Education
In 1948, he graduated from Dunbar High School.
In 1948, he graduated from Dunbar High School.
He played in 141 games for the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies during the 1956 & 1959 baseball seasons. He is the oldest of three children. After high school, Drake began his baseball career when he joined the Elmwood Giants of the Mandak League as a 17-year-old outfielder that same year and returned for two more seasons in Manitoba.
A.300 hitter with Elmwood in 1950, Drake began his pro career in 1951 as an all-star with Topeka.
After he served two years in the military, Drake put in two more seasons in the minors before his debut, at age 25 with the Cubs in April, 1956. He officially retired from baseball in 1960.
Solomon Drake then went on to graduate from Philander Smith College with a double major in Psychology and Physical Education.