Player Spotlight: Ron Drake

DRAKEUSC wide receiver Ron Drake was a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals in 1965 but turned them down to play for the Trojans. He set a USC single-season record for receptions with 52 in 1966 and won national titles with USC in football (1967) and baseball (1968). He was also an All-CIF split end at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera and won a junior-college national title at Long Beach City College. Drake later became the baseball coach at Mission Viejo High School.

10 thoughts on “Player Spotlight: Ron Drake

  1. Uh I think you meant the Kansas City Athletics – they moved to Oakland at the end of 1968 and were replaced by the KC Royals – an expansion franchise.

    Also the chronology is a bit skewed – if he accepted a scholarship to play for USC beginning in 1965 then why’d he go to LBCC to play in 1966? I think he transferred in after June 1967 with a JC scholarship award.

  2. Not true Ruskie, as if it matters much

    In 1966 Ron Drake almost took my head off in an SC practice when he blocked me so hard my helmet shot off (albeit I had forgotten to use a chin strap)

    He was a skinny kid with a real punch, and I never forgot that moment

  3. Ron Drake played third base for the 1968 NCAA champs in baseball. He played two years at USC in football and baseball. Graduated in 1968 after baseball season. Nice man, great athlete.

  4. John how tall was Bill Hayhoe? 6′ 4″ at least? Andrushyshn encountered him ‘what’ 4-5 times that infamous day in November 1967?
    Course nothing beats the ‘Little Big Horn’ the year before against Notre Dame – worst shut out in the history of the school –

    • If I remember correctly, the ’66 Notre Dame game wouldn’t have been a shut out if the usually dependable Ron Drake had caught a short pass thrown to him as he broke open in the end zone. But maybe the shutout was the best thing that ever happened to John McKay —ask Notre Dame.

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