among the Astros team leaders, winning his third straight Gold Glove Award. He was the subject of an article in the June 16 issue of LIFE that year. Rader had another solid season in 1973, hitting .254 with 21 home runs and 89 RBI in 154 games with Houston, and once again was awarded the Gold Glove Award for third base, for the fourth straight season. He continued his solid play throughout the 1974 season, hitting .257, his highest batting average since 1968, while hitting seventeen home runs and 78 RBI, earning his fifth consecutive Gold Glove Award. In 1975, Rader's offensive numbers slipped, as he hit only .223 with twelve home runs and 48 RBI in 129 games, and for the first time since 1969, he failed to win the Gold Glove Award, as Ken Reitz of the St. Louis Cardinals received the award. San Diego Padres (1976–1977) Rader was traded to the San Diego Padres for Larry Hardy and Joe McIntosh on December 11, 1975. The Padres needed a veteran starting third baseman at the time. Rader became the everyday third baseman for the San Diego Padres during the 1976 season, and in 139 games hit for a .257 average with nine home runs and 55 runs batted in. His nine home runs were the lowest total of his career since the 1968 season. In 1977, Rader began the season with San Diego and in 52 games hit .271 with five home runs and 27 RBI. On June 8, Rader's contract was purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto Blue Jays (1977) Rader finished the 1977 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he split his time playing third base and as their designated hitter. In 96 games with Toronto, Rader hit .240 with thirteen home runs and 40 RBI. On March 18, 1978, midway through spring training, the Blue Jays released Rader, who would then retire from the game. Major League Career (1967–1977) Rader played in 1,465 games during his career, in which he collected 1,302 hits, and had a batting average of .251 with 155 home runs and 722 runs batted in. He won five straight Gold Glove Awards for his defensive play at third base from 1970–1974. Managing and coaching career San Diego Padres (1979) and Hawaii Islanders (1980–1982) After working a year for them as a major league coach, the San Diego Padres named