Bill Drake (baseball)

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

Win–loss record68-58

Run average4.71

Strikeouts485

Quick facts debut, Last appearance ...

Bill Drake
Drake at the 1924 Colored World Series
Pitcher
Born: (1895-06-08)June 8, 1895 Sedalia, Missouri, U.S.
Died: October 30, 1977(1977-10-30) (aged 82) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
1920, for the St. Louis Giants
Last appearance
1927, for the Detroit Stars
Negro National League statistics
Win–loss record	68-58
Run average	4.71
Strikeouts	485
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
All Nations (1915) [1] St. Louis Giants (1916) All Nations (1917) Brinsmade, North Dakota (1917) [2] St. Louis Giants (1919–1922) [3] Kansas City Monarchs (1922–1925) Indianapolis ABCs (1926) Detroit Stars (1927)
Career highlights and awards
Negro National League wins co-leader (1921[a])

Close

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.