Thanksgiving Next Week, Thankful Now
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I just wanted to say how thankful I am again this year that SDS put out yet another JR Richard Astros Retro Card. I really enjoy seeing this card in the game each year which reminds me of a cool little true story of Mr. Richard.
The year is 1980, April and the start of Baseball season along with Little League. If you played little league in the 70s up until now you may remember having to sell chocolate bars for the team and league. I was a member of Sharpstown LL located here in Houston, Tx. That particular year the 3 boys that sold the most candy bars would get to a meet and greet and a big TY from none other than the Astros star Pitcher J R Richard.
I was a lucky little 9 yr who had both his mother and grandmother that worked at local large banks and they would push the candy bars to every person that walked into their branches. As you can guess I sold the most bars and was the first in line to meet Mr. Richard.
At the time I was also a Pitcher on my LL team and would say that I idolized JR on the Astros being that they were my favorite team and one that I had been following since going to my first game in diapers.
After the shock of meeting such a giant of a man especially to a little short and stocky 9 yr old I motioned for him to come down close to me so I could tell him something. The giant of a man leaned down and I said in his ear, "I want to grow up and be big and pitch like you do." Mr Richard then said out loud in front of the entire LL and parents what I had just said and then said I was too fat to ever be a pitcher.
As I slowly walked away crying uncontrollable I saw out of the corner of my eye my Grandfather (Papa) jump on that big man and ride him to the ground like an animal. It then took 6-7 fathers to get him off that big buck and still remember JR having to dust himself off from being on the ground.
The really good thing that came of all this besides an emotional scar I still carry was Mr Richards had a stroke on the field before the Astros game just a few short months later. If that is not Karma I have never seen it.
So once again Thanks SDS and I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all the Players and Families of this great game.
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Great personal story. The ace who got opening day 1980 over Nolan Ryan. It’s really a shame what happened to him after baseball.
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They just don’t make Pappys like they used to do they. I hope (and I’m near certain that you did) this was the day where you stopped wasting your dreams trying to idolize an athlete and realized the man that you wanted to grow up and be like was that old timer who had more fight in him than that entire ball club.
That story makes my chest swell with pride for you and all of us alive today who got to experience the incredible love and life lessons that only a Pappy can give. I still miss and think of mine every single day. I truly do.Great story.
