Phillies’ Halladay joins MLB pantheon
Brandy Halladay speaks on behalf of her late husband, former Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay, during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on Sunday in Cooperstown, New York. Brandy Halladay fought back tears as she spoke for her late husband: “I know how honored Roy would be to be sitting here with such accomplished men. Thank you for being such a good example to him and to supporting him in his career. This is not my speech to give.” Halladay was 40 when he was killed while piloting a plane that crashed in the Gulf of Mexico in November 2017. In his 16-year career with Toronto and Philadelphia, the two-time Cy Young Award winner amassed a 203-105 record, and threw a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter in 2010. He was elected in his first year on the ballot.
Brandy Halladay speaks on behalf of her late husband, Roy Halladay, during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y.
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Brandy Halladay fought back tears as she spoke for her late husband, Roy Halladay, who was posthumously inducted into the baseball Hall Of Fame on Sunday.
“I knew I was going to cry at some point. It's overwhelming the amount of people here today,” she said, tears welling in her eyes, her voice quavering with emotion. “I'm so grateful you're here. I can't tell you how many hugs I've gotten. There are not enough words to thank you.
“I know how honored Roy would be to be sitting here with such accomplished men. Thank you for being such a good example to him and to supporting him in his career. This is not my speech to give.”
The son of a commercial pilot, Roy Halladay was 40 when he was killed in a plane crash in November 2017 into the Gulf of Mexico while piloting his own plane alone off the Florida coast 20 miles from his home. A toxicology report showed high levels of amphetamines and morphine in his system and hints of an antidepressant.
“I think that Roy would want everyone to know that people are not perfect,” Brandy said. “We are all imperfect and flawed in one way or another. We all struggle, but with hard work, humility and dedication, imperfect people can still have perfect moments. Roy was blessed in his life and in his career to have some perfect moments.”
A two-time Cy Young Award winner, Halladay amassed a 203-105 record in a 16-year career with Toronto and Philadelphia. He became just the second pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter in the postseason, opening the 2010 NL Division Series with one against the Cincinnati Reds in the first playoff start of his career. He also pitched a perfect game that season. Halladay was elected in his first year on the ballot.
“Of course he would be honored and humbled,” Brandy Halladay said. “He was a true competitor. He went to the field every day ready to do whatever it took to give his team the best possible chance to win. I think Roy would rather be remembered by who he was, not what he did on the ballfield. He so desperately wanted to be as great and successful at home as he was in baseball.”
The Brandy Halladay and her two sons decided that there would be no logo on his plaque because both organizations meant a lot to Halladay.