JR Richard is an American former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career, from 1971 to 1980, with the Houston Astros. From 1976 to 1980, he was one of the premier pitchers in the majors, leading the National League twice in strikeouts, once in earned run average, and three times in hits allowed per nine innings, winning at least 18 games a year between 1976 and 1979. On July 30, 1980, Richard suffered a stroke and collapsed while playing a game of catch before an Astros game, and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery to remove a life-threatening blood clot in his neck. His condition brought a sudden end to his major league career at the age of 30. JR Richard has hand autographed this Houston Astros B&W 8x10 Photo. Certificate of Authenticity from Athlon Sports Collectibles.