1981 Topps Dave Rader

  

The front: That's some premature gray hair for a guy who was only 31 years old. The green outfield wall makes me think this is Baltimore.

The back: This is an error card - Rader hit an RBI double, not a home run, in a 4-run Phillies rally off of Atlanta's Gene Garber in the bottom of the ninth, tying the game at 5. Unfortunately for Rader and the Phillies, Ron Reed got torched for six runs in the top of the tenth, led by a big 2-run double by Biff Pocoroba, and the Braves won 11-5.

The player: Rader had a fine rookie season with the Giants in 1972, hitting .259 with 6 HR and 41 RBI. The next season his averaged dipped to .229, and from then on was primarily a backup catcher. The Giants traded him to the Cardinals after the 1976 season, starting a string of four teams in four years, ending his career with Boston in 1980. Rader, who caught Ed Halicki's no-hitter in 1975, played in 846 games, hitting .257 with 30 HR and 235 RBI.

The man: After his playing career, Rader became a plumber, like his father and grandfather before him. He also worked in real estate, and appears to now be retired.

My collection: I have 12 of his cards, from 1972 to 1981. I would be interested in trading for 1976 Hostess #21.