Jake Wade

Who was Jake Wade?

Jacob Fields Wade was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 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". His younger brother, Ben, was also a major league pitcher.

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.