Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 23, 1973, baseball player Casey Blake was born in Des Moines. A four-sport standout at Indianola, Blake went on to a twelve-year major league career.
At Indianola, Blake put together one of the greatest athletic careers in Iowa high school history. A standout in baseball, football, track, and basketball, Blake garnered honors at the Des Moines Register’s top male athlete for 1991. A state qualifier in the hurdles, a first-team all-state basketball pick, and a Register Elite football selection, Blake truly shined on the diamond. Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, Blake decided to head to college instead.
Blake attended Wichita State University, where he was a three-time All-American and two-time Academic All-American and participated in the College World Series. During his senior year, he batted .320 with 22 home runs and 101 RBIs. Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1995, Blake ultimately wound up with the Toronto Blue Jays starting in 1996.
After several years in the minors, Blake made his MLB debut on August 14, 1999. Over a long career, Blake played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and Los Angeles Dodgers. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
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