| Rob Drake | |
|---|---|
 Drake in 2012 | |
| MLB – No. 8 | |
| Umpire | |
| Born: (1969-05-24)May 24, 1969 (age 56) Indiana, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 3, 1999 | |
| Crew information | |
| Umpiring crew | Q |
| Crew members |
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
Special assignments
| |
Robert Paul Drake (born May 24, 1969) is an Americanumpire inMajor League Baseball. He was named to the Major League staff in 2010,[1] and wears uniform number 8.[2]
Drake was born inIndiana, Pennsylvania, and has worked in both Major Leagues since umpiring his first MLB game on September 3, 1999.[2] Drake had previously worked in theNorthwest,Midwest,Eastern,California andPacific Coast leagues before reaching MLB.[1] Drake has also umpiredwinter baseball in theDominican Republic, and officiated during the2006 World Baseball Classic. Drake has worked MLB'sAll-Star Game (2013),Wild Card Game (2012,2013,2020),Division Series (2010,2014), andLeague Championship Series (2012,2013,2015,2021).
Drake ended the 2016 season on thebereavement list for immediate family following the sudden death of his wife Yvonnka on September 10, 2016.[3]
Drake was thethird base umpire forAníbal Sánchez'sno-hitter on September 6,2006.[4] He was also theright field umpire forRoy Halladay's no-hitter in the2010 NLDS, and was thesecond base umpire forFrancisco Liriano's no-hitter in2011.[1][5]
In 2011, Drake ejectedSt. Louis Cardinals catcherYadier Molina from a game against theMilwaukee 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 forFélix Hernández'sperfect game against theTampa Bay Rays on August 15,2012.[8] Drake ejected Rays managerJoe Maddon in the seventh inning of the game.[9]
He was chosen as one of the umpires for the one-gameWild Card playoff between theAtlanta Braves and theSt. Louis Cardinals on October 5, 2012, and advanced to the2012 ALCS less than two weeks later.[10]
Drake was the home plate umpire forChris Heston'sno-hitter against theNew York Mets on June 9, 2015.[11]
Drake was the second base umpire who called the first game-endingtriple 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 theimpeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, declaring that he would buy anAR-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]
