and reliever by the baseball team. In 1967 he also pitched for the Weimar Vets in the South Central Texas Amateur League, and had 108 strikeouts in his first eight games. In June of 1968 he was named to the third team of the All-NCAA District 6 team and was drafted in the 12^th round of the amateur draft by Cleveland. He signed a contract and was sent to the Rock Hill (South Carolina) Indians of the Class A Western Carolinas League.

For Rock Hill Chuck appeared in 17 games, all in relief, and had a 4.25 ERA in 36 innings, striking out 42 and walking 17. On August 26 he submitted a questionnaire, in which he said his nickname was Chuck, he was of German descent, he was 6-5 205 and unmarried, he had played football, basketball and baseball in high school and basketball and baseball in college, his hobbies were hunting and fishing, his ambition in baseball was to “reach the majors and stay,” and his most interesting or unusual experience in baseball was “I saw a triple play.”

In October Chuck submitted another questionnaire, giving a second nickname of Stretch, a height and weight of 6-4 200, and a fourth high school sport, track. While he had left his date of birth off the first questionnaire, on this one he gave the year as 1947, which seems to have been a “baseball age,” as he appears in the Texas Department of Vital Statistics’ list of 1946 births.

For 1969 Chuck was moved to the Reno Silver Sox of the California League, also Class A. He had a 3.63 ERA in 62 innings in 31 relief appearances, with 70 strikeouts and 36 walks, and finished third in the league with 11 saves. Over the off-season he appeared on the roster of the Portland Beavers, the Indians’ AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League.

Chuck spent 1970 with the Class AA Savannah Indians of the Southern League. He moved into the starting rotation for a while in the middle of the season, and ended up with six wins, six losses, and seven saves, with a 2.57 ERA in 112 innings in 32 games, eight of them starts. He allowed just 90 hits, and his strikeout and walk frequencies were both down significantly. On October 31 the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported:

[Infielder] Jack Heidemann will have some hometown company at the Indians’ training camp next spring with the addition of Chuck Machemehl, a pitcher, to the Tribe roster. He also is from Brenham, Tex., a town that Heidemann says would fit nicely inside Cleveland Stadium.

In January 1971 Chuck signed his first major league contract. On March 9 the Plain-Dealer referred to him as “not ready yet, but is promising.” He pitched a lot in the exhibition games; on March 20 Russell Schneider, in his Plain Dealer “Schneider Around” column, wrote:

TUCSON, Ariz.—Suddenly there’s a new candidate for the Indians’ pitching staff. He’s Chuck Machemehl, who was not being taken seriously until the other day.

But now he is. “Yes, I’d have to say he certainly is in the picture,” confirms pitching coach Cot Deal. “I’d rate Machemehl as a dark-horse candidate just as Mark Ballinger is. Both have a chance.”

The quick change in Machemehl’s status came about after he dusted off and began using a pitch he developed in 1966 as a sophomore at Texas Christian University. Actually, it’s a style, rather than a pitch. The submarine style that’s used so effectively by Ted Abernathy, the veteran relief ace of the Kansas City Royals.

[Manager Alvin] Dark saw Machemehl playing around with the unorthodox motion the other day and encouraged the 24-year-old Texan to work on it seriously. Then, in Thursday’s game against the Angels, Chuck pitched the third and fourth innings and submarined the right-handed batters very effectively.

“I stopped using it in college when my coach told me it wasn’t good,” said Machemehl. “But I like the motion, maybe because I used to be a pretty good softball pitcher. Mr. Dark wants me to submarine pitch all right-handed batters, and come over the top to lefties.

“I’m glad to go back to it, especially if it’ll help me get to the big leagues sooner,” said the handsome rookie who grew up in Brenham, Tex., with Jack Heidemann. Machemehl also was a basketball star at T.C.U. where he majored in business.

According to Dark, “The advantages of the submarine style are that it makes it difficult for a batter to pick up a pitch, it provides a great, natural sinker and it’s less strain on the arm.”

Plain Dealer, March 24:

Machemehl, who hurled the ninth, continued to make strides toward one of the three openings on the staff.

The big rookie from Brenham, Tex., was all the more impressive when his performance was compared to [Rick] Austin’s.

