Former two-time Cy Young Award winner and the owner of the 20th perfect game in MLB history Roy Halladay has died in a plane crash off the Gulf Coast in Florida. He was only 40-years old.
The news was confirmed by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Department after a plane matching Halladay’s ICON A5 was reported crashed in the water. The incident reportedly occurred 10 miles west of St. Petersburg around 1 pm ET.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said it wasn’t clear what brought down the plane and made mention there was no mayday call. Nocco also stated that Halladay’s body was found near the plane and that a full investigation will follow.
Via Yahoo Sports:
“Many know Roy as a Cy Young pitcher, a future hall of famer. One of the best pitchers ever in the game of baseball,” Nocco said. “We know Roy as a person. As a caring husband who lived his wife Brandy. Who loved his two boys tremendously. He coached our baseball teams. To Brandy, the boys and the whole family, we are so sad for your loss. We are praying for you. We know how much he means to you. And I can tell you from the bottom of our hearts, we know much you all meant to him.”
An eight-time All-Star, Halladay compiled a 203-105 record with a 3.38 ERA in his 16-year career with the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. Often times known as Doc, Halladay also had a no-hitter in the playoffs to his credit before retiring from the game in 2013. He eventually received his pilots license seemingly following in his father’s footsteps who’s a commercial pilot before purchasing the ICON A5 single engine plane recently which he (Halladay) often posted about on Twitter.
I have dreamed about owning a A5 since I retired! Real life is better then my dreams!! Thx Kirk & everyone @ICONAircraft pic.twitter.com/wkk6TtjAY4
— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) October 13, 2017
I’m really not big on posting pic’s of my stuff and I’ll never be on Cribs… but this A5 is so outrageous I’d feel guilty not sharing pics! pic.twitter.com/UUmZMfgsff
— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) October 17, 2017
A little flying with pilot Roy ✈️ @RoyHalladay pic.twitter.com/tOLxWyGldI
— Hudini (@nolanhudi) November 5, 2017
The Phillies also released a statement in response to Halladay’s death:
“We are numb over the very tragic news about Roy Halladay’s untimely death,” the Phillies said in a statement. “There are no words to describe the sadness that the entire Phillies family is feeling over the loss of one of the most respected human beings to ever play the game. It is with the heaviest of hearts that we pass along our condolences to Brandy, Ryan and Braden.”
Anyways, judging from the pictures he posted on Twitter he was truly a guy that was enjoying a well deserved retirement.
RIP Doc.
