On July 16, 1980, Despite much speculation that he is simply malingering, the Astros place star pitcher J.R. Richard on the 21-day disabled list with a mysterious arm problem. The 6′ 8″ right-hander is 10-4 with a 1.89 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 114 innings, but has removed himself from 10 games this year complaining of fatigue and a “dead arm.” In his last start he took himself out during the fourth inning of a 2-0 loss to Atlanta two days before, although he got one of the two Houston hits in what would be his final major league at-bat.

On July 23rd, Richard will check into a hospital for a series of physical and psychological tests to determine the cause of his “erratic” behavior, and shorty after that, Richard will suffer a devastating stroke, curtailing his promising career.
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