Sammy Drake

Samuel Harrison Drake (October 7, 1934 – January 27, 2010) was an American Major League Baseball second and third baseman. He played two seasons with the Chicago Cubs from 1960 to 1961 and one season with the expansion 1962 New York Mets. Sammy and his brother, Solly, were the first two African-American brothers to play in the modern era of baseball. However, his Major League career was shortened by knee injuries. He tried out for the Kansas City Monarchs, however his brother Solly recommended Samuel to play baseball in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where racism was not much of a factor, unlike the United States. Samuel played with the Macon Peaches in the South Atlantic League in 1955, batting .251 in 105 games, while leading the league in stolen bases. Drake participated in another 12 games in 1961, where he was again primarily used as a pitch runner while being held hitless in five at-bats. He was drafted by the expansion New York Mets prior to the 1962 season.