Machemehl, who intimidates right-handed batters with his submarine style, fanned one and walked one in the ninth, and otherwise made it look easy.

And the next day:

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Chuck Machemehl, all 6-foot, 4-inches and 215-pounds of him, sloshed past Ray Fosse on the way to the showers and grinned self-consciously when the catcher said, “nice going, Chuck.”

Then Fosse shook his head and, with a smile, added, “Machemehl is exactly what this club needs—a guy who can come in and get one or two batters and wrap up a game for us.”

Which is precisely what Machemehl did yesterday, when the Indians beat the Chicago Cubs, 7-2, for Sam McDowell.

“Yeah, I think I can help,” acknowledged Machemehl, who is only a couple more performances like yesterday’s away from becoming the biggest surprise of the spring training.

The good-looking rookie from Brenham, Texas, continued, “I really don’t think there are too many right-handed hitters who can give me trouble, and the left-handers, well, we’ve got Mingo (Steve Mingori) to take care of them.”

Which might be what Alvin Dark has in mind—something of a right-left tandem, such as Ray Narleski and Don Mossi made famous in the bullpen 15 years ago—even though the manager isn’t ready to admit as much.

Machemehl came on in the ninth yesterday, when Ed Farmer began to struggle with two runners aboard and two out.

Five submarine pitches later, Machemehl got Danny Breeden on an easy foul to Graig Nettles to wrap up the Indian’s ninth Cactus League victory and even their record.

Machemehl did the same thing the day before against the Tokyo Lotte Orions.

“Heck, I’ve got the kind of an arm that can throw some every day without any trouble,” said Machemehl, blushing again over the attention he’s receiving.

The next day the Canton Repository reported that Fosse had said “that rookie Chuck Machemehl is ready to become the number one stopper the Indians have been seeking for six seasons.”  And the day after that, the 26^th, Russell Schneider said in the Plain Dealer:

…So did—again—Chuck Machemehl continue his splendid short relieving, this time for the fourth appearance in a row since becoming a submariner.

And now, if the season were to open tomorrow, there’s no doubt that…Machemehl would team up with Steve Mingori as Alvin Dark’s right-left tandem…

Now Machemehl has not allowed a hit in 4 1/3 innings covering four appearances since returning to his college-bred submarine style of pitching…

Schneider, in the April 4 Plain Dealer:

Machemehl, the big (6-4, 215) submarine-ball rookie who turns 24 next Apr. 20, retired the only six men he faced with only one ball leaving the infield in the fourth and fifth. The blond-haired Texan fanned two.

“I don’t want to sound egotistical, but I think I can do the job Mr. Dark wants me to do,” said Machemehl. “I’ve got confidence in myself, at least until it’s proven I shouldn’t.”

The next day it was reported that Chuck had made the team. The day after that was opening day, in Detroit, and Chuck was brought into the game after starter Steve Hargan allowed two runs in the second and allowed a walk and a double to start the third. Chuck got Aurelio Rodriguez on a foul out but then allowed the runners to score; he was taken out in the fourth after starting the inning with two walks, a triple by Jim Northrup, and a single. From the “Schneider Around” column in the next day’s Plain Dealer:

DETROIT—“I wasn’t nervous at all. Not a bit not until that balk. And then I was all messed up. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

Testifying was rookie reliever Chuck Machemehl after the Indians lost their opening day game to the Tigers, 8-2, yesterday.

Machemehl came on in a clutch situation. The Tigers were leading, 2-0, and threatening to pad their lead with two runners on when second base umpire Jake O’Donnell called a balk. It scored Jim Northrup and necessitated another intentional walk to [Mickey] Stanley.

Eddie Brinkman’s sacrifice got another run across and Machemehl fell apart in the fourth.

“Until they called the balk, I was calm as could be. I even surprised myself, but then I got all shook up,” Machemehl said again.

What did he do wrong?

“I still don’t know,” he replied. “The plate umpire (Frank Umont) said I moved my glove while I was in a set position. But there’s no way I could have done that.

“The umpire behind me (O’Donnell) said I made a move and then stopped, but I don’t remember doing that, either.

