History of Roy Halladay in Timeline

Roy Halladay, nicknamed "Doc", was a dominant MLB pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies from 1998-2013. An eight-time All-Star, he's considered one of baseball's all-time greats, known for his exceptional durability. Halladay led the league in complete games seven times, the most of any pitcher after 1945. He also topped the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio five times and innings pitched four times, solidifying his legacy as a premier pitcher of his era.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1945: Durability

Roy Halladay's outstanding durability allowed him to lead the league in complete games seven times, the most of any pitcher whose career began after 1945.

1974: Luis Tiant wins

Roy Halladay became the first pitcher to win five games against the Yankees in a single season since Luis Tiant in 1974.

1975: Combined No-Hitter

The near no-hitter on September 27, 1998 would have joined the combined no-hitter by four Oakland Athletics pitchers (Vida Blue, Glenn Abbott, Paul Lindblad, and Rollie Fingers) in 1975

May 14, 1977: Harry Leroy Halladay III born

On May 14, 1977, Harry Leroy Halladay III, later known as Roy Halladay, was born. He became a professional baseball pitcher.

Others born on this day/year

1984: Mike Witt's perfect game

The near no-hitter on September 27, 1998 would have joined Mike Witt's perfect game in 1984.

1991: Jack Morris's extra-inning shutout

Roy Halladay pitched the first extra-inning shutout in the major leagues since Jack Morris in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, leading the Blue Jays to victory over the Tigers on September 6.

1994: Led High School Team to Championship

In 1994, Roy Halladay led Arvada West High School's baseball team to a 6A state championship.

1995: Drafted by the Blue Jays

In 1995, Roy Halladay was drafted 17th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the MLB draft after pitching at Arvada West High School.

September 27, 1998: Near No-Hitter

On September 27, 1998, in his second career start, Roy Halladay nearly pitched a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers, with the no-hitter broken up with two outs in the ninth inning. He recorded his first major league win in a 2-1 victory.

1998: Major league debut

In 1998, Halladay made his major league debut, nearly pitching a no-hitter in his second career start.

1998: Promotion to Major League Club

In 1998, Roy Halladay was promoted to the major-league club as a September call-up.

2000: Demotion to the minor leagues

After struggling in 2000, Halladay was demoted to the low minor leagues to rework his delivery and pitching.

2000: Struggles in 2000 Season

During the 2000 season, Roy Halladay had a 10.64 ERA in 19 games, making it the worst season in history for any pitcher with at least 50 innings pitched.

2001: Rebuilding Delivery

At the beginning of the 2001 season, Halladay was optioned to Class-A Dunedin to rebuild his delivery. He worked with Mel Queen to alter his arm angle and add pitches.

2001: Worked with sports psychologist

In 2001, Roy Halladay immersed himself in the works of sports psychologist Harvey Dorfman, contributing to the resurrection of his career.

2002: Established Elite Starting Pitcher

In 2002, Halladay established himself as a durable, elite starting pitcher, earning his first All-Star selection.

2002: Breakout Season

In 2002, Roy Halladay had a breakout season, finishing with a 19–7 record, a 2.93 ERA, and 168 strikeouts. He was also named to the American League All-Star team.

2003: Walks Compared to 2003 Season

Halladay walked 39 batters in 2004, seven more than he had walked in 2003 when he had pitched twice as many innings.

2003: Cy Young Award

In 2003, Roy Halladay had a 22–7 record with a 3.25 ERA. He won the American League Cy Young Award and was named an All-Star. He was also named the Sporting News AL Pitcher of the Year and the Baseball Prospectus Internet Baseball Awards AL Cy Young Award winner.

2004: Disabled List Placement

In 2004, Halladay was placed on the disabled list twice due to right shoulder problems and had a "tired throwing arm" from intense preseason workouts.

2005: Broken Leg

In 2005, Halladay's leg was broken by a line drive, ending his season early despite being selected for the All-Star team.

March 16, 2006: Contract Extension

On March 16, 2006, Roy Halladay signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension through 2010.

April 2007: AL Pitcher of the Month

In April 2007, Halladay was named the American League pitcher of the month, going 4–0, highlighted by a 10-inning complete-game win over the Detroit Tigers.

July 11, 2008: Complete game shutout

On July 11, 2008, Halladay pitched his seventh complete game and second shutout of the season against the New York Yankees.

2008: Blue Jays' Nominee for Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award

In 2008, Roy Halladay was nominated by the Blue Jays for the Players Choice Awards Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, recognizing his work with underprivileged children.

2008: Opening Day Starter

In 2008, for the sixth consecutive year, Roy Halladay was Toronto's opening-day starter, improving his own club record. He lost 3–2 to the New York Yankees.

April 6, 2009: Opening Day Start

On April 6, 2009, Roy Halladay made his team-record seventh straight Opening Day start for Toronto, defeating the Detroit Tigers.

July 2009: Phillies' Failed Attempt to Acquire Halladay

In July 2009, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. unsuccessfully attempted to get Roy Halladay at the non-waiver trade deadline, and then traded for Cliff Lee instead.

September 20, 2009: Halladay's Scoreless Streak

On September 20, 2009, Roy Halladay was tied for the second-longest scoreless streak in the American League that season with 24 innings.

December 15, 2009: Halladay Traded to Phillies

On December 15, 2009, the Blue Jays traded Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league prospects Travis d'Arnaud, Kyle Drabek, and Michael Taylor. Halladay agreed to a contract extension worth US$60 million, including a US$20 million vesting option for a fourth season.

2009: Led AL in Complete Games Through 2009

Through 2009, Roy Halladay led the AL in complete games, which he accomplished five times in seven seasons.

May 29, 2010: Halladay Throws Perfect Game

On May 29, 2010, Roy Halladay pitched the 20th perfect game in MLB history against the Florida Marlins in Miami, retiring all 27 batters and striking out 11. It was the first time in the modern era that two pitchers had thrown perfect games in the same month and that multiple perfect games had been achieved in the same season.

June 2010: Halladay Performance Recognition

In June 2010, Halladay was recognized with the Best Major League Baseball Player ESPY Award for his performance.

August 24, 2010: Halladay Gifts Watches to Clubhouse

On August 24, 2010, Roy Halladay commemorated his perfect game by gifting around 60 Swiss-made Baume and Mercier watches to everyone in the clubhouse. Each watch