Paul Dade – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Paul Dade lived out the dreams and realities of so many baseball hopefuls who reached the major leagues in the 1970s. Drafted in the first round with plenty of buzz, Dade managed to put together a six-season career in pro baseball before he left the game in 1980.

He started out as a promising high school standout in Seattle and ended up as a utility player in the big leagues. Dade’s story is familiar, but there’s something compelling about his perseverance in America’s pastime.

He played for three major league teams: the California Angels, Cleveland Indians, and San Diego Padres. Over 439 games, Dade finished with a .270 batting average and 10 home runs. Dade, who could handle both the outfield and third base, made his MLB debut with the Angels in September 1975 at age 23. That came nearly five years after the Angels picked him 10th overall in the 1970 amateur draft.

He had to grind through the minors before finally getting a shot at the majors.

Dade’s career gives us a window into the struggles highly drafted prospects face and the grit it takes to last in pro baseball. From his days at Nathan Hale High School to his final season with the Padres, he dealt with opportunities and setbacks that really defined baseball in that era.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Paul Dade was born Lonnie Paul Dade on December 7, 1951, in Seattle, Washington. He set out on his baseball path at Nathan Hale High School, where major league scouts noticed him and, eventually, the Angels picked him 10th overall in the 1970 amateur draft.

Childhood and Education

Dade grew up in Seattle, and his birthday was December 7, 1951. His full name was Lonnie Paul Dade, but in the baseball world, everyone just called him Paul Dade.

There isn’t much out there about his early childhood or his family. What we do know is that he honed his baseball abilities while growing up in the Pacific Northwest.

Dade’s talent for baseball showed up early. He ended up at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, where he sharpened the skills that would soon have big-league scouts paying attention.

High School Baseball at Nathan Hale

Dade went to Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, where he played baseball and learned to handle several positions. His performance at Nathan Hale was impressive enough that scouts started taking notice.

During high school, Dade proved he could play both outfield and infield, a versatility that would become a big part of his pro career.

His success at Nathan Hale made him a top prospect for the amateur draft. Scouts, especially those from the California Angels, kept a close eye on him.

1970 MLB Amateur Draft Selection

On June 4, 1970, the California Angels picked Paul Dade in the first round of the amateur draft. They took him 10th overall, which speaks to how much promise he showed in high school.

That first-round selection was a big deal for both Dade and the Angels. Getting picked that high meant the team saw real major league potential in him.

The draft launched Dade’s pro career at just 18. Over the next five years, he worked his way through the Angels’ minor league system before finally debuting in the majors in September 1975.

Path to the Major Leagues

Dade’s path to the big leagues started when the Angels selected him 10th overall in 1970. He spent five years developing in the minors before his MLB debut in 1975.

Minor League Development

The Angels sent Dade to the Idaho Falls Angels in the Pioneer League for his first pro season in 1970. He played mostly third base, hit .304 in 158 at-bats, and used his speed to notch five triples, putting him among the league leaders.

Dade really broke through in 1971 with the Quad Cities Angels in the Class A Midwest League. In May, Topps Chewing Gum Company named him the circuit’s Player of the Month after he started the season hitting nearly .400, picking up 29 hits in his first 73 at-bats.

He spent most of 1972 and 1973 in the Double-A Texas League with Shreveport and El Paso. Dade played every infield spot except first base and even spent 40 games in the outfield. In February 1973, the Angels added him and Morris Nettles to their 40-man roster as the youngest players on the club.

Dade’s first full Triple-A season came in 1974 with Salt Lake City in the Pacific Coast League. He started slow, hitting just .209 in his first 91 at-bats, but by season’s end, he was among the team leaders with 149 hits, 71 runs, 21 doubles, 7 triples, and 15 stolen bases.

Call-Up to the California Angels

Even though he finished strong in 1974, the Angels sent Dade back to El Paso in the Texas League for 1975. The team said that “despite his high batting average, he didn’t blister the ball as much as he should” and pointed out he “hit only three homers and got a lot of singles that were leg hits.”

Dade didn’t let the demotion get to him. He started 1975 on fire, hitting .493 and racking up nine doubles, two triples, and six stolen bases. That earned him Topps’ Texas League Player of the Month in May. El Paso instructor Moose Stubing liked what he saw: “His attitude was great. He wouldn’t quit.”

His Diablos teammates gave him the nickname “The Executioner” for his fierce play. Even after missing 23 days with a kidney ailment, Dade kept hitting. He ended the year just behind teammate Butch Alberts for the league’s batting crown and got promoted to Salt Lake City in the closing weeks.

Debut Performance in 1975

After his big year in the minors, the California Angels called Dade up after the Pacific Coast League playoffs. He made his MLB debut on September 12, 1975, at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, starting in left field.

His first game was rough—he struck out in his first at-bat and grounded out twice to third against veteran righty Al Fitzmorris. The next day, though, he got his first big league hit, a short fly that dropped in front of right fielder Jim Wohlford for a leadoff double in the sixth.

