RIP J.R. Richard

[Tank]

J.R. Richard a former pitcher in the MLB passed away at the age of 71. Richard was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball and played his entire career, from 1971 to 1980, with the Houston Astros.

After leaving high school, Richard was selected by the Astros as the second overall pick in the first round of the 1969 amateur draft. From the time he made his major league debut with the Astros in 1971 until 1975, Richard had a limited role as an Astros pitcher, throwing no more than 72 innings in a season. In 1975, Richard played his first full season in the majors as a starting pitcher.

From 1976 to 1980, he was one of the premier pitchers in the majors, leading the National League twice in strikeouts, once in earned run average, and three times in hits allowed per nine innings, winning at least 18 games a year between 1976 and 1979. On July 30, 1980, Richard suffered a stroke and collapsed while playing a game of catch before an Astros game, and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery to remove a life-threatening blood clot in his neck. His condition brought a sudden end to his major league career at the age of 30. His 313 strikeouts in 1979 remained an Astros franchise record until Gerrit Cole surpassed it on September 24, 2019, and he held the team's record for career strikeouts (1,493) until 1987. Two-time National League MVPs Johnny Bench and Dale Murphy both named Richard as the toughest pitcher they ever faced.

In 1981, Richard attempted a comeback with the Astros, but this failed because the stroke had slowed down his reaction time and weakened his depth perception. He spent the next few seasons in the minor leagues before being released by the Astros in 1984. After his professional baseball career ended, Richard became involved in unsuccessful business deals and went through two divorces, which led to him being homeless and destitute in 1994. Richard found solace in a local church and later became a Christian minister.

Richard died in a Houston hospital on August 4, 2021.

Sourced from Wikipedia:

[Junkballer]

May he rest in peace.  

A truly formidable pitcher in his time.  Glad that he found redemption after the troubles he experienced post-baseball.

[T.G.]

I sincerely thought he passed away years ago.  Was there another Astros pitcher who was known for striking people out who passed away young?

[Tank]

Just now, True Grich said:

I sincerely thought he passed away years ago. 

yeah, i did too. was surprised to hear this announcement.

[fan_since79]

They're saying he had "COVID complications". I wonder if he had a reaction to the vaccine. 

Rest in Peace...

[T.G.]

Just now, Tank said:

yeah, i did too. was surprised to hear this announcement.

It's very strange... I was absolutely sure he died of a heart attack at a young age.

[failos]

Who shot JR?

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

JR Richard and Nolan Ryan put together a solid Tandem of 1 and 1A.

 

I think it was Jose Lima that died due to a Heart Attack a few years ago.

[T.G.]

21 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

JR Richard and Nolan Ryan put together a solid Tandem of 1 and 1A.

 

I think it was Jose Lima that died due to a Heart Attack a few years ago.

I knew that.... but I really thought J.R. died years ago.

[Taylor]

Just now, True Grich said:

I knew that.... but I really thought J.R. died years ago.

That was S.R. Richard.

[T.G.]

I guess JR Richard had a heart attack at age 30.... and for some reason I thought he died from it.

[Redondo]

RIP JR

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Richard started the game for the Astros that I attended at Dodger Stadium in 1975 with my sister and my parents.

RIP.

[Stradling]

18 hours ago, True Grich said:

I sincerely thought he passed away years ago.  Was there another Astros pitcher who was known for striking people out who passed away young?

Same. 

[Stradling]

My first glove was a JR Richards model that was bought at FedMart. 

[Redondo]

1 hour ago, Hells Rainbow said:

My first glove was a JR Richards model that was bought at FedMart. 

I remember FedMart

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

21 hours ago, True Grich said:

I guess JR Richard had a heart attack at age 30.... and for some reason I thought he died from it.

He had a massive Stroke while he was still pitching! That is why his career came to a stop.

[Taylor]

JR Richard passing away years ago is clearly a Mandela effect since there are several in this thread who all remembered the same incorrect thing.

[Stradling]

JR Berenstein. 

[fan_since79]

10 hours ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

He had a massive Stroke while he was still pitching! That is why his career came to a stop.

He was playing catch in the outfield before a game when it happened.

[Amazing Larry]

On 8/5/2021 at 11:34 AM, failos said:

Who shot JR?

That was Dallas not Houston. 

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

On 8/6/2021 at 9:18 PM, fan_since79 said:

He was playing catch in the outfield before a game when it happened.

Correct, he was still playing hadn't retired and wasn't old....He was in the Middle of his carer!

[Vegas Halo Fan]

On 8/5/2021 at 11:31 AM, True Grich said:

I sincerely thought he passed away years ago.  Was there another Astros pitcher who was known for striking people out who passed away young?

I had the same thought.