Julio Machado got three ML seasons, convicted of murder
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Back in his native Venezuela for winter ball in December 1991, veteran of three major league seasons Julio Machado went out to a late night party.
What happened afterward - a car accident and an ensuing argument and gunfire - ended a woman's life.
Machado admitted to firing the shot, but he argued self defense. After trial, though, the major leaguer was convicted of murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
His baseball career began in 1985, signed by the Phillies as a free agent out of Venezuela.
He started at single-A Spartanburg. He made AA Reading in 1987. He moved to the Mets in 1989 after the Phillies released him. That September, made the Mets.
"He went from being released to A-ball to the majors," Machado's AAA manager at Tidewater Mike Cubbage told Newsday upon his callup. "You don't see a lot of righthanded hitters getting comfortable against him. I think he is deceptively wild."
Machado saw 10 outings to close out that year. He gave up four earned in 11 innings. He returned for 37 more in 1990, moving to the Brewers mid-year in a trade. He went 4-1 overall in 37 outings, with a 2.47 ERA. He also saw Tidewater in 1990.
He then became a regular with the Brewers in 1991. In 54 relief innings, he went 3-3, with a 3.45 ERA and three saves.
Then came that offseason and his return home to Venezuela.
The incident happened as he got into an accident while returning home from the party, according to The Associated Press. He got into an argument with the driver and was accused of firing a gun.
The shot killed a passenger in the other driver's car, a 23-year-old secretary named Edicta Vasquez.
Machado claimed self-defense. He thought they might have been robbers. He wanted to scare them, he told reporters.
"Never in my life did I ever intend to kill anyone," Machado told reporters, according to The AP. "I want people to forgive me. I didn't mean to take her life or anyone's life."
A court, however, found him guilty of murder and the conviction and 12-year sentence was upheld on appeal.
Despite the investigation and conviction, Machado appears to have continued playing in Venezuela, including for Aguilas del Zulia in 2000-2001.
- Newsday, Sept. 8, 1989: A to AA to AAA to Mets: All A's for Machado
- Oshkosh Northwestern, Associated Press, Jan. 17, 1992: Machado surrenders to police
- Peninsula Daily News, Associated Press, Aug. 16, 1996: Ex-pitcher guilty of murder
Made the Majors:1,477-31.8%-X
Never Made Majors:3,172-68.2%