Dave Smith RIP; the tragedy of the 1980 Astros

[beencounting]

growing up in Houston, this came as yet another tragic bit of news about a team that I loved as an 11 year old.

Houston is a sports city that has been cursed more than any other in American history and specifically the 1980 Astros pitching staff.

Look who has died (most of you young ones won't remember)

Joe Neikro
Vern Ruhle
Dave Smith

all 3 pitchers. JR Richards , a 6'8" flamethrower had a midseason stroke in 1980 but survived, he later lost all his money and became homeless and briefly lived under a Houston bridge.

also a pitcher on that 1980 team was Nolan Ryan, Ken Forsch, Joe Sambito and a few others. Lets hope they make it.

It's just so sad that these guys were one of the best pitching staffs of the 1980s, an era known for pitching, and they carried a team to the brink of the WS only to lose to a HOF stacked Philly team in the best NLCS anyone had ever seen.

Houston Astros - rainbow uniforms forever.

 

[the Saint]

In reply to:

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[Endust]

 

[halsteadfrost]

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[Joe Fan]

I met Dave Smith once.

It was in Bayamon, Puerto Rico where he was playing winterball. My friend's uncle managed the stadium, so my buds and I got in the dressing room between doubleheader games. He was there with Denny Walling, Bruce Bochy and a few other Astros (including maybe Dave Bergmann). Very nice guy. And chatty. We shared a beer, talked about the local surf and about staring down Mike Schmidt in the playoffs. They invited us over to their place for a New Year's Eve party. The next day, Bud Adams fired Bum Phillips.

Anyways, peace be with you Dave Smith.

 

[Ramathorn]

the saint, shouldn't most of them be dead?

 

[Orangesweat]

When did Dave Smith die?

 

[NoColon]

Houston Chronicle article

 

[Alpine]

Was Smith the guy who threw the no-hitter at home to clinch the division circa 1986?

 

[the Saint]

Mike Scott