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