Name Rob Drake Role Baseball Umpire | Mlb debut September 3, 1999 | |
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Born May 24, 1969 (age 54)
Indiana, Pennsylvania ( 1969-05-24 ) | ||
WSH@ARI: Harper, Williams ejected from game in 7th
Robert Paul "Rob" Drake (born May 24, 1969) is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He was named to the Major League staff in 2010, and wears uniform number 30.
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Umpiring career
Drake was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and has worked in both Major Leagues since umpiring his first MLB game on September 3, 1999. Drake had previously worked in the Northwest, Midwest, Eastern, California and Pacific Coast leagues before reaching the MLB. 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), Division Series (2010, 2014), and League Championship Series (2012, 2013, 2015).
Drake ended the 2016 season on the Bereavement List for immediate family following the sudden death of his wife Yvonnka on September 10, 2016.
Controversies
On August 2, 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." That comment notwithstanding, Molina was suspended for five games.
Notable games
Drake was the third base umpire for Aníbal Sánchez's no-hitter on September 6, 2006. 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.
Drake was the home plate umpire for Félix Hernández's perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 15, 2012. Drake ejected Rays manager Joe Maddon in the seventh inning of the game.
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.
Drake was the home plate umpire for Chris Heston's no-hitter against the New York Mets on June 9, 2015.