Two innings after that, Dade drew a one-out walk and scored the Angels’ last run in a 6-2 win over the Royals. On September 14, he picked up his first multi-hit game, but then finished his two-week debut with a 3-for-21 stretch. In total, he collected two singles, four doubles, and one RBI in 30 at-bats during his rookie call-up.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Paul Dade played six seasons in the majors from 1975 to 1980, moving through three organizations as an outfielder and third baseman. He put up strong batting averages with Cleveland, but faced tough transitions that shaped his short but memorable MLB stint.

Teams Played For

Dade started his MLB career with the California Angels in 1975 after being drafted 10th overall in 1970. He debuted on September 12, 1975, against the Kansas City Royals at age 23.

The Angels didn’t give Dade many chances in his first two seasons. He only got 39 at-bats in 1975 and 1976, hitting .179. Things got even harder in 1976 when the Angels brought in Bobby Bonds from the Yankees.

After 1976, Dade entered MLB’s first free-agent re-entry draft. Only the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians showed interest. He ended up signing a two-year, $100,000 contract with Cleveland in February 1977.

Dade’s best seasons came with the Indians from 1977 to mid-1979. The team guaranteed him a roster spot through 1978. He finished his career with the San Diego Padres from 1979 to 1980, mostly coming off the bench.

Positions and Fielding Roles

Throughout his career, Dade played several positions, showing he could handle both the infield and outfield. He mainly played outfield and third base, but filled in wherever the team needed him.

With Cleveland, manager Frank Robinson first moved All-Star Buddy Bell to left field to open up third base for Dade. That move only lasted 11 games before Dade went back to the outfield.

Primary defensive positions:

• Left field
• Right field
• Third base
• Second base (just a few times)

Dade’s fielding stats weren’t always pretty. In 1978, he made seven errors in right field, which put him near the top of the league in that category. With San Diego, he struggled defensively too, making four errors in just 26 chances during the 1980 season.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Dade’s best stretch came with Cleveland, where he put up his top offensive numbers. His rookie year in 1977 was the high point.

1977 Season accomplishments:

• .291 batting average
• 134 hits
• 65 runs scored
• 45 RBIs
• First MLB home run on June 22 against Toronto

In 1978, he started hot with a grand slam against the Toronto Blue Jays—his only career grand slam. By May 3, 1978, Dade’s .321 average put him among the league leaders.

Minor league teammates called him “The Executioner” for his aggressive play. When he joined Cleveland, he wore jersey number 00, saying he felt unwanted and figured “nothing for nothing equals two zeros.”

Transition Between Teams

Dade’s moves between teams usually came after letdowns or shrinking opportunities. He left California after the Angels brought in veterans, which cut into his playing time.

The free agency process in 1976 didn’t go smoothly for Dade. Even after he won the Pacific Coast League batting title with a .363 average, only two teams showed real interest. Oakland drafted him but never tried to sign him, so he filed a grievance.

Midway through 1979, Cleveland traded Dade to San Diego after manager Jeff Torborg was replaced. The Indians had just acquired Bobby Bonds, which bumped Dade to a backup role.

His last two seasons with the Padres were tough. He played in 68 games in 1980 and hit just .189, which basically ended his MLB career at age 28.

Performance Statistics and Skills

Paul Dade put together a career batting average of .270, with 10 home runs and 107 RBI over six seasons in the majors. His stats show a player who helped his teams with steady contact hitting and base-running ability, not power.

Batting Average and Offensive Metrics

Dade kept a solid .270 career batting average in 439 games. He could reliably make contact, and his best year at the plate came in 1977 with Cleveland, when he hit .291 in 134 games.

He was consistent, posting a .328 on-base percentage and a .345 slugging percentage. His OPS was .673, so he could reach base but didn’t offer much power.

Dade’s numbers were better in the American League, where he hit .273, compared to .262 in the National League with San Diego.

Home Runs and RBIs

Dade didn’t hit for power, finishing his career with just 10 home runs in six seasons. His best year was 1979, when he hit four home runs split between Cleveland and San Diego.

Still, Dade drove in 107 RBI over his career. He peaked in 1977, with 45 RBIs for Cleveland while playing regularly.

Most of his extra-base hits were doubles—he had 54 of those, compared to just seven triples. That fits his line-drive approach at the plate.

Stolen Bases and Speed

Dade used his speed to make a difference on the bases, stealing 57 stolen bases during his career. His best year for steals came in 1979, when he swiped 25 bags for both Cleveland and San Diego.

He usually did well on steal attempts, though he got caught 33 times overall. In 1977, he stole 16 bases, adding to his solid offensive season.

Speed was one of Dade’s main ways of helping his teams when he wasn’t hitting for much power.

Plate Discipline and Consistency

Dade showed decent plate discipline throughout his career. He drew 113 walks and struck out 193 times, so his walk-to-strikeout ratio of about 1:1.7 reflected some selectivity at the plate.

His most disciplined season probably came in 1975 with California. Even with limited playing time, he managed a .333 on-base percentage and worked counts well enough to get on base.

