NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- As the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) continues its 75th anniversary celebration, the conference honors the past student-athletes, coaches and administrators who helped shaped the CCIW during its seven-plus decades of competition.
Each week throughout the summer, CCIW.org will spotlight student-athletes through its Conference Legacy Series.
Today, we highlight the career of former Illinois Wesleyan University baseball student-athlete Doug Rader.
Doug Rader
Sport - Baseball
Class - 1966
- Played shortstop at Illinois Wesleyan in 1963 and 1964 before spending 11 seasons as an MLB third baseman
- Made his Major League debut on July 31, 1967 and played from 1967 to 1977
- Spent nine seasons for the Houston Astros (1967 to 1975), followed by the San Diego Padres (1976) and Toronto Blue Jays (1977)
- Had a career batting average of .251 with 155 home runs and 722 RBI
- Won five-straight Gold Glove Awards from 1970 to 1974
- Hit a career-best 25 home runs with 87 RBI in 1970
- Hit 22 home runs and had 90 RBI, seventh most in National League in 1972
- Spent seven years as a Major League manager including the Texas Rangers (1983 to 1985), Chicago White Sox (interim - 1986) and the California Angels (1989 to 1991)
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL).