Tom Drake

Thomas Kendall Drake

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
• School Jacksonville State Teachers College, Troy State Teachers College
• Debut April 24, 1939
• Final Game September 28, 1941
• Born August 7, 1912 in Birmingham, AL USA
• Died July 2, 1988 in Birmingham, AL USA

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Biographical Information

Alabama native Tom Drake spent thirteen active seasons in professional baseball from 1935 to 1951.

The right-handed pitcher also spent three seasons in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1945 during World War II.

Drake spent parts of two seasons in the major leagues. He opened the 1939 season with the Cleveland Indians, appeared in eight games, pitching 15 innings and lost his only decision. The Brooklyn Dodgers acquired Drake on July 31, 1941 and he finished out the '41 season with the Dodgers, appearing in ten games, pitching 24 2/3 innings and closed out the year with a 1-1 record and a 4.38 ERA. This was it for Drake in the big leagues and he finised at 1-2 with a 6.13 ERA in 18 games.

Drake spent the rest of his career in the minor leagues in five different leagues with twelve different teams. Tom would have three double-digit winning years, his first and probably his best coming in 1936 when he went 13-5 with a 3.51 ERA for the New Orleans Pelicans of the Southern Association. He was also 14-11 for the same club in 1937. His last of the three came late in his career when he went 10-9 with two clubs in the 1949 season in the class B Florida International League.

Drake finished up his pro baseball career in 1951, appearing in 14 games with the West Palm Beach Indians. Tom was 38 years old when he left the game with Minor League numbers of 81 wins and 75 losses in 316 games.

After baseball, Drake returned to his native Alabama where he worked and lived until his death on July 2, 1988, in Birmingham, AL. He was 75 years of age.