Tucupita Marcano, a 24-year-old infielder for the San Diego Padres, has been permanently banned by Major League Baseball (MLB) for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Marcano was found after a thorough investigation to have placed hundreds of bets on baseball. Including wagers on games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates when he was with the team.
As such, he becomes the first active player to get hit with the career death penalty for gambling since New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O’Connell in 1924, according to ESPN.
“The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules and policies governing gambling conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
“The longstanding prohibition against betting on Major League Baseball games by those in the sport has been a bedrock principle for over a century. We have been clear that the privilege of playing in baseball comes with a responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain types of behavior that are legal for other people.”
The Houston Astros, who destroyed the integrity of the game by cheating on baseball, were unavailable for comment.
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Tucupita Marcano Banned For Life After Getting Caught Gambling
At least it was worth it, right Tucupita Marcano? Surely he made bank by risking his MLB contract by engaging in an activity that every single baseball player on the planet knows could get you banned from the sport.
Right?
Just kidding. The investigation found Marcano placed 387 baseball bets, including 231 MLB-related wagers. 25 of those were on Pirates games while he was on the team’s major league roster.
He won just 4.3% of all of his MLB-related bets. The first problem with his strategy may have been betting on the Pirates. That club that hasn’t been over .500 since 2018.
Idle hands may have been a contributing factor here. Marcano’s betting activities occurred over two seasons, in 2022 and 2023. At that time he was a member of the Pirates and was on the injured list.
Marcano bet more than $150,000 on baseball, according to findings in the investigation.
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Over 100 Years
As mentioned above, O’Connell in 1924 was banned for life from baseball along with coach Cozy Dolan for offering a $500 bribe to Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Heinie Sand to throw a game.
Sand rejected the bribe, letting Phillies manager Art Fletcher know about it in the process.
Of course, the most famous gambling ban in MLB history involves Pete Rose, a former Cincinnati Reds manager and one of the most celebrated players in all of baseball.
Rose, who holds the record for the most hits in MLB history, was found to have bet on baseball games. Including those of the Cincinnati Reds while he was managing the team.
Aside from Tucupita Marcano, Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly was declared ineligible for one year. He was betting on baseball while he was in the minor leagues.