“And one of our coaches—I’d rather not say which one—told me later that I moved my shoulder.

“I don’t know, but it really killed me,” related Machemehl, who otherwise impressed most observers.

“Chuck will be okay…he just got a little nervous out there today,” said manager Alvin Dark, who also liked what he saw of Steve Dunning and Camilo Pascual.

Chuck’s second appearance came in the team’s third game, at home against the Red Sox on April 10. He got the save in an 11-10 victory, pitching the last 1 2/3 innings and allowing just one baserunner, on a walk. The next day the Indians won 7-2 and Chuck got another save, his second in the team’s first three wins; the Plain Dealer reported:

Machemehl, who saved Saturday’s 11-10 victory over Boston, needed just five pitches to wrap up this one after [Alan] Foster ran out of gas.

The submarine-ball right-hander nailed Aparicio on a foul popper, and got Reggie Smith on an easy grounder.

“Heck, with the kind of a lead we had, all I had to do was throw the ball across the plate and let ‘em hit it somewhere,” shrugged Machemehl.

Chuck then got three days of rest before his next appearance, at home against the Orioles on April 15. He came in to start the tenth inning in a 4-4 tie. Brooks Robinson walked and Chico Salmon pinch-ran; Dave Johnson reached first on an error by first baseman Ken Harrelson, Salmon moving to third; Mark Belanger forced Johnson at second; Tom Shopay hit for Jim Palmer and struck out; Don Buford walked to load the bases; and Paul Blair walked to force in a run. Steve Mingori then relieved Chuck and walked in another run before retiring the side, and Chuck was the losing pitcher as the Indians went down 6-4, allowing two unearned runs. From the next day’s Plain Dealer:

…Machemehl proceeded to strike out pinch hitter Tom Shopay and the crisis eased.

“When I got Shopay, I thought I could get out of it,” said Machemehl. “But then I couldn’t throw a strike. Maybe I was aiming the ball, I don’t know.

“I wasn’t nervous…I just couldn’t throw enough strikes,” he muttered again.

From the Canton Repository:

…Hawk Harrelson, who kicked a grounder into right field to invite two unearned runs in the tenth inning, said softly to Chuck Machemehl, “Sorry kid, it was my fault. I blew the game.”

Machemehl replied, “Forget it. None of us did right.”

Chuck then got a few days off due to a weekend of Army reserve obligations in Texas. He rejoined the team in Boston on Monday, April 19, and got into that day’s game; he relieved Alan Foster with one out in the sixth and Cleveland up 3-2, and pitched through the ninth. He allowed just one hit and two walks, but the Red Sox tied the game with an unearned run against him in the eighth. The Indians won the game in 13 innings. The next day’s Boston American said “George Scott and Carl Yastrzemski both lauded the hurling of Cleveland’s sidearmer Chuck Machemehl who once again proved a puzzle to the Sox,” while the Plain Dealer reported:

Chuck Machemehl, who did another fine job in relief yesterday, had trouble staying awake in the bull pen prior to his summons in the sixth inning.

“I broke the curfew Sunday night,” he joked. “I didn’t get in until 3:30 a.m., and I didn’t get any sleep the night before (Saturday) either.”…The reason was that Machemehl spent the weekend on Army reserve duty and flew into Boston from Ft. Worth, Tex., during the wee hours. The bus for Fenway Park left the hotel five and a half hours after Machemehl’s arrival in town.

That game also included Chuck’s first plate appearance, in which he singled against Sparky Lyle. At this point Chuck’s ERA had recovered from his first game and gotten down to 3.52. But three poor outings on the 21^st, 23^rd, and 24^th, including his first home run allowed, to Billy Conigliaro, ballooned it to 8.03. He also got his second, and final, major league plate appearance, striking out against Bill Lee. An item in the April 26 Plain Dealer read:

Machemehl Fan Club

Fans of rookie Indians pitcher Chuck Machemehl can join his fan club by sending 45 cents to Jayne Duta, 13502 Fairwood Drive, Cleveland 44111.

On April 27 Chuck came into a game against the Angels with one out in the bottom of the ninth and the bases loaded, with the Indians ahead 1-0. He allowed a sacrifice fly to John Stephenson and a single to Ken McMullen for a 2-1 loss, charged to Camilo Pascual.

