Solly Drake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Solly Drake |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: October 23, 1930 Little Rock, Arkansas |
|||
| Died: August 18, 2021 (aged 90) Los Angeles, California |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| April 17, 1956, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 1959, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .232 | ||
| Home runs | 2 | ||
| Runs scored | 41 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
Solomon Louis Drake (born October 23, 1930 – died August 18, 2021) was an American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Solly Drake played for the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies. His MLB career included seasons in 1956 and 1959. He played a total of 141 games.
Solly Drake and his brother, Sammy, made history together. They were the first African-American brothers to play in the major leagues. Solly was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both sides of the plate. He threw the ball with his right hand. He was about 6 feet (183 cm) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).
Solly Drake's Early Life and Baseball Start
Solly Drake was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He went to Dunbar High School. After finishing school, he started his baseball journey.
At 17, Drake joined the Elmwood Giants in the Mandak League. He played as an outfielder for three seasons. In 1950, he was a great hitter for Elmwood, with a .300 batting average. The Chicago Cubs noticed his talent and signed him in 1951. He then played for the Topeka Owls, a minor league team.
Drake's baseball career paused for two years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. After his military service, he went to Philander Smith College. He earned a degree in psychology and physical education. He returned to minor league baseball in 1954. He played for the Des Moines Bruins.
Solly Drake's Major League Career
In April 1956, Solly Drake made his big league debut. He was 25 years old and played for the Chicago Cubs. That same year, he also played for other teams. These included the Portland Beavers, Montreal Royals, and the St. Paul Saints.
During the baseball off-season, Drake played in a winter league in Cuba. He played there from 1957 to 1959. In 1957, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 1957 Caribbean Series. He helped his team, the Tigres de Marianao, win the championship.
In 1958, Drake was a top player in the International League. He led in many hitting categories. This success helped him return to the National League (NL). In 1959, he played for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies. He decided to retire from professional baseball after the 1961 season.
Solly's younger brother, Sammy Drake, also played professional baseball. Sammy played two seasons in MLB for the Cubs and the New York Mets. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum notes something special about the Drake brothers. Solly and Sammy were the first African-American brothers to play in the major leagues in the 20th century.
Solly Drake's Later Years
Solly Drake passed away on August 18, 2021. He was 90 years old.
