Doug Rader joined the Houston organization in 1965 as an amateur free agent out of Illinois Wesleyan, a fiery, red-headed infielder who would quickly become one of the most colorful characters in franchise history. He debuted in the summer of 1967 and spent the next year establishing himself as the definitive solution at third base.
After taking over the starting role in 1968, he evolved into the premier defensive third baseman in the National League. He demonstrated a focused intensity that saw him secure five consecutive Gold Glove Awards between 1970 and 1974, effectively turning the left side of the infield into a "no-fly zone" for opposing hitters. During the 1970 and 1972 campaigns. In 1970, he enjoyed a breakout summer with the bat, recording a career-high 25 home runs and driving in 87 runs to complement his first Gold Glove. He showed the organization that he was a foundational winner by following that up in 1972 with a 22-homer season and a career-best 90 RBIs, which ranked seventh in the National League. He possessed a rare, durable quality that enabled him to play at least 150 games over four different seasons.
Rader was traded to San Diego after the 1975 season, and as an Astro, he compiled a .250 batting average, 128 home runs, and five consecutive Gold Glove Awards.
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