From April 30 through May 5 Chuck made four short appearances without allowing any runs; the highlight was his third save, which came when he entered a game with one out in the ninth and induced Bert Campaneris to ground into a double play. At this point Chuck was tied for second in the league in games pitched, with 13. From the May 7 Plain Dealer:

Wahoo Club Meets

Sports commentator Pete Franklin will emcee today’s noon Wahoo Club luncheon meeting at the Stadium Club. The luncheon will have as special guests Steve Dunning, Jack Heidemann and Chuck Machemehl of the Indians. Tickets at $3.25 for members and $4 for non-members will be available at the door.

Russell Schneider of the Plain Dealer discussed the meeting in his column in the following day’s paper:

An interesting question was raised at yesterday’s Wahoo Club luncheon, the turnout for which, incidentally, was perhaps significantly, the second smallest in the 11-year history of the organization which is dedicated to promoting baseball in Cleveland.

After Steve Dunning, Jack Heidemann and Chuck Machemehl were interviewed during the regular part of the program, somebody in the audience wanted to know why Alvin Dark never attends the Wahoo luncheons and, additionally, criticized the Indians’ poor public relations…

Machemehl, a hometown (Brenham, Tex.) buddy of Heidemann, talked about his spring training conversion to a submarine pitcher. “Heck,” he drawled, “I didn’t have anything to lose. I was on my way to Wichita, anyway.”

The handsome pitcher related how he felt throwing the submarine pitch in an exhibition game [against the Angels] for the first time. “The first batter was Alex Johnson, last year’s batting champ,” said Machemehl. “I struck him out, and then I struck out the next guy, Tony Conigliaro, too. Now I got pretty cocky, but Ken McMullen brought me back to earth. He hit a ball about 500 feet over the fence, and I’m still trying to figure how to get him out.”

That edition of the newspaper also included an account of the previous night’s game against the Angels, in which Chuck pitched after attending the luncheon. He entered the game in relief of Mingori to start the tenth inning, and retired the side after a leadoff walk to California pitcher Mel Queen. In the eleventh he walked Roger Repoz, got McMullen to force Repoz at second, then gave up a home run to Syd O’Brien for his second loss. From the Canton Repository:

After the loss, Manager Alvin Dark announced that Machemehl was being returned to Wichita for Phil Hennigan, who will make the scene here for Sunday’s game with the Angels.

Sitting in the clubhouse an hour after pitching the two-run homer to O’Brien, Machemehl couldn’t believe the news.

“I didn’t think I was doing that bad a job,” said the 24-year-old rookie submariner. “It is completely unexpected. But Alvin’s the boss. I was throwing a new pitch in the biggest league. Maybe I have to work on it more.”

He was 0-2 with a 6.50 [6.38] ERA. He had three saves.

“Spring training was between me and Phil. I beat him out. Now it’s him,” added the shocked Texan, who was the new hope of the bullpen during spring training.

After a couple relief appearances with Wichita Chuck was put into their starting rotation for a while, then returned to the bullpen. From the June 14 Plain Dealer:

THE READERS WRITE…From Jayne Duta, 13502 Fairwood Dr., 44111: “Before Chuck Machemehl left for Wichita he made a request to me. He said don’t let my fan club die. Keep it going because I’ll be back. So if anyone wants to join, send 45 cents to me.”

The June 19 Sporting News mentioned that Cleveland coach Kerby Farrell had made a scouting trip to Wichita, and named Chuck as one of the players he came back with good reports on; the same issue also mentioned that Chuck had hit a home run off Roger Nelson of Omaha. He finished the season in Wichita, and had a 2-6 record with eight saves, and a 4.38 ERA in 76 innings in 26 games, seven of them starts, with 69 strikeouts and 42 walks. He was kept on the major league roster over the winter, which he spent pitching for Arecibo in Puerto Rico.

The January 29, 1972, Sporting News reported:

The manager [new manager Ken Aspromonte] also spoke hopefully about rookie pitcher Chuck Machemehl, who failed in a varsity trial last season. “Chuck has developed a fork ball, which should help because he needed another pitch to retire the lefthanded hitters,” he said.

