J.R. Richard, former Astro pitcher, has passed away

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty ImagesJ.R. Richard, the former Houston Astros pitcher whose career was cut short due to a stroke, passed away today, it was announced. He was 71.

Richard was the second overall pick in the 1969 MLB Draft out of Ruston, Louisiana. At 6’8”, he was an imposing figure on the mound, and in his prime threw as hard as anyone in MLB. Richard first made the majors in 1971, but had his breakout year in 1976, putting up a 3.6 bWAR and a 2.75 ERA in 39 starts, winning twenty games and finishing 7th in the Cy Young balloting.

Richard would follow that up with a solid 1977 season, then lead the majors in strikeouts in both 1978 and 1979 with 303 and 313, respectively,…