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JR Richard, two-time National League strikeout champion with the Houston Astros whose career was cut short in 1980 by a stroke, died Thursday at the age of 71, the team said.
In 10 seasons with the Astros, Richard was 107-71 with a 3.15 ERA and 1,493 strikeouts – including 313 in 1979, which was the team’s single-season record until what Gerrit Cole surpasses him in 2019. He still ranks tied for second in team history for ERA career, third in strikeouts – behind only Nolan Ryan and Roy Oswalt – and fifth in wins and shutouts (19).
“Today is a sad day for the Houston Astros as we mourn the loss of one of our franchise icons, JR Richard,” the team said in a statement. “JR will be forever remembered as an intimidating figure on the mound and as one of the greatest pitchers in club history. He stood side by side with club icons Larry Dierker, Joe Niekro and Nolan Ryan, to form some of the best rotations in club history. “
Astros Hall of Fame starting pitcher JR Richard, one of the greatest players to wear the Astros uniform, has passed away. He was 71 years old. pic.twitter.com/ylqq2nPQMi
– Houston Astros (@astros) August 5, 2021
The 6-foot-8 pitcher, who started the 1980 All-Star Game for the National League, was known for his 100 mph fast pitch as much as his devastating breaking throw. He won a career-high 20 games in 1976 – one of his three seasons with 18 or more wins. He led the National League with a 2.71 ERA in 1979, when he went 18-13 and had a 3.2 batting on goals ratio in 292 ⅓ innings over 38 starts.
“He had the best things I’ve ever seen,” Hall of Famer Joe Morgan once said, “and it always gives me goosebumps to think about what he could have become.”
Richard was playing wrestling during pre-game drills inside the Astrodome when he suffered a stroke in July 1980.
Second pick in the 1969 MLB Draft, Richard was inducted into the Astros’ first Hall of Fame in 2020.
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