Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Drake is the oldest of three children. In 1948, he graduated from Dunbar High School. Later that year, Drake began his baseball career when he joined the Elmwood Giants of the Mandak League as a 17-year-old outfielder; he returned for two more seasons, in Manitoba. A .300 hitter with Elmwood in 1950, Drake was signed before the 1951 season by the Chicago Cubs, as an amateur free agent. He spent that year with the Cclass C Topeka Owls, a minor league Cubs affiliate.\n', '

The Korean War interrupted a nascent baseball career for two years with Drake spending 1951 through 1953, in the U.S. Army. Following his military service, he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Physical Education, at Philander Smith College, and returned to minor league baseball in time for the 1954 season, with the Class A Des Moines Bruins. Drake, a switch-hitter, was expected to be the Cubs\' centerfielder, in 1955, but suffered a broken leg and ankle during training camp that forced him to miss most of the season.\n', '

In April 1956, at the age of 25, Drake made his major league debut, with the Cubs. That same year, he also played with the Portland Beavers, Montreal Royals, and the Triple-A (AAA) St. Paul Saints.\n', '

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