The news that came out on Tuesday shocked the baseball world: Roy Halladay, dead at the age of 40. A tragic plane crash ended the 16-year MLB veteran’s life far too early.
There are loads of black ink on the back of his baseball card. Halladay led his league (played first 12 seasons in the American League with the Toronto Blue Jays, and last four in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies) twice in wins, seven times in complete games (including five straight years), four times in shutouts, four times in innings pitched, once in WHIP, and five times in strikeout to walk ratio.
Career stats
In his 16 seasons that spanned from 1998-2013, Halladay had a 203-105 career record. He pitched in 416 games (390 starts) and finished with a 3.38 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. He ended his career with 2,127 strikeouts, 67 complete games, and 20 shutouts.
He made just five career postseason starts, but Halladay pitched very well going 3-2 with a 2.37 ERA.
If his first three seasons and last two are taken away, it further displays how dominant Halladay was. From 2001-2011, he went 175-78 with a 2.98 ERA and 64 complete games.
All told, Halladay had three seasons with at least 20 wins, six seasons with under a three-ERA, eight seasons of 200+ innings pitched, and five seasons with 200+ strikeouts.
His .659 winning percentage is 19th in MLB history for those who pitched at least 1,000 innings.
Career accolades
Halladay made eight All-Star teams during his 16 years, all of which came within a 10-year period (2002-2011).
He was the American League Cy Young in 2003 when he went 22-7 with a 3.25 ERA with the Blue Jays. In 2010, Halladay was named the National League Cy Young with the Phillies as he finished with a 21-10 record and 2.44 ERA.
He is just one of six pitchers along with Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and Max Scherzer to win a Cy Young in both leagues.
He also had a second, third, and fifth-place finish in American Young Cy Young voting, and he had a second-place finish in the National League voting as well.
In 2010, his first season with the Phillies, he had two magical performances.
On May 29 of that year, Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in MLB history in a 1-0 victory over the Florida Marlins. On October 6, he became just the second pitcher ever to throw a no-hitter in the playoffs in what was his first career postseason start against the Cincinnati Reds.
Hall of Fame eligibility
Halladay becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2019. Other players who will be eligible for the first time that year include Mariano Rivera, Todd Helton, Andy Pettitte, Lance Berkman, and Roy Oswalt.
It surely seems as if Halladay’s career makes him worthy of a spot in Cooperstown. It is just a shame he won’t be around when his name is called.
