Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rakow signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers during their last season in Brooklyn, 1957, and after three minor league seasons, he spent part of the 1960 season on the Los Angeles Dodgers\' roster. He worked in nine games, two as a starting pitcher, and lost his only decision, giving up 18 earned runs, 30 hits and 11 bases on balls in 22 innings pitched. The following spring, he was traded to the Athletics, where he would appear in 121 games over the next three years.\n', '

In 1962, Rakow led the A\'s in games started (35), innings pitched (235​1⁄3), complete games (11), shutouts (2) and games won (14). He led the American League in losses (17) and earned runs (111), and finished eighth in the league in strikeouts (159, which led the Athletics).\n', '

After the 1963 campaign, Rakow was included a major off-season trade with the Detroit Tigers, in which he, fellow right-handed pitcher Dave Wickersham and second baseman Jerry Lumpe were exchanged for slugger Rocky Colavito, pitcher Bob Anderson and cash. His first year as a Tiger, 1964, saw Rakow lower his earned run average to a career-best 3.72 in 34 games and 174​1⁄3 innings pitched, but it would be his last full season in the Majors. Detroit farmed him out to Triple-A in May 1965, and Rakow remained in the minor leagues for the remainder of his career, except for 17 games with the Atlanta Braves during the latter weeks of the 1967 season. Rakow retired after 1968, his 12th pro season.\n', '

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