Larry Drake (baseball) explained

Larry Drake
Position:Outfielder / Pinch hitter
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Birth Date:4 May 1921
Birth Place:McKinney, Texas
Death Place:Houston, Texas
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:July 20
Debutyear:1945
Debutteam:Philadelphia Athletics
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 10
Finalyear:1948
Finalteam:Washington Senators
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.222
Stat2label:Hits
Stat2value:2
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:1
Teams:

Larry Francis Drake (May 5, 1921 – July 14, 1985) was an American professional baseball player whose played for eight seasons (1941–1942; 1944–1949), mostly at the minor league level. He appeared in five Major League games as an outfielder and pinch hitter for the Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators . The native of McKinney, Texas, batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood 6feet tall and weighed . He attended Baylor University.

Drake played in one game for Philadelphia during the 1945 season, the last year of the World War II manpower shortage. He started the July 20 game against the Cleveland Indians in left field and struck out in his only two at bats before being replaced by a right-handed pinch hitter.[1] He then returned to the minor leagues. Then, in 1948, he was recalled by Washington in September from the Double-A Southern Association and appeared in four games against his old team, the Athletics. On September 10, he started in right field and collected his only two Major League hits (both singles off Dick Fowler) and lone big-league run batted in, as the Athletics prevailed, 9–6.[2]

In his five MLB games, Drake had 11 plate appearances and nine official at bats. He scored no runs, drew one base on balls and was credited with one sacrifice hit. He handled five total chances in the field without an error.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1945/B07201PHA1945.htm 1945-7-20 box score from Retrosheet
  2. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/B09101WS11948.htm 1948-9-10 box score from Retrosheet