Robert Paul Drake (born May 24, 1969) is an American umpire in Major League Baseball. He was named to the Major League staff in 2010,[1] and wears uniform number 8.[2]
In 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."[6] That comment notwithstanding, Molina was suspended for five games.[7]
Drake was the second base umpire who called the first game-ending triple 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 the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, declaring that he would buy an AR-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]
