Bill Drake (baseball) explained

Bill Drake
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:8 June 1895
Birth Place:Sedalia, Missouri
Death Place:St. Louis, Missouri
Debutyear:1920
Debutteam:St. Louis Giants
Finalyear:1927
Finalteam:Detroit Stars
Statleague:Negro National League
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:68-58
Stat2label:Run average
Stat2value:4.71
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:485
Teams:

William P. "Plunk" Drake (June 8, 1895 – October 30, 1977) was a Negro league baseball pitcher.

Drake pitched for top Negro league teams between 1920 and 1927, primarily remembered for his time with the Kansas City Monarchs, participating in two Colored World Series in 1924 and 1925. He gained his nickname from his propensity for pitching inside to batters and his willingness to hit batters who crowded the plate. He claimed to have taught Satchel Paige his famous hesitation pitch, though credit is usually given to Bill Gatewood.

References

Notes
  • Sources
  • External links

    and Baseball-Reference Black Baseball stats and Seamheads

    Notes and References

    1. http://johndonaldson.bravehost.com/pdf/01624.pdf "Bancroft Wins Ball Game" Upper Des Moines Republican, Algona, IA, September 1, 1915, Page 8, Column 4
    2. http://negroleagues.bravehost.com/pdf/001954.pdf "Three Games to be Played Here by Gill's Nine" Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Tuesday, July 3, 1917, Page 5, Column 2
    3. http://negroleagues.bravehost.com/pdf/000203.pdf "St. Louis Giants Win From Nashville, 9-1" St. Louis Globe-Democrat, St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, August 8, 1920, Page 9, Column 2