Ed Blake

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Ed Blake
St. Louis, Missouri
Died: April 15, 2009(2009-04-15) (aged 83)
Swansea, Illinois
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 1951, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
April 28, 1957, for the Kansas City Athletics
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average8.31
Strikeouts1
Teams

Edward James Blake (December 23, 1925 – April 15, 2009) was an American right-handed

Kansas City Athletics. In eight career games, Blake pitched 8⅔ innings and had an 8.31 earned run average
(ERA).

After graduating high school in East St. Louis, Blake played in the

farm system of the nearby St. Louis Cardinals before enlisting in the army. He returned to baseball after being wounded in the military service, pitching in the minors for five years before making his major league debut for the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched for them on and off for three years, then spent the next six years pitching for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His last major league appearance was a stint with the Athletics in 1957, and two years later his professional baseball career ended. After retirement he became a plumber
, and died in 2009.

Early life

Born in

Military service and 1940s career

After the 1944 season ended, Blake enlisted in the

Syracuse Chiefs and finished the season with a combined 5–4 record and a 4.78 ERA.[4]

Minor leagues and Reds career

Blake began the 1950 season with the Syracuse Chiefs and spent most of the season as a starting pitcher instead of a reliever. He started in 23 games and finished the season with a 12–8 record and an ERA of 3.51.[4] In 1951, Blake was considered to have a small chance to make the major league roster.[6] Nonetheless, Blake got his first taste of the major leagues that season. He made his major league debut on May 1, 1951, against the Philadelphia Phillies.[5] Blake played three games during his time on the Reds in 1951, and finished two of those games. He pitched four innings, allowing five runs and three home runs, finishing the season with an ERA of 11.25.[7] While on the Reds in 1951, he was part of a Reds "bullpen union" led by Jim Blackburn, which drew up a series of humorous requests including a smoking lounge and sandwiches between double headers.[8] He spent most of the 1951 season with the Columbus Red Birds, playing in 27 games for them. In 27 pitching appearances, 23 of them starts, Blake went 7–15 with a 5.91 ERA.[4] Despite the record, Blake led the Red Birds in innings pitched and finished tied for second in wins, though he did also lead the team, which went 53–101, in losses.[9]

Blake spent most of 1952 with the

Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association, but he also pitched a few games for the Reds during the 1952 Cincinnati Reds season. He pitched in two games for the Reds in 1952, coming in to finish both games for the Reds. He pitched three shutout innings, allowing three hits in these two games.[7] During his time with the Brewers, he pitched in 21 games. He started 19 of the 21 games, won ten and lost three, and had a 3.96 ERA.[4] As the 1953 season began, Blake again had a stint with Cincinnati, but spent most of the season with the Indianapolis Indians. He pitched in one game for the Reds on April 17, 1953, against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing two earned runs on a hit and a walk without getting a batter out.[5] During his time with the Indianapolis Indians, he pitched in 29 games, and was the workhorse of the Indians' squad. He finished the season with a 14–7 record, a 3.76 ERA, and 208 innings pitched,[4] and led the team in wins, innings pitched, and starting appearances.[10]

Maple Leafs and Athletics career

The 1953 season marked Blake's last appearance with the Reds. On February 1, 1954, Blake was purchased from the Reds by the Toronto Maple Leafs, an unaffiliated team of the American Association.[7] He played for the Maple Leafs for a total of six seasons, where he had some of his best professional career seasons. In 1954, he teamed with Connie Johnson to lead the Maple Leafs to a 97–57 record. He finished the 1954 season with a 15–9 record, a 3.92 ERA, 30 games started, and 209 innings pitched, leading the team in the latter two categories.[4] The following season, he combined with Johnson and Jack Crimian to help Toronto win 94 games. On July 10, Blake was the first pitcher in the International League to win 13 games when he beat the Columbus squad 7–4.[11] He finished the season with 17 wins, 13 losses, and a 3.94 ERA.[4] In 1956, Blake was a member of the "big three" for the Maple Leafs, along with Don Johnson and International League Most Valuable Player Lynn Lovenguth. The three combined for 750 innings pitched and 57 complete games while often working on two days' rest.[12] He finished the season with 17 wins, 11 losses, and a 2.61 ERA.[4] He also led the team in shutouts with six.[12]

Blake was drafted at the end of the 1956 season by the

Houston Buffs, winning three games and losing ten in his final professional season of baseball.[4]

Personal and later life

After his playing career ended, Blake went on to become a plumber. He spent nearly 50 years in the plumbing business and was formerly the president of Plumbers Local 360.

Asheville Orioles at the peak of his career.[15] Blake died in Swansea, Illinois at the age of 83 after a long illness, and is interred at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Belleville, Illinois.[1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Sanders, Norm (2009-04-17). "Former big league pitcher Ed Blake dies in Swansea". Blakesville News-Democrat. p. 3D.
  2. ^ a b c d Bedingfield, Gary. "Baseball in Wartime – Ed Blake". Baseball in Wartime. Archived from the original on 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  3. ^ Brands, Edgar G. (February 26, 1947). "Breadon Dines 92 Redbirds at Cardinal Pep Party". The Sporting News. p. 13.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Ed Blake Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  5. ^ a b c d "Ed Blake's Career Statistics". Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  6. ^ Swope, Tom (April 4, 1951). "Few of Sewell's Kids Pushing Reds' Vets". The Sporting News. p. 21.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Ed Blake Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  8. ^ Swope, Tom (April 18, 1951). "Cincy 'Bullpen Union' Drafts By-Laws". The Sporting News. p. 11.
  9. ^ "1951 Columbus Red Birds". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  10. ^ "1953 Indiandpolis Indians". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  11. ^ "International League – Toronto". The Sporting News. July 20, 1955. p. 38.
  12. ^ a b MacCarl, Neil (September 19, 1956). "Homer Barrage, Big Three on Hill Won for Toronto". The Sporting News. p. 39.
  13. ^ Lundquist, Carl (December 12, 1956). "Frick Stops Blake's Shuffle to Bengals After Draft by A's". The Sporting News. p. 9.
  14. ^ Kritzer, Cy (July 16, 1958). "Flag Contenders Struck by Injuries". The Sporting News. p. 33.
  15. ^ "Edward Blake (Jr.) Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2009-04-19.

External links