Reinaldo Drake

Reinaldo Verdes Drake

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 7", Weight 160 lb.
• High School Instituto Habana
• Debut 1945
• Final Game 1948
• Born March 15, 1923 in Havana, Havana Cuba

BR page

Biographical Information

Reinaldo Drake was an outfielder for 10 years in the Negro Leagues. The 1953 Chicago Defender wrote that Drake was "recognized as the best defensive outfielder in the league." He never played in his homeland's Cuban Winter League.

Drake hit .232 as a rookie for the 1945 Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns. He batted .227 for the Indianapolis Clowns in 1946, then backed up Johnie Scott, Neil Robinson and Bubba Hyde in 1947. Verdes hit .275 in 1948, .206 in 1949 and .300 in 1950. He remained with the Clowns through 1954.

In the 1953 East-West Game, Drake hit second and played center field for the East. He went 0 for 4 in a 5-1 loss. He briefly surfaced in the minors, hitting .238 and slugging .303 for the '1958 Yakima Bears.

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1947	Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns	Negro American League	4-9	5th	Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns		replaced Willie Wells (14-29) and Hoss Walker (17-19)

Sources

• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester

Related Sites

• BR Manager page
• BR Minors page