Ed Blake

Edward James Blake (December 23, 1925 – April 15, 2009) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Athletics. In eight career games, Blake pitched innings and recorded an 8.31 earned run average (ERA).

After graduating from high school in East St. Louis, Illinois, Blake signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and played in their minor league system before enlisting in the United States Army during World War II. He returned to baseball after being wounded in action, spending five years in the minors before making his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 1951. He appeared intermittently for the Reds over three seasons before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League, where he pitched for six years.

Blake returned to the majors in 1957 for a brief stint with the Kansas City Athletics. He retired from professional baseball in 1959. Following his playing career, he worked as a plumber. He died in 2009 in Swansea, Illinois, at the age of 83.

Early life Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Blake was the son of Edward and Katherine Blake. He attended Central Catholic High School in East St. Louis, Illinois, where he was a baseball teammate of Hank Bauer, and graduated in 1943.

After graduating, Blake pitched batting practice for the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1943 World Series, which he later described as the highlight of his professional career.

Military service and 1940s career After the 1944 season, Blake enlisted in the United States Army and served with the 40th Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater of Operations. That season, he played for both Columbus teams, appearing in 29 games and posting a combined 4.46 ERA. Ahead of the 1948 season, Blake was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings of the International League. He appeared in 34 games, including seven starts, and recorded a 7–6 record with a 3.88 ERA. He finished the season with the Syracuse Chiefs, compiling a combined 5–4 record and a 4.78 ERA. Nevertheless, he made his major league debut on May 1, 1951, against the Philadelphia Phillies.

While with the Reds in 1951, Blake was part of a bullpen group humorously dubbed the "bullpen union," led by Jim Blackburn. The group drafted mock by-laws requesting amenities such as a smoking lounge and sandwiches between doubleheaders.

Blake spent most of the 1951 season with the Columbus Red Birds, making 27 appearances (23 starts). He posted a 7–15 record with a 5.91 ERA.

In 1952, Blake spent most of the season with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association but also made two relief appearances for the Reds, pitching three shutout innings and allowing three hits.

Maple Leafs and Athletics career The 1953 season marked Blake's final appearance with the Cincinnati Reds. On February 1, 1954, he was purchased by the Toronto Maple Leafs, an unaffiliated team in the International League. He concluded the 1955 season with a 17–13 record and a 3.94 ERA. That year, Blake recorded a 17–11 record with a 2.61 ERA and led the team in shutouts with six. Former Toronto teammate Jack Crimian was substituted into the deal in Blake’s place.

Blake spent most of the 1957 season back with Toronto but also made two brief appearances for the Athletics in April, marking his final stint in the major leagues. but still managed to appear in 23 games, winning nine and lowering his ERA to 3.54.

Blake died in Swansea, Illinois, at the age of 83 following a long illness. He is interred at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Belleville, Illinois.