RIP As good has he was in the late 70's, he was really just hitting his peak before the stroke brought his career to an instant halt. Over the last 30 starts of his career he was completely untouchable, moreso than any Astro ever. He may have had a Sandy Koufax like run if he kept playing and could have even helped us to a World Series in 81. A good career, but still one of the great what ifs. Life wasn't kind to him after the stroke.
Damn. What might’ve been. Hard to think he’s not in the HOF and considered one of the best ever had he not been brought down by that stroke. Rest In Peace
Sad indeed. My dad would tell me about J.R. Richards and what could have been with his pitching career. I hear he was quite electric. RIP.
I still remember meeting him when I was about 5, I was shocked at how huge his hand was when I shook it. Then we played catch. Still have the signed baseball. What 'couldabeen' in 1980 if he had stayed healthy....
He was just learning to control his stuff. He had a reputation for wildness that made standing in the batters box "difficult" when it came so fast getting out of the way was hard. Batters would bail at a ball down the middle because they were so scared to stand in there. We would marvel at his 92MPH off speed pitch - a slider I think, which was faster than the average fastball in the majors at that time. We dreamed of Nolan/Niekro/JR messing with a teams timing. Back then we were MACHO and didn't understand "something just not being right" was something to take seriously. I was right in line with those just demanding he "work through it." Then we got news he suffered a stroke. It was devastating on so many levels, Fortunately he survived, and after going through his ups and downs, lived a life no one had anticipated.
Unfortunately, the Astros didn't believe him and the doctors said he could play thru the weakness, then he had his stroke while practice pitching in the dome. Today, he would have been sent to experts, test, etc... that's the sad part of the story. I did get a chance to watch a game he pitched and if I remember correctly he actually hit a home run in that game.
