#519 - Doug Rader

What a card: Doug Rader was entering his third season as manager for the Rangers, but by the time most kids pulled this card from packs, Rader was gone. The Rangers fired him 32 games into the 1985 season.

My observation on the front: I'd like to know what's on that orange piece of paper Rader is holding.

More opinion from me: This is now the third set blog in which I've written about Rader (it's happened for a few other players, too). I'm running out of stuff to say, even for someone as colorful as Rader.

Something you might know: Rader was a steady performer at third base for the Astros in the early 1970s. He won five straight Gold Glove awards.

Something you might not know: When Padres manager Ray Kroc famously apologized over the stadium speaker system for his players' poor performance on Opening Day against the Astros in 1974, Rader was offended by Kroc's words, saying, "what does he think we are, a bunch of short-order cooks or something?" When the Astros came back to San Diego later in the season, the Padres held "Short-Order Cook Night," inviting cooks to attend the game for free. Rader played his part, taking the lineup card out to the umpires while wearing a chef's hat and apron and flipping the lineup card in a skillet as he walked from the dugout.

My observation on the back: (*Sigh*). The Rangers finished dead last in the AL West in 1984. Sure, Rader led the Rangers to 146 wins in 1983 and 1984 but he also led them to 177 losses.

The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated.