J.R. Richard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| J.R. Richard | |
|---|---|
| Starting pitcher | |
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| September 5, 1971 for the Houston Astros | |
| Final game | |
| July 14, 1980 for the Houston Astros | |
| Career statistics | |
| Record | 107-71 |
| ERA | 3.15 |
| Strikeouts | 1493 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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James Rodney "J.R." Richard (born March 7, 1950 in Vienna, Louisiana) was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros. Richard had been one of the top starting pitchers in the National League for years when a sudden stroke ended his career at age 30.
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[edit] Career
Richard was drafted by the Astros in the first round of the 1969 draft. In 1971, the made him a late season callup in September. On September 5, 1971, at just 21 years of age, Richard made his Major League debut with a complete game win against the San Francisco Giants, striking out 15, including future Hall of Famer Willie Mays three times.
Richard split time between the minors and majors in the next few years, not becoming a regular starter with the Astros until 1975. From 1975 to 1979, he finished 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, and 5th in walks allowed. However, he also finished 5th, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, and 1st in strikeouts. From 1976 on, his ERA never finished above 3.00.
He never won the Cy Young Award, but came in third place in 1979, when the Chicago Cubs' Bruce Sutter won the award. In 1979, he went 18-13 with a league-leading 2.71 ERA while striking out 313 batters, an Astros record. This was also the first year as a starter that he walked fewer than 100 batters. He pitched in 38 games and completed 19, with 4 shutouts.
[edit] Injury
1980 was looking to be his best season ever. At one point, Richard won five straight starts including three straight complete game shutouts. He finished the first half with a 10-4 record and an ERA under 2.00. On July 8, Richard made his only All-Star appearance, starting for the National League in the All-Star Game.
However, as the season had progressed, Richards began to complain of "dead arm," citing discomfort in his shoulder and forearm. His concerns fell on deaf ears. Some in the media even interpreted these complaints as whining, theorizing that Richard was egotistical and could not handle the pressure.
During his next start on July 14, Richard was in the midst of another shutout, but began to have trouble with his vision and arm movement. He left the game in the fourth inning and was soon placed on the disabled list.
On July 30, Richard was participating in warm-ups before the game when he suffered a major stroke and collapsed on the field. A massive blockage in his right carotid artery necessitated emergency surgery that evening. Subsequent examinations showed extensive arterial thoracic outlet syndrome, as his clavicle and first rib pinched his subclavian artery during the pitching motion.
Richard missed the rest of the season.
In 1981, Richard tried to make a comeback but the stroke had a negative effect on his reaction time and depth perception. He toiled in the minor leagues for the next few seasons before retiring in 1983.
[edit] After baseball
The sudden end of Richard's baseball career was just the beginning of bad times ahead. Bad business deals and two divorces helped lead Richard to financial ruin. By 1994, he was homeless and destitute.
Richard found help in a local church and, years later, became one of its ministers.
Recently, Richard's story has spurred a movement by fans to urge the Houston Astros to retire his number 50. An online petition has collected over 1,000 signitures. [1]
[edit] References
- "Why Michael Couldn't Hit: And Other Tales of the Neurology of Sports", Harold L. Klawans.
- The tragedy of J.R. Richard: A story seldom told
- Astros are forgetting one of their legends
