Dave Rader (baseball)
Encyclopedia
David Martin Rader is a former professional
baseball
player. From through , he was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
, playing for the San Francisco Giants
(1971-1976), St. Louis Cardinals
(1977), Chicago Cubs
(1978), Philadelphia Phillies
(1979) and Boston Red Sox
(1980). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
. He became the Giants' starting catcher in 1972
, posting a .259 batting average
in 127 games
. Rader finished as runner-up to Jon Matlack
for the National League
Rookie of the Year Award, and won The Sporting News Rookie of the Year
Award.
The next season he posted career-highs in home run
s (9), runs
(59), runs batted in (41) and fielding percentage
(.991) but hit for only a .229 batting average in 148 games. From 1974
and 1975
he averaged .291 each season. In October 1976, Rader was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals where he served as a reserve catcher working behind Ted Simmons
during the 1977
season.
After one year with the Cardinals, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in December 1977. Rader became the Cubs' regular catcher during the 1978
season, playing in 114 games but, only managed to post a .203 batting average and, in February 1979
, he would be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He served as a third string catcher with the Phillies, backing up Bob Boone
and Tim McCarver
. Rader would be traded a final time in March 1980
to the Boston Red Sox where he backed up regular Red Sox catcher, Carlton Fisk
. In November 1980, the Red Sox granted Rader free agency
. He signed with the California Angels in February 1981 but was released one month later.
, accumulating 619 hits
in 2405 at bat
s for a .257 career batting average along with 30 home runs and 535 runs batted in. While he was a light-hitting
player, he was a fine defensive catcher, ending his career with a .983 fielding percentage
. Rader was the Giants catcher on August 24, 1975
when Ed Halicki
pitched a no-hitter
against the New York Mets
.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. From through , he was a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, playing for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1971-1976), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1977), Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1978), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1979) and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1980). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Major League career
Rader was selected by the San Francisco Giants as their number one pick in the 1967 Major League Baseball Draft1967 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1967 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The June draft was filled with talented prospects who would go on to pro careers...
. He became the Giants' starting catcher in 1972
1972 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants season was the 90th season in franchise history. The Giants finished with a record of 69-86. It was their first losing season in San Francisco and the franchise's first losing season since 1957, which was the franchise's final year in New York.- Offseason :* November 29,...
, posting a .259 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 127 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. Rader finished as runner-up to Jon Matlack
Jon Matlack
Jonathan Trumpbour Matlack is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher...
for the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Rookie of the Year Award, and won The Sporting News Rookie of the Year
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1946 by The Sporting News .*In 1947-48, and again in 1950, a single award was given for all of Major League Baseball....
Award.
The next season he posted career-highs in home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (9), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(59), runs batted in (41) and fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(.991) but hit for only a .229 batting average in 148 games. From 1974
1974 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants season was the franchise's 92nd season and 17th season in San Francisco.- Offseason :* December 7, 1973: Juan Marichal was purchased from the Giants by the Boston Red Sox....
and 1975
1975 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants season was the franchise's 93rd season and 18th season in San Francisco.- Offseason :* October 14, 1974: Ken Rudolph and Elias Sosa were traded by the Giants to the St...
he averaged .291 each season. In October 1976, Rader was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals where he served as a reserve catcher working behind Ted Simmons
Ted Simmons
Ted Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter, Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals , the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves...
during the 1977
1977 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1977 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 96th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 86th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 83-79 during the season and finished third in the National League East, 18 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.Vern Rapp took over as the...
season.
After one year with the Cardinals, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in December 1977. Rader became the Cubs' regular catcher during the 1978
1978 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 13, 1977: Keith Drumright was traded by the Cubs to the Houston Astros for Al Javier.* October 31, 1977: Bill Bonham was traded by the Cubs to the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago Cubs for Woodie Fryman and Bill Caudill....
season, playing in 114 games but, only managed to post a .203 batting average and, in February 1979
1979 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1979 Philadelphia Phillies season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fourth in the National League East, 14 games behind the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates.- Offseason :...
, he would be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He served as a third string catcher with the Phillies, backing up Bob Boone
Bob Boone
Robert Raymond Boone is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and...
and Tim McCarver
Tim McCarver
James Timothy "Tim" McCarver is an American former Major League Baseball catcher, and a current sportscaster in residence for Fox Sports.-Playing career:...
. Rader would be traded a final time in March 1980
1980 Boston Red Sox season
The 1980 Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing 5th in the American League East with a record of 83 wins and 77 losses, 19 games behind the New York Yankees...
to the Boston Red Sox where he backed up regular Red Sox catcher, Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
. In November 1980, the Red Sox granted Rader free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He signed with the California Angels in February 1981 but was released one month later.
Career statistics
In a 10 year career, Rader played in 846 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 619 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 2405 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s for a .257 career batting average along with 30 home runs and 535 runs batted in. While he was a light-hitting
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
player, he was a fine defensive catcher, ending his career with a .983 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. Rader was the Giants catcher on August 24, 1975
1975 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants season was the franchise's 93rd season and 18th season in San Francisco.- Offseason :* October 14, 1974: Ken Rudolph and Elias Sosa were traded by the Giants to the St...
when Ed Halicki
Ed Halicki
Ed Halicki , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1974-1980. On August 24, 1975, Halicki threw a no-hitter for the San Francisco Giants against the New York Mets in a 6-0 victory...
pitched a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the New York Mets
1975 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 14th regular season for the Mets, who played their home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Yogi Berra followed by Roy McMillan, the team had an 82-80 record yielding a third-place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Offseason :* October...
.