The Plain Dealer reported on February 24 that Chuck had not yet signed his contract, on the 26^th that he had, and on the 27^th “Relief pitcher Chuck Machemehl, who recently got married, is signed but hasn’t reported yet, which doesn’t please Ken Aspromonte.” And on the 29^th:

Quote---Unquote

TUCSON, Ariz.—Lou Camilli was waiting his turn in the batting cage as side-arming right-hander Chuck Machemehl pitched to Alex Johnson. One of Machemehl’s pitches clipped Johnson on the arm and Camilli gestured in the direction of the mound.

“Right there is why I learned to be a switch-hitter,” said Camilli. “And the harder those side-armers threw, the greater was my incentive to learn to hit left-handed.”—Russ Schneider

On March 14 Chuck got the loss in an exhibition game with the Tokyo Lotte Orions. From the next day’s Plain Dealer:

[Aspromonte:] “Strikes…strikes…strikes. All you have to do is throw strikes. He’s got to learn that. He’s got to learn to think out there. That was awful.”

In this case, “he” was Chuck Machemehl, who probably punched another hole in his ticket to the minor leagues. The side-arming right-hander whose control cost him a job with the varsity last year, was the victim of a four-run, eighth inning uprising…

Big Chuck walked the first batter he faced, and then the trouble intensified.

“Jeez, all he has to do against these guys (Lotte Orions) is throw the ball over the plate,” said Aspromonte. “That’s all. Just throw strikes and think a little out there.

“That’s disgraceful to walk a shrimp like that. How big is he? About 4-feet, 8-inches. If he hits the ball, how far will the damned thing go? About 150 feet, that’s all.

“But he walks him. Jeez, that’s terrible. It’s ridiculous.”

Plain Dealer again, March 16, the “Schneider Around” column:

Relief pitcher Chuck Machemehl, who was the primary target of Ken Aspromonte’s ire after Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Tokyo Lotte Orions, asked for a hearing with the manager yesterday after reading the local papers’ account of Aspromonte’s complaints.

“We talked a little bit and I tried to explain what was wrong, but I don’t know that it made any difference,” said the down-hearted rookie. Several of the Tribesmen believe Aspromonte is getting too uptight too early, and they might be right.

And March 20:

Wilcox, Machemehl Pace Tribe Victory

By Hal Lebovitz, Sports Editor

PALM SPRINGS, Calif.—Welcome back, Chuck Machemehl.

“He’s living a little longer with me,” admitted Manager Ken Aspromonte with a smile after the side arming righthander pitched three shutout innings here yesterday, in the Indians’ 4-1 victory over the California Angels.

It may be remembered that last Tuesday Machemehl’s wildness caused the Indians to lose to the Japanese Lotte Orions and after the game Aspromonte was irate over the pitcher’s performance, almost scratching him from the roster.

But yesterday “Mac” came back and when he entered the dressing room almost every member of the Indians, knowing what he had suffered through after reading the manager’s blast, came up to him with a pat on the back and a “Nice going.”

“He should be commended,” said his catcher, Ray Fosse. “He threw strikes. After the rip he took he came back to do it all.”

“Mac” said, “That’s all I wanted to do—throw strikes. But if anybody was with me today, it was Fosse. He encouraged me on every pitch.”

“I think everybody felt the same way about Mac,” Fosse explained. “All of us were rooting for him. I knew that wasn’t the real Machemehl out there last time. He can pitch.”

“Well, last time,” admitted the pitcher, “I wasn’t concentrating. I was throwing. This time I wanted every pitch to be in there.”

Chuck was one of the last players to be cut from the major league roster at the end of spring training, just after the major league players’ union went on strike, delaying the start of the regular season. He was sent to the Portland Beavers of the PCL, who had replaced Wichita as Cleveland’s AAA affiliate. On April 10 the Portland Oregonian reported that “Chuck Machemehl, a sidearm relief specialist, has not reported to the Beavers and rumor has it that he has quit baseball.” Plain Dealer, April 14:

Two other farm hand pitchers, Chuck Machemehl and Gary Boyd, have been placed on the Indians’ “restricted list” for failure to accept recent demotions.

