Houston Astros History: J.R. Richard Suffers Stroke

J.R. Richard was one of the early pitching stars for the Houston Astros, proving to be a solid front of the rotation during the 1970’s. Unfortunately, his career came to a sudden and tragic end on this day in 1980, as Richard suffered a stroke while attempting to throw before a game.

There was something wrong with Houston Astros starter J.R. Richard in 1980. While he was in the midst of his most dominant season, Richard had complained of nausea and numbness in his arm. He was placed on the disabled list on July 14th, but when tests did not show anything to be wrong, the Astros began to think that he was faking his injuries.

A little over two weeks later, the Astros would come to regret those words. Attempting to throw for the first time since being placed on the disabled list, Richard collapsed, suffering from a stroke. He was rushed to Houston’s Methodist Hospital, where emergency surgery was preformed, removing a blood clot in his neck that could have killed him.

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Richard would never return to a Major League mound. He did attempt to make a comeback in 1982 and 1983, and was even called back up to the Astros roster in September during the 1982 season, but his blurred vision and slowed reflexes made it possible that Richard would not be able to avoid a line drive hit back to the mound. Likewise, his struggles at AAA that year, where he posted a 13.68 ERA and a 2.548 WHiP, walking 27 batters against 13 strikeouts in 24.1 innings, showed that he just could not pitch any longer.

Richard had a tough life after baseball. He lose a good chunk of money due to an oil business scam, and the rest of his money and his house in two divorces. He was homeless by 1994, and living under a Houston underpass, but got his life back on track and found work at a construction company. He even found his way back into baseball, spending time on the Texas Southern University coaching staff and was a guest speaker at a roundtable event dicussing baseball and civil rights that was put on by the MLB.

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After suffering that stroke in 1980, J.R. Richard had a rough go of life. Fortunately, he has himself back on track, and has gotten through his troubles.