Drake was born in Girard, Ohio, in 1886. He was the son of Dr. William and Mary Drake. His father was the manager of a semi-pro baseball team in Findlay, Ohio, in the 1890s. Drake learned the game while practicing with players from his father\'s team.\n', '

Drake began his professional baseball career playing in the Ohio–Pennsylvania League for the Newark (Ohio) Cotton Tops in 1906 and the Marion Moguls in 1907. Over the next three years, he also played minor league ball for the Johnstown Johnnies (1908), Newark Indians (1909), and Wilkes-Barre Barons (1910–1911). He compiled batting averages of .326 and .340 in his two seasons at Wilkes-Barre.\n', '

After his strong showing in Wilkes-Barre, Drake signed to play for the Detroit Tigers during the 1911 season. He appeared in 95 games for the Tigers in 1911, principally in left field in a Detroit outfield that also featured future Baseball Hall of Famers Ty Cobb in center field and Sam Crawford in right field. During the 1911 season, Drake compiled a .279 batting average with nine triples, 20 stolen bases and 36 RBIs.\n', '

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