Machemehl, who almost won a place on the varsity as a short reliever, refused to join the Portland club and insists he wants to be traded to another organization or he’ll quit.

Russell Schneider’s column in the April 17 Plain Dealer:

What Price ‘Freedom,’ Machemehl’s Dad Asks Indians

BOSTON—There is a prosperous oilman-rancher-farmer-realtor in Brenham, Tex., who is trying to “buy” a baseball player from the Indians.

How successful—or unsuccessful—he turns out to be could possibly have some ramifications on the anti-trust problems and monopoly charges Baseball is facing in the “Curt Flood Case” now being heard by the Supreme Court.

The wealthy Texan referred to above is Charles W. Machemehl, Sr.

The player he’s trying to purchase is his son, Chuck Machemehl, who is—or was—a relief pitcher prospect belonging to the Indians.

Chuck recently was demoted to Portland by the Tribe, but he refused to report, insisting he’ll quit baseball unless he’s traded or sold to another organization.

The senior Machemehl told The Plain Dealer, “I called Phil Seghi (Indians vice president in charge of player personnel) and asked him to put a price on Chuck’s release. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it so he can get a chance with somebody else.”

The Indians refuse. “We’re very much interested in Chuck. We think he can pitch in the big leagues someday and we want him to pitch for us,” said general manager Gabe Paul.

“Of course, we’ll listen to offers from other clubs, but we’re not going to give him away. We’ve got to get what we would consider equal value in exchange. But so far nobody has offered us what we think Machemehl is worth.”

As for Machemehl’s retirement—right now Chuck is on the “restricted list”—Gabe says, “We’re trying to convince him to report to Portland and prove he can pitch up here.”

But Machemehl, a handsome, 6-4, 215-pound, 25-year-old side-arming right-hander who is a graduate of Texas Christian University, thinks he already has proved that point.

“I can’t pitch any better than I did in spring training, and I’m sure I pitched well enough to make the big club this season,” he said from his home in Ft. Worth.

Machemehl cites statistics to support his contention. “I had only one bad outing because I was wild against the Japanese (Tokyo Lotte Orions) team on March 14,” he said.

“But otherwise, in my other five appearances, all against big league teams, I gave up one earned run in 10 innings, and I struck out four and walked four.

“I can’t pitch any better than that,” he said again, “so it wouldn’t do me any good to go to Portland. I’ve got too many opportunities here. If I can’t help the Indians now, there’s no point in my staying in the organization.”

Machemehl, who majored in finance at T.C.U., said, “I can make more than the major league minimum salary ($13,500) by staying here.

“When the Indians sent me my contract last winter it was a conditional one. If I didn’t make the big club, I would have had to take a very big cut in pay to play in the minors. They said it would give me an incentive.

“When I argued with them, they promised me a good shot in spring training. That’s the only reason I signed. I got the shot and I proved I could do the job.”

When the Indians were in New Orleans and the player strike hit on March 31, Machemehl was instructed to go home to Texas, even though his bride of about a month was still in Tucson. “I thought that meant I had the team made,” he testified.

“Then, a couple of days later I called my wife and she told me it was announced in the Tucson paper that I had been optioned to Portland. The least they could have done was tell me first.”

Paul insisted that the “announcement” in Tucson wasn’t official; that somebody there had speculated. Whatever, the speculation turned out to be right.

“All I did was go to Tucson, picked up my wife and went back home,” related Machemehl. “I don’t especially want to quit baseball, but I will if I have to because I don’t think I can get anywhere with the Cleveland organization, although I like all the players in it. They’re a great bunch of guys.”

According to reports from knowledgeable sources, at least three major league clubs would be interested in dealing for Machemehl. Two of them are known to be the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics. Apparently the price tag is too high, however.

But whatever it is, it’s not too high for the senior Machemehl, he says. “All I want to know is how much it’ll cost to buy Chuck’s release. I want him to get a chance with somebody else; a chance the Indians won’t give him.”

It could prove to be very interesting.

