Houston Astros | This Day In Baseball Ron Willis dies in Memphis, TN at age 34 in an auto accident November 21, 1977November 22, 2020 Houston Astros, This Day In Baseball On November 21 , 1977 – Ron Willis dies in Memphis, TN at age 34 in an auto accident. A midseason purchase from St. Louis, the righthander sees action in three games with the Astros in 1969. He is returned to the Cardinals at the end of the season.