Jake Wade (baseball)
Jacob Fields Wade was an American professional baseball player. He played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Washington Senators. Wade batted and threw left-handed. He was nicknamed "Whistlin' Jake".
A native of Morehead City, North Carolina, Wade made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers in 1936 as he went 4–5. His most productive season came in 1937, when he posted career highs in wins, starts, complete games, strikeouts and innings pitched.
The next two years, Wade divided his playing time with Detroit and the Montreal Royals of the International League. Before the 1939 season he was traded by Detroit to the Boston Red Sox in the same deal that brought Pinky Higgins to the Tigers. He finished the season with the St. Louis Browns. Then joined the Toledo Mud Hens of the American Association in 1940, and played for the Indianapolis Indians the following year. In 1942 he returned to the majors with the Chicago White Sox. After serving in the military, he played his last major league season with the New York Yankees and Washington Senators in 1946.
In an eight-season major-league career, Wade posted a 27–30 record with 291 strikeouts and a 5.00 ERA in 668-1/3 innings.
Wade joined the Jersey City Giants of the International League in 1947, as he posted a 17–5 record with a 2.51 ERA helping his team to the league championship. He ended his professional baseball career with a 7–6 and a 4.96 ERA for the Buffalo Bisons in 1950. Following his playing career, he worked as an electronics repair technician at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station until his retirement in 1976.
Wade died in Wildwood, North Carolina, at age 93. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former player of the Chicago White Sox. His younger brother, Ben Wade, was also a major league pitcher. The municipal ballpark in Morehead City, North Carolina is named "Wade Brothers Field" after Wade, his younger brother Ben, and an older brother, Winfield who played minor league baseball.