But consistency? That was always a bit of a struggle for him. His performance jumped around between seasons, and in his final year in 1980, his batting average dipped to .189 in limited action with San Diego before he retired.

Notable Seasons and Milestones

Paul Dade’s MLB career definitely had a few standout seasons that showed off his speed and knack for contact hitting. His rookie year in 1977 with Cleveland really put him on the map, and he hit his career highs with the Indians between 1977 and 1979.

Breakout 1977 Season with Cleveland Indians

Dade got his first real shot in the majors during the 1977 season with the Cleveland Indians. After signing with Cleveland in the free-agent draft, he jumped right in and made an impact.

Manager Frank Robinson actually moved All-Star Buddy Bell to left field just to fit Dade in at third base. That only lasted 11 games, though, before Dade shifted mostly to the outfield.

Key 1977 Statistics:

• Batting Average: .291
• At-bats: 461
• Hits: 134
• Runs: 65
• RBIs: 45

For much of the year, Dade kept his average above .300. By July 12, his .333 average was fifth-best in the American League with 231 at-bats.

He hit his first MLB home run on June 22 off Toronto’s Pete Vuckovich. Four days later, he homered against Detroit’s Milt Wilcox, joking about hitting “back-to-back homers in two different countries.” Gotta love that sense of humor.

Career-High Achievements

Dade put up his best stats during his Cleveland years from 1977 to 1979. He started 1978 on fire, but injuries slowed him down.

He kicked off 1978 with a solo homer on Opening Day against Kansas City, helping seal an 8-5 win. That sparked a 10-game hitting streak and gave him some early momentum.

Career Highlights:

• Only Grand Slam: April 1978 vs. Toronto (Jerry Garvin)
• Best Batting Average: .291 (1977)
• Most Hits: 134 (1977)
• Most RBIs: 45 (1977)

By May 3, 1978, Dade’s seven doubles and .321 average put him right up there with the league leaders. Then a knee injury in May sent him into a 5-for-49 slump, which really derailed his season.

His 1977 campaign ended suddenly after a collision with teammate Duane Kuiper on September 25 left him with a concussion. He spent the night at Cleveland’s Lutheran Medical Center, then went back home to Seattle.

Final MLB Season and Retirement

Dade’s MLB run wrapped up with the San Diego Padres in 1980. Cleveland traded him to San Diego in June 1979 for Mike Hargrove.

His time in San Diego became the last chapter of his six-year career. Injuries kept getting in his way and limited what he could do on the field.

On August 11, 1980, the Padres put Dade on the disabled list. He got activated in September for the last few weeks of the season, which turned out to be his final stretch in professional baseball.

Final Career Numbers:

• Seasons: 6 (1975-1980)
• Career Batting Average: .270
• Home Runs: 10
• Teams: 3 (Angels, Indians, Padres)

Dade finished his career at 28, ending a journey that started when the California Angels picked him 10th overall in the 1970 amateur draft. His speed and contact hitting made him a solid leadoff option, especially during his time in Cleveland.

Post-Baseball Life and Legacy

After calling it quits in Major League Baseball in 1980, Paul Dade kept playing professionally overseas for a bit. Later, he transitioned to civilian life, focusing on his family and keeping things pretty low-key.

Season in Japan with Hanshin Tigers

Dade took his baseball career to Japan, playing for the Hanshin Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball. That move gave him a chance to see a new culture and earn some extra money.

In the 1980s, plenty of American players went to Japan to keep their careers going. Dade got to experience Japanese baseball traditions and a totally different style of play. His stint with the Tigers helped him bridge the gap between the majors and full retirement.

Retirement Activities and Work

After his playing days, Dade moved back to Washington. Unlike some ex-players who stick around baseball as coaches or broadcasters, he kept a low profile.

He focused on building a life outside of baseball and worked in various jobs to support his family. Back then, a lot of players needed second careers since baseball salaries weren’t what they are today.

That transition from pro sports to regular work wasn’t easy for a lot of guys. Dade handled it quietly, with a lot of dignity.

Personal Life and Passing

Paul Dade, born Lonnie Paul Dade on December 7, 1951, in Seattle, Washington, kept close ties to his home state. His family stayed important to him throughout his life, both during and after baseball.

He passed away on August 25, 2016, at 64. Dade left behind memories of six seasons in Major League Baseball and was remembered by teammates and fans who followed his career with the California Angels, Cleveland Indians, and San Diego Padres.

Legacy in Major League Baseball

Paul Dade left a mark on Major League Baseball that kind of mirrors what a lot of players went through in the 1970s. He played in an era when the sport was shifting—players started pushing for their rights and, honestly, finally began earning better pay.

Career Statistics:

• Batting Average: .270
• Home Runs: 10
• Teams: 3 (Angels, Indians, Padres)
• Seasons: 1975-1980

He spent six years in the majors, holding his own during some pretty competitive seasons in the American League. Teams valued Dade because he could handle both outfield and third base.

At 23, he broke into the majors. That was pretty standard back then, since most guys spent a good chunk of time working their way up through the minors.