Simpson pitching coach, father of former MLB player Casey Blake, dies in car crash

Simpson College's men's pitching coach and father of a former major league player died in a car crash Monday night.

Iowa State Patrol reports Joe Franklin Blake, 65, of Indianola died last night around 8:13 p.m. when the crash occurred, according to an Iowa State Patrol report.

Ken Fuson, from Simpson's marketing and public relations office, confirmed Tuesday that Blake was the pitching coach for their men's baseball team.

"Simpson athletics has lost a friend, a hall of famer and an icon," Brian Niemuth, Simpson's athletic director, said in a news release Tuesday. "Joe Blake represented the best of Simpson College. He had the right attitude, a competitive spirit, a tireless work ethic and above all, was a great person. Joe will be sorely missed by all of us."

According to the report, Blake took the curve from 150th Avenue toward County Road G36 and lost control of his vehicle. The car rolled and Blake was ejected from the car. He wasn't wearing his seatbelt.

Blake was pronounced dead at the scene.

Indianola police, fire department, Warren County sheriff's deputies and an air ambulance responded to the crash.

A graduate of Simpson himself, Joe Blake was named IIAC Baseball most valuable player in 1971, the website reads. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1981.

He later played in the New York Yankees' minor-league system. All four of his sons played professional baseball, including Casey, who retired as a Los Angeles Dodger in 2011 following a 10 year career.

Ben Blake, Joe's son, is the head coach at Simpson.