| Doug Rader | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Third baseman /Manager | |
| Born: (1944-07-30)July 30, 1944 (age 80) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 31, 1967, for the Houston Astros | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 1977, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .251 |
| Home runs | 155 |
| Runs batted in | 722 |
| Managerial record | 388–417 |
| Winning % | .482 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| As player As manager | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Douglas Lee Rader (born July 30, 1944), nicknamed "the Red Rooster", is an American formerthird baseman inMajor League Baseball who was known primarily for his defensive ability, winning five straightGold Glove Awards from 1970 to 1974.[1]
Rader's career lasted from 1967 to 1977, playing for theHouston Astros,San Diego Padres, andToronto Blue Jays, then latermanaged theTexas Rangers,Chicago White Sox, andCalifornia Angels between 1983 and 1991.
Also nicknamed "Rojo", Rader earned his nickname "the Red Rooster" from the thick head of red hair which always protruded from under his cap.
Rader attendedGlenbrook North High School inNorthbrook, Illinois, andIllinois Wesleyan University.
Rader signed with theHouston Astros as an amateur free agent in 1965, and made hisMajor League Baseball debut with the club on July 31, 1967. In his first game against theNew York Mets, Rader earned his first career hit, a single against Canadian-born relieverRon Taylor, as his Astros won the game 3-2. On August 19, Rader hit his first career home run againstDick Hughes of theSt. Louis Cardinals. He played a majority of his games at first base, and finished the season with a .333 batting average with four home runs and 26 runs batted in (RBI) in 47 games.
During the 1968 season, the Astros moved Rader over to play third base, and in 98 games, Rader hit .267 with six home runs and 43 RBIs in establishing himself as their everyday third baseman during the second half of the season.
In 1969, Rader played in 155 games with Houston, hitting .246 with eleven home runs and 83 RBIs. He had a breakout season in 1970, as Rader appeared in 156 games, hitting .252, and was second on the Astros with 25 home runs and third on the club with 87 runs batted in. Rader earned his first careerGold Glove Award as being the best defensive third baseman in theNational League.
Rader struggled offensively during the 1971 season, as he hit .244 with twelve home runs and 56 RBI in 135 games, however, he earned his second consecutiveGold Glove Award at third base. In 1972, Rader's batting average continued to slip, as he hit .237, however, his power numbers came back, as he hit 22 home runs and 90 RBI in 152 games to be among the Astros team leaders, winning his third straightGold Glove Award. He was the subject of an article in the June 16 issue ofLIFE that year.[2]
Rader had another solid season in 1973, hitting .254 with 21 home runs and 89 RBI in 154 games with Houston, and once again was awarded theGold Glove Award for third base, for the fourth straight season. He continued his solid play throughout the 1974 season, hitting .257, his highest batting average since 1968, while hitting seventeen home runs and 78 RBI, earning his fifth consecutiveGold Glove Award.
In 1975, Rader's offensive numbers slipped, as he hit only .223 with twelve home runs and 48 RBI in 129 games, and for the first time since 1969, he failed to win theGold Glove Award, asKen Reitz of theSt. Louis Cardinals received the award.
Rader was traded to theSan Diego Padres forLarry Hardy andJoe McIntosh on December 11, 1975.[3] The Padres needed a veteran starting third baseman at the time.[4] Rader became the everyday third baseman for theSan Diego Padres during the 1976 season, and in 139 games hit for a .257 average with nine home runs and 55 runs batted in. His nine home runs were the lowest total of his career since the 1968 season.
In 1977, Rader began the season with San Diego and in 52 games hit .271 with five home runs and 27 RBI. On June 8, Rader's contract was purchased by theToronto Blue Jays.[5]
Rader finished the 1977 season with theToronto Blue Jays, where he split his time playing third base and as their designated hitter. In 96 games with Toronto, Rader hit .240 with thirteen home runs and 40 RBI. On March 18, 1978, midway through spring training, the Blue Jays released Rader,[6] who would then retire from the game.
Rader played in 1,465 games during his career, in which he collected 1,302 hits, and had a batting average of .251 with 155 home runs and 722 runs batted in. He won five straightGold Glove Awards for his defensive play at third base from 1970 to 1974.[7]
After working a year for them as a major league coach,[8] the San Diego Padres named Rader manager of their AAA affiliate, theHawaii Islanders of thePacific Coast League.[9] During 1980, Rader led the club to a 76–65 record as the Islanders finished in second place in the North Division. In 1981, Hawaii had a 72–65 record, and once again finished in second place. The Islanders moved to the South Division in 1982, however, the club finished in third place with a 73–71 record.
Rader was hired to manage theTexas Rangers in November 1982, taking over fromDarrell Johnson.[10] In his first season with the Rangers, the club finished 77–85, which was a 13-game improvement from the previous season, as Texas finished in third place in theAL West.
The Rangers slipped back into last place in 1984, as the club struggled to a 69–92 record. In 1985, the Rangers began the season 9–23, as Rader was fired and replaced withBobby Valentine.[11]
In 1986, theChicago White Sox began the season withTony La Russa as their manager, however, after a 26–38 start, the White Sox fired LaRussa and named Rader, who was the team's hitting instructor at the time,[12] as the interim manager.[13] In his two games managing the White Sox, the club had a 1–1 record. The White Sox then namedJim Fregosi as their permanent manager.
Rader was hired to become theCalifornia Angels manager beginning in 1989,[14] after the Angels finished the 1988 season with a 75–87 record, and fired managerCookie Rojas late in the season. In his first season with the Angels, Rader led the team to a 16-game improvement, as California finished the season with a 91–71 record, good for third place in theAL West. Rader finished fourth in theAL Manager of the Year Award, which was won byFrank Robinson of theBaltimore Orioles.[15]
In 1990, the Angels slipped under the .500 level, as the club finished 80–82 to finish fourth in theAL West. The Angels continued to hover around the .500 mark during the 1991 season, however, after a 61–63 start, Rader was fired and replaced withBuck Rodgers.[16]
Rader was hired to be the original hitting coach for the expansionFlorida Marlins in November 1992.[17] Rader resigned from the position at the end of the 1994 season.[18]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| TEX | 1983 | 162 | 77 | 85 | .475 | 3rd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
| TEX | 1984 | 161 | 69 | 92 | .429 | 7th in AL West | – | – | – | – |
| TEX | 1985 | 32 | 9 | 23 | .281 | fired | – | – | – | – |
| TEX total | 355 | 155 | 200 | .437 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| CWS | 1986 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | interim | – | – | – | – |
| CWS total | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| CAL | 1989 | 162 | 91 | 71 | .562 | 3rd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
| CAL | 1990 | 162 | 80 | 82 | .494 | 4th in AL West | – | – | – | – |
| CAL | 1991 | 124 | 61 | 63 | .492 | fired | – | – | – | – |
| CAL total | 448 | 232 | 216 | .518 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| Total | 805 | 388 | 417 | .482 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| Preceded by Team Created | Florida Marlinshitting coach 1993–1994 | Succeeded by |
