It is a sad day in the sports community. Harry Leroy Halladay III, aka Roy “Doc” Halladay, passed away Tuesday afternoon, at the age of 40, in a plane crash. It’s being reported he was the lone passenger on his single-engine, two-seater plane that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico at approximately noon on Tuesday. As a child, Halladay dreamed of flying a plane because his father was a corporate pilot. Halladay’s dream came true upon retiring from Major League Baseball, as his contract prohibited piloting a plane.
The outpouring of love has been tremendous from countless people from many walks of life. The baseball community recognizes Halladay as one of the best pitchers of his generation. His personal community acknowledges the work he did with those in need through his foundation and charity work. And his family mourns the loss of a loving husband and father of two.
On the field, Halladay’s work ethic was 2nd to none. Former Philadelphia Phillies’ teammate, Chase Utley, shared the recollection of the day he met Halladay:
“It was 5:45 a.m. on the first day of spring training when I arrived. He was finishing his breakfast but his clothes were soaking wet. I asked if it was raining when he got in. He laughed and said, “No I just finished my workout”.”
Halladay was a consummate professional. And it showed on the mound….
Halladay’s Career (16 Seasons):
203 wins
3.38 era
1.18 whip
2,117 strikeouts
2 Cy Young Awards, 8 All-Star Selections, 1 Perfect Game, and 1 Postseason No-Hitter
Halladay is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Halladay’s influence reached farther than the 60 feet, 6 inches of real estate he worked in for 16 years. He was an active member of his community, donating time, money, and energy to the betterment of society. He and his wife would invite children and their families from the Hospital for Sick Children to his personal suite at Rogers Centre to enjoy Toronto Blue Jays’ games. This wasn’t done for notoriety, as press was not allowed in the suite. He also had an annual donation of $100,000 to the Jays Care Foundation written into his contract.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, which had a personal relationship with Halladay, reported the crash. Halladay donated a police dog to the Sheriff’s Office, which they appropriately named “Doc”. You can’t sum up a man in 1 or 2 sentences, but Sheriff, Chris Nocco, did his best:
“You wouldn’t know what Roy did because Roy wouldn’t tell you what he did,” Nocco said. “And that’s the legacy of a great man.”
Halladay is survived by his wife Brandy, and their two sons, Ryan and Braden.
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