Major League Baseball Player. For ten seasons (1971 to 1980), he was a pitcher with the Houston Astros. He went from a star player to a tragic sports figure when he suffered a career-ending stroke in 1980. Born James Rodney Richard, he attended Lincoln High School in Louisiana before being selected by the Houston Astros during the 1969 June Amateur Draft. He enrolled at Arizona State University, prior to making his Major League debut on September 5, 1971. He became part of a starting rotation, which included Don Wilson (who himself became a tragic sports figure), Jack Billingham, Larry Dierker and Ken Forsch. Richard struggled with an elevated ERA during his first few seasons before flourishing in 1976, when he produced a career-high 20-wins and topped the 200- strikeout mark. In 1978, he set a then team record with his 303 strikeouts and one year later (1979) he bettered it with his 313 strikeouts (league leader) while leading the league with a 2.71 ERA. In 1980, he achieved All-Star status and was well on his way to another memorable season when he suffered a massive stroke while working out on July 30, 1980. He retired after a failed comeback attempt and for a period was homeless. He later became a Christian minister.
Major League Baseball Player. For ten seasons (1971 to 1980), he was a pitcher with the Houston Astros. He went from a star player to a tragic sports figure when he suffered a career-ending stroke in 1980. Born James Rodney Richard, he attended Lincoln High School in Louisiana before being selected by the Houston Astros during the 1969 June Amateur Draft. He enrolled at Arizona State University, prior to making his Major League debut on September 5, 1971. He became part of a starting rotation, which included Don Wilson (who himself became a tragic sports figure), Jack Billingham, Larry Dierker and Ken Forsch. Richard struggled with an elevated ERA during his first few seasons before flourishing in 1976, when he produced a career-high 20-wins and topped the 200- strikeout mark. In 1978, he set a then team record with his 303 strikeouts and one year later (1979) he bettered it with his 313 strikeouts (league leader) while leading the league with a 2.71 ERA. In 1980, he achieved All-Star status and was well on his way to another memorable season when he suffered a massive stroke while working out on July 30, 1980. He retired after a failed comeback attempt and for a period was homeless. He later became a Christian minister.
Bio by: C.S.
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