All-Star to Homeless: the J.R. Richard Story

It is 1980; imagine being 30 year olds, making $850,000 a year, you had just played in your first All-Star game, and you are sitting on top of the world. You have no worries, you figure you have at least five more years to pitch, no one imagines what happens next. This is the true story of a Houston Astros pitcher named J.R. Richard. It is a story I first heard last year on an ESPN baseball program. It is a story which made me go wow this guy is a true hero. Richard's baseball stats are impressive for a career shut short. It is a tragic how his career ended. It is even more tragic how his life crumbled after his baseball career. The works he is doing now is what makes him a hero because it is more important than baseball. His story is unbelievable. A story of a free fall from the pitcher's mound to a nearby overpass, to being found by a reporter, to helping others through a church. His story can only be described as a testimony.

Baseball Glory Days

In a ten year career J.R. Richard compiled a a record of 107-71, a career earned run average of 3.15, and 1, 493 career strikeouts. He spent 5.5 seasons fully in the majors. Richard was a 20 game winner in 1975. He won 18 games in 1977, 1978, and in 1979. In 1980 he was on pace to win 20 and perhaps have his best season. He was a workhorse too, pitching over 200 innings five straight seasons. Two of those seasons he pitched over 290 innings. Richard's pitching stats from the baseball almanac. He was the team MVP one season, he was named pitcher of the month a few times, and in 1980 was an All-Star.

Game Over

It was 1980 J.R. Richard was enjoying his best season. He was named an All-Star, his ERA was under 2, if he could keep this pace he would be a contender for the Cy Young Award. According to Astros Daily's J.R, Richard Tribute "after complaining of dizziness on July 14, Richard was placed on the Disabled List and underwent a battery of tests." They "arterial blockage was found in his right shoulder, but it was not deemed to be serious." No big deal, a stint on the disabled list and a refreshed Richard would come back to All-Star form. According to the Bleacher Report "on July 30, 1980, while tossing a ball around in the outfield prior to a game, Richard collapsed from what would later be identified as a stroke." Shocking for a player at the age of 30 to have a stroke while playing catch to warm up for a game, the blockage was in deed a big deal. "Blood flow in the major arteries in the right side of Richard's neck had been completely restricted' and he would require "life-saving emergency surgery" in order "to restore blood flow to his brain." "It was later discovered Richard had suffered no less than three strokes" which no one knew about. His shoulder artery issues remained and he "was diagnosed with a condition known as arterial thoracic outlet syndrome." J.R tried to make a comeback but the damage caused by the stroke and his condition would lead him to be released from the Astros organization in 1984.

The Fall

Failing to make it back to the big leagues Richard's life began to unravel. "He lost over $300,000 in a business scam." One of his divorces cost him "almost $700,000." He "was divorced twice, lost his home" and was alone, broke and homeless. When he reached rock bottom he "found himself homeless and living under an interstate bridge." His dream come true live had turned into one heck of a nightmare.

A New Life

"Reverend Floyd Lewis of the New Testament Church of South Houston" gave Richard "help, guidance, and understanding, as well as a deeply rooted faith in God." He "overcame homelessness and despair" with the strength of his new faith. He rebuilt his life. He "became a minister in the church." J.R. Richard became a hero by spending "countless hours helping the homeless and mentoring the area's youth that need a guiding hand." He has gone from having it all, to being homeless, to now helping others escape homelessness.

Sources:

Baseball almanac

Astros Daily

Bleacher Report