1976 Topps Traded #44T - Doug Rader

• Doug Rader was traded by the Houston Astros after he had a poor season in 1975 (.223 with 12 HR in 129 games). Rader was the NL Gold Glove winner at third base for five straight years (1970-1974)
• Rader played one full season with the San Diego Padres in 1976 (.251 with 18 HR). 
• Doug split the 1977 season between the Padres and the Toronto Blue Jays. Rader was sold to the Blue Jays in early June. The Padres had hired Alvin Dark as their manager and the two didn't get along.
•  Rader was released during spring training in 1978.
• If you have a nomination for 1976 Topps Card of the Year, please leave a comment on the linked entry. After the traded series is profiled we'll do it. :)

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1976 Topps #44 - Doug Rader

Doug Rader played third base for Houston from 1967-1975. He went to San Diego before the 1976 season and played for the Padres for 1 1/2 years. He finished his career in 1977 with Toronto. He was released early in spring training in 1978 and didn't catch on with another team.

Rader managed in the minors from 1980-1982. He managed the Rangers from 1983 to 1985, the White Sox for two games in 1986, and the Angels from 1989-1991. Doug won five Gold Glove awards (1970-1974) and struck out over 100 times in eight seasons.

Rader was known to be quite a character when he played. My first memory of him was seeing a line drawing in a mid-70s baseball magazine of a naked (privates obscured) Doug Rader pulling some prank in the locker room.

Here is a 1989 Sports Illustrated article about Doug about 2/3 through the 1989 season (his first season managing the Angels). Things went sour for the Angels after the '89 season and Rader was let go toward the end of the '91 season.