Doug Rader

Douglas Lee Rader
(Rojo or The Red Rooster)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
• School Illinois Wesleyan University
• High School Glenbrook North High School
• Debut July 31, 1967
• Final Game October 2, 1977
• Born July 30, 1944 in Chicago, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Doug Rader was a third baseman for 11 seasons who was both a solid fielder who won the Gold Glove five times and also had better than average power, topping 20 home runs on three occasions, and hitting 155 long balls overall. Never a high average hitter - his career batting average was .251 - he spent his first 9 seasons, from 1967 to 1975, with the Houston Astros, then was traded to the San Diego Padres in return for pitchers Joe McIntosh and Larry Hardy.

Rader hit .257 but with only 9 homers with the Padres in 1976, then after 50-some games in 1977, was sold to the expansion Toronto Blue Jays. His power came back with the Jays, as he banged out 13 homers in 96 games and drove in 40 runs in the second half of the 1977 season, but he was released in spring training of 1978 as the Jays got rid of some of the older players who had done well for them in their inaugural season but who did not figure in their future plans. Rader retired and became a minor league manager with the Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League in 1980. After three years, he was hired by the Texas Rangers to be their manager starting in 1983.

Many observers, most prominent among them Bill James, thought Rader had every quality required to become a great major league manager. In reality, he did all right, but never managed to steer a team into a pennant race. He did get another shot to lead a team after the Rangers fired him early in the 1985 season, with the California Angels from 1989 to 1991, but again could not take the team over the hump. He was also interim manager of the Chicago White Sox for two games after Tony LaRussa was dismissed in 1986.

Notable Achievements

• 5-time NL Gold Glove Winner (1970-1974)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 3 (1970, 1972 & 1973)

Preceded by Darrell Johnson

Texas Rangers Manager 1983-1985

Succeeded by Bobby Valentine

Preceded by Moose Stubing

California Angels Manager 1989-1991

Succeeded by Buck Rodgers

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1980	Hawaii Islanders	Pacific Coast League	76-65	5th	San Diego Padres	Lost League Finals
1981	Hawaii Islanders	Pacific Coast League	72-65	3rd (t)	San Diego Padres	Lost in 1st round
1982	Hawaii Islanders	Pacific Coast League	73-71	5th	San Diego Padres
1983	Texas Rangers	American League	77-85	3rd	Texas Rangers
1984	Texas Rangers	American League	69-92	7th	Texas Rangers
1985	Texas Rangers	American League	9-23	--	Texas Rangers		replaced by Bobby Valentine on May 16
1986	Chicago White Sox	American League	1-1	--	Chicago White Sox		interim manager between Tony LaRussa (26-38) and Jim Fregosi from June 20 to June 21
1989	California Angels	American League	91-71	3rd	California Angels
1990	California Angels	American League	80-82	4th	California Angels
1991	California Angels	American League	61-63	--	California Angels		replaced by Buck Rodgers on August 26

Related Sites

• BR Manager page