The Tragedy and Triumph of J.R. Richard

April 3, 2024 | Dan Lathey
J.R. Richard (left), catcher Larry Howard, and pitcher Larry Yount are pictured a couple of days prior to the 1972 season-opener between the Oklahoma City 89ers and Wichita Aeros at All Sports Stadium (photo courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society).
J.R. Richard (left), catcher Larry Howard, and pitcher Larry Yount are pictured a couple of days prior to the 1972 season-opener between the Oklahoma City 89ers and Wichita Aeros at All Sports Stadium (photo courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society).

By Dan Lathey

Many factors contributed to James Rodney Richard becoming arguably the most feared pitcher in baseball in the 1970s. In addition to standing at an imposing six feet eight inches tall, the Ruston, Louisiana native possessed a 100-mph plus fastball, wicked slider and occasional control problems (he led the National League in hit batters three times in five and a half seasons as a full-time big leaguer) that kept batters on their toes. 

Known to the baseball world as J.R., Richard was the second pick in the June 1969 draft by the Houston Astros. He pitched two seasons (1971 and 72) for the Oklahoma City 89ers on his way to the Major Leagues, compiling a 22-15 record with 371 strikeouts in 301 innings pitched.

Richard made his Major League debut against the San Francisco Giants at age 21 on Sept. 5, 1971, tying a Major League record with 15 strikeouts in a debut appearance. Despite that splashy start, Richard split time between the minor and major leagues for three more years until landing a permanent spot on the Astros rotation in 1975.

Richard went 12-10 in his first full season with the Astros, striking out 176 batters in 203 innings pitched. He posted a career best 20-15 record in 1976 but his best season may have been 1979 when he posted an 18-13 record, while leading the National League with a 2.71 ERA and 313 strikeouts.

At the top of his game, Richard posted a 10-4 record, 1.90 ERA with a .166 batting average against through the first half of the 1980 season before earning a start in the All Game in Los Angeles. He threw two shutout innings in what would tragically be the final appearance of his career. Suffering from numbness in his arms and dizziness, Richard sought medical attention but despite knowledge of a previously discovered blood clot, no precautionary measures were taken. Disaster struck when Richard suffered a near fatal stroke on July 30, ending his career at age 30.

Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan said of Richard, “he had the greatest stuff I ever seen, and it still gives me goose bumps to think of what he may have become.”

Richard suffered many difficulties after his stroke, including financial ruin and homelessness. He did eventually get his life back on track and spent many years inspiring others as a motivational speaker and pastor, including service with Houston’s Lord of the Episcopal Church. 

Mr. Richard was inducted into the Houston Astros Hall of Fame in 2019. He passed away in August 2021 in Houston at 71 years old. His legacy will live forever not only for what he accomplished on the baseball field but also for how we rebounded from hard times to make a positive impact on his adopted hometown.

Click here to listen to an interesting interview with Mr. Richard on Houston Public Radio: https://bit.ly/3PH1miU