On May 1 the Plain Dealer reported that there was talk of a three-way trade with Chuck going to Kansas City, Joe Keough going from Kansas City to Oakland, and Dwain Anderson moving from Oakland to Cleveland. Then on May 3:

Machemehl in Huddle With Paul

Staff Special

ARLINGTON, Tex.—Gabe Paul Tuesday night made a personal pitch to Chuck Machemehl, the recalcitrant Indians’ pitcher who is threatening to retire from baseball and become a Ft. Worth banker rather than accept a demotion to the minor leagues.

Paul and Machemehl sat together during the Tribe’s game with the Texas Rangers.

Before their meeting, Paul told the Plain Dealer, “I am doing my best to talk Chuck into reporting to Portland and trying to make it back up here with us. We want him to stay with us because we think he is a helluva good prospect.

“But if he won’t come back with us, then I’ll do my best to trade him to another organization, although I won’t just give him away,” said Paul.

“We want equal value for Machemehl—a player we consider to be as good a prospect as Chuck.”

According to Machemehl, “When Mr. Paul called me (to make a date for the game) it was the first I’d heard from the Indians since they sent me down to Portland during the strike, the first week of April.

“The only thing I heard from them after I came home was a bill for my spring training incidental expenses, but that’s all; no note, no nothing,” said the 25-year-old pitcher.—Russ Schneider

Later the day that that story appeared, Chuck agreed to accept an option to the Denver Bears, the Rangers’ AAA affiliate in the American Association, though he would be on loan and would remain the Indians’ property; he agreed on the condition that if he pitched well he would be dealt to Texas. In July Denver sent him back to Portland, but he again he refused to report. On July 22 the Indians gave up and sold him to the Omaha Royals, Kansas City’s American Association team; this completed a deal in which the Indians had obtained Tom Hilgendorf and Bill Butler from the Royals. After finishing up an Army reserve stint he debuted with Omaha on the 26^th, and gave up eight hits and seven earned runs in two innings. He pitched well after that, though. From Wally Provost’s column in the August 3 Omaha World-Herald:

Here's a personality: Charles Walter Machemehl II. Hobbies are fishing, hunting and raising quarterhorses.

Although he sounds like a German baron with a lot of time to kill on his country estate, Chuck Machemehl is a relief pitcher, bought recently for Omaha.

It appeared to be a risky deal.

Chuck has pitched for Cleveland. Because he thought he should remain in the majors, and his managers thought otherwise, the former Texas Christian athlete had frosty relations with Al Dark and Ken Aspromonte.

Chuck’s record includes a holdout, a refusal to report to the minors, a trial-on-loan to Denver that didn’t work out. As recently as a month ago, he was home at the ranch in Texas, his baseball career at a crossroads.

Did Kansas City really need an apparent troublemaker named Charles Walter Machemehl II? Yes, said Manager Jack McKeon of Omaha. Jack had been urging Kansas City to acquire the tall right-hander since Machemehl pitched for him at Arecibo in the Puerto Rican League last winter.

Jack thinks Machemehl definitely does have a big league future, and compares him with Jim York, the talented ex-Omaha Royal pitcher whom Kansas City dealt to the Houston Astros.

What about Machemehl’s attitude? “It’s fine,” reports Bill Beck, Omaha business manager…

Chuck got one start for Omaha at the end of the season, and his stats for Denver and Omaha combined were no decisions, two saves, and a 4.64 ERA in 33 innings in 20 games, with the one start. He struck out 22 and walked 17. He was added to Kansas City’s major league roster in mid-September, to protect him from the draft, but was not asked to join the team for the final weeks of the schedule. He pitched for Arecibo again, this time as a starter.

An AP story of March 3, 1973, reported:

Chuck Machemehl, rookie righthander who played for the Royals’ triple-AAA [sic] farm club in Omaha last year, told the Royals he was considering retirement from baseball. He had been a holdout whom the club had been unable to contact until Friday [March 2]. Machemehl spent 4 ½ years in the Cleveland organization before coming to Kansas City in a minor-league trade for Bill Butler.

I didn’t find any more reports, but apparently Chuck did retire, and apparently he followed in his father’s footsteps as an oilman-rancher-farmer-realtor, or at least some of the above.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmachc101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/machech01.shtml