Steve Rader
2021 Hall of Fame Inductee
Rollingstone, MN
Rollingstone, MN
Steve was born and raised in Rollingstone, Minnesota and has spent his entire life there. Rollingstone had a rich tradition of success with their amateur baseball teams and as a kid, Steve couldn’t wait to be part of it.
When Steve turned 16 in 1946, he joined the amateur team. Over his 27 year career, he had one-year stints with Winona and St. Charles and played the other 25 years with Rollingstone. Steve was a prolific hitter and hit .300 or better in each season he played. His best year was in 1953 when he hit .480 while leading Rollingstone to its only State Class B title.
In all, Steve played in seven state tournaments, six with Rollingstone and the other with St. Charles. Steve was also an outstanding defensive player, primarily as an infielder. His baseball knowledge and humility were well known, making him a great teammate. When he was 20, he even had a short stint in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system.
Near the end of Steve’s playing career, he started the first Little League program in Rollingstone and coached for 15 years. He even purchased his team’s first uniforms with his coaching salary. Fundamentals were always stressed with Steve’s little league teams. The program became very successful and proved to be a great feeder system for Winona High School baseball. He also umpired Little League and high school games for a number of years.
In addition to coaching and mentoring many young baseball players, Steve played a major role in the maintenance of the baseball field in his playing days and later when he was a coach. With his background as an electrician, Steve also volunteered countless hours repairing motors along with other general maintenance work at Holy Trinity Church, including servicing Holy Trinity’s famous bells and serving as an usher. He also serves as the historian for the Luxembourg Society.
Steve’s wife, Connie, has been at his side throughout his career along with his children Paul, Dawn and Cheryl, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
When Steve turned 16 in 1946, he joined the amateur team. Over his 27 year career, he had one-year stints with Winona and St. Charles and played the other 25 years with Rollingstone. Steve was a prolific hitter and hit .300 or better in each season he played. His best year was in 1953 when he hit .480 while leading Rollingstone to its only State Class B title.
In all, Steve played in seven state tournaments, six with Rollingstone and the other with St. Charles. Steve was also an outstanding defensive player, primarily as an infielder. His baseball knowledge and humility were well known, making him a great teammate. When he was 20, he even had a short stint in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system.
Near the end of Steve’s playing career, he started the first Little League program in Rollingstone and coached for 15 years. He even purchased his team’s first uniforms with his coaching salary. Fundamentals were always stressed with Steve’s little league teams. The program became very successful and proved to be a great feeder system for Winona High School baseball. He also umpired Little League and high school games for a number of years.
In addition to coaching and mentoring many young baseball players, Steve played a major role in the maintenance of the baseball field in his playing days and later when he was a coach. With his background as an electrician, Steve also volunteered countless hours repairing motors along with other general maintenance work at Holy Trinity Church, including servicing Holy Trinity’s famous bells and serving as an usher. He also serves as the historian for the Luxembourg Society.
Steve’s wife, Connie, has been at his side throughout his career along with his children Paul, Dawn and Cheryl, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.