About Bill Drake
Lived 1895 – 1977 (aged 82). Bill Drake was an American baseball player.
William P. "Plunk" Drake (June 8, 1895 – October 30, 1977) was an American 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.
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Important facts
People in Bill Drake's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bill Drake's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bill Drake?
American baseball player
When was Bill Drake born?
Bill Drake was born on 8 June 1895 in Sedalia.
When did Bill Drake die?
Bill Drake died on 30 October 1977 in St. Louis.
What was Bill Drake's occupation?
Bill Drake was a baseball player.
What nationality was Bill Drake?
Bill Drake was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Bill Drake (baseball)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill Drake. https://biography.guide/bill-drake/
MLA: "Bill Drake." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-drake/.
Chicago: "Bill Drake." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-drake/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
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