| Rob Drake | |
|---|---|
 Drake in 2012 | |
| Born:May 24, 1969 Indiana, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 3, 1999 | |
| Crew Information | |
| Umpiring crew | 13 |
| Crew members |
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Special Assignments | |
Robert Paul Drake (born May 24, 1969) is an American umpire in Major League Baseball. He was named to the Major League staff in 2010, [1] and wears uniform number 8. [2]
Drake was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and has worked in both Major Leagues since umpiring his first MLB game on September 3, 1999. [2] Drake had previously worked in the Northwest, Midwest, Eastern, California and Pacific Coast leagues before reaching MLB. [1] Drake has also umpired winter baseball in the Dominican Republic, and officiated during the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Drake has worked MLB's All-Star Game (2013), Wild Card Game (2012, 2013, 2020), Division Series (2010, 2014), and League Championship Series (2012, 2013, 2015, 2021).
Drake ended the 2016 season on the bereavement list for immediate family following the sudden death of his wife Yvonnka on September 10, 2016. [3]
Drake was the third base umpire for Aníbal Sánchez's no-hitter on September 6, 2006. [4] He was also the right field umpire for Roy Halladay's no-hitter in the 2010 NLDS, and was the second base umpire for Francisco Liriano's no-hitter in 2011. [1] [5]
In 2011, Drake ejected St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina from a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. During the ensuing argument, Drake appeared to be hit by Molina's spittle. After the game, Molina said, "I would never spit on anybody's face." [6] That comment notwithstanding, Molina was suspended for five games. [7]
Drake was the home plate umpire for Félix Hernández's perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 15, 2012. [8] Drake ejected Rays manager Joe Maddon in the seventh inning of the game. [9]
He was chosen as one of the umpires for the one-game Wild Card playoff between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals on October 5, 2012, and advanced to the 2012 ALCS less than two weeks later. [10]
Drake was the home plate umpire for Chris Heston's no-hitter against the New York Mets on June 9, 2015. [11]
Drake was the second base umpire who called the first game-ending triple play in National League history. Eric Bruntlett (Phillies) caught a line drive, and the Mets ran themselves into an unassisted triple play, cementing the Phillies' 9–7 win.
In 2019, Drake tweeted about the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, declaring that he would buy an AR-15 "because if you impeach MY PRESIDENT this way, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CIVAL [ sic ] WAR!!! #MAGA2020." The tweet was deleted. A follow-up tweet incorrectly claimed that Congress could not begin an impeachment inquiry without a vote. An MLB spokesman said that the league began investigating Drake's tweet. Drake deleted his Twitter account within hours of his tweets being picked up by the media. [12]
Gerald Sidney Davis is an American former umpire in Major League Baseball. He worked in the National League from 1982 to 1999 and in Major League Baseball from 2000 to 2021. He was promoted to crew chief in 1999. Davis umpired six World Series, nine League Championship Series and eleven League Division Series. He also worked in the All-Star Game four times. Davis wore uniform number 12 throughout his career.
Yadier Benjamín Molina, nicknamed "Yadi", is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher who played his entire 19-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB) and who is currently the team's Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations. Widely considered one of the greatest defensive catchers of all time for his blocking ability and his caught-stealing percentage, Molina won nine Rawlings Gold Gloves and six Fielding Bible Awards. A two-time World Series champion, he played for Cardinals teams that made 12 playoff appearances and won four National League pennants. Molina also played for the Puerto Rican national team in four World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournaments, winning two silver medals.
Jeffrey Brian Nelson is an American former professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB), who was named to the National League (NL) staff prior to the 1999 season, and worked throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement after the 2023 regular season.
Jerry Blake Layne is an American umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League between 1989 and 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He wore uniform number 24 in the NL, but when MLB merged the AL and NL umpiring staffs in 2000, Layne was forced to switch to number 26, as AL umpire Al Clark, who also wore 24, had more seniority. When Clark was fired midway through the 2001 season by MLB, Layne reclaimed number 24 and has worn it ever since. With Joe West's retirement in 2022, Layne became MLB's most senior active umpire.
Gary L. Cederstrom is an American former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1989 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 to 2019. He wore number 38 throughout his career and was promoted to crew chief for the 2008 season.
James Michael Wolf is an American Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the major league staff in 1999 after working in the Arizona Rookie League, the South Atlantic League, the California League, the Texas League and the Pacific Coast League. He wears uniform number 28.
Edward George Barrett is an American retired Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the American League's staff in 1994, and worked throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement in 2022. Promoted to crew chief in 2013, Barrett worked in 33 play-off series, including five World Series. He retired following the 2022 season.
Timothy Joseph Tschida is an American former umpire in Major League Baseball. He joined the American League's full-time staff in 1986, and worked in both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement following the 2012 season.
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Philip Cuzzi is an American professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He worked as a reserve umpire in the National League (NL) from 1991 to 1993 and returned to the NL in 1999. Since 2000, he has worked in both major leagues. Cuzzi wore number 99 when his career started; he now wears number 10.
Fieldin Henry Culbreth III is an American former umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He worked in the American League from 1993 to 1999 and in both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement in 2021. Culbreth was promoted to crew chief prior to the 2013 season. Culbreth wore number 42 while he was an American League umpire, then changed to 25 in 2000 after the MLB umpires were unified into one crew.
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Todd Frederick Tichenor is an American professional baseball umpire. He became a Major League Baseball reserve umpire in 2007 and was promoted to the full-time MLB staff in 2012. He wore number 97 until the 2014 season, when he switched to number 13.
Samuel Woodford Holbrook is an American retired Major League Baseball umpire. He made his MLB debut in 1996 and was promoted to crew chief in 2017. Holbrook worked the World Series in 2010, 2016, and 2019. He retired following the 2022 season.
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Lance Cole Barrett is an American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He wore number 94 but changed to 16 starting in the 2020 season. Barrett became a minor league umpire in 2003 and was hired to the MLB staff prior to the 2014 season.
On August 15, 2012, Seattle Mariners pitcher Félix Hernández pitched the 23rd perfect game in Major League Baseball (MLB) history and the first in Mariners' franchise history. Pitching to catcher John Jaso against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington, Hernández retired all 27 batters that he faced and tallied 12 strikeouts in a 1–0 victory.
Clint Michael Fagan is a former umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He worked in MLB between 2011 and 2017, and wore number 82 on his uniform.
