Astros great, JR Richard, has died. He was 71. The 6’ 8” righty made his major league debut in 1971. He was on a Hall of Fame trajectory when a stroke at age 30 in 1980 cut his career short.
I remember him well. In 1980 he complained a number of times about a dead arm/shoulder. No orthopedic problems were found. I read articles back then in which news media members were critical of him. Then he collapsed pre-game. He attempted comebacks until 1984 but never played in the majors again. I, as an offended teenager in 1980, wrote an angry letter to the editor of the local paper about media treatment of Richard. Cannot say I’m surprised it never appeared in print.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Fan Interference 
This post surprised me becasue I thought he had died a few years ago. Had to do some digging to realize it was former Astro Joaquín Andújar that passed in 2015.
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