Roy Halladay Dies In Plane Crash

The baseball world reeled on Tuesday when it was announced that Roy Halladay, one of the sport’s most decorated pitchers in recent memory, died in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico just off the coast of St. Petersburg, Fla. He was 40 years old, and leaves behind a wife and two young sons.

Without question, the crowning achievement of Halladay’s career came with the Phillies on Oct. 6, 2010, when he joined Don Larsen as the only two pitchers to throw a postseason no-hitter. Halladay allowed just a walk that night in Game One of the National League Division Series against the Reds. It was his second brush with history that season, coming just months after he’d thrown a perfect game against the Marlins.

Baseball America honored Halladay in 2010 as our Major League Player of the Year. For that honor, BA columnist Jayson Stark wrote this story.

Overall, Halladay, a first-round pick of the Blue Jays in 1995, split his 16-year career between the Phillies and the Blue Jays and finished with 203-105, 3.38 with 2,117 strikeouts in 2,749.1 innings. He signed a one-day contract with the Blue Jays on Dec. 9, 2013 before officially announcing his retirement.

Halladay was an eight-time All-Star and won his first Cy Young Award with the Blue Jays in 2003 when he led the American League in wins, starts, complete games, shutouts, innings and strikeout-to-walk ratio. Seven years later, Halladay won the National League Cy Young Award with the Phillies after leading the league in all of the categories previously mentioned, except starts.

He was nominated for MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award several times. The award recognizes the player whose charitable work away from the field most embodies the memory of Clemente, the Pirates’ Hall of Fame outfielder who died in a plane crash on his way to deliver aid to his native Puerto Rico.

On Twitter and across social media, players, coaches and fans shared their memories of Halladay as both a player and a friend.

Astros righthander Lance McCullers Jr.

RIP Doc. I remember watching you in awe as a kid, your legacy will forever live on. Love those close to you. https://t.co/cMeiEXuCoV

— Lance McCullers Jr. (@LMcCullers43) November 7, 2017

Diamondbacks executive and former big leaguer Dan Haren

I only own like 5 signed jerseys, and I was so scared to ask him. He wrote that he liked watching ME pitch. What an honor pic.twitter.com/ufj4G8u5DD

— dan haren (@ithrow88) November 7, 2017

Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, a teammate of Halladay’s in Toronto

My God I can’t believe this news!! Rest In Peace Doc Holiiday! I’m honored to have played with you my friend! My family is so heart broken!!

— Frank Thomas (@TheBigHurt_35) November 7, 2017

Ryan Howard, an all-star and Halladay’s teammate in Philadelphia

Such a sad day. We lost a great ball player but an even better human being. Many prayers to Brandy, Ryan, & Brayden. We will miss you Roy.

— Ryan Howard (@ryanhoward) November 7, 2017

All-star outfielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

We were together in this journey as Canadian Baseball Hall of Famers, now you are gone. RIP Roy Halladay pic.twitter.com/x5Vv0r8djx

— Vladimir Guerrero (@VladGuerrero27) November 7, 2017

The Phillies’ official statement

Phillies statement on the sudden & tragic passing of Roy Halladay: pic.twitter.com/gGhv7JUKv0

— Phillies (@Phillies) November 7, 2017

Bob Elliott, the dean of Canadian baseball writers

R. I. P. Roy Halladay … one of the best ever Sympathies to his wife, sons, his sisters, everyone else and the boys he coached @BlueJays

— bob elliott (@elliottbaseball) November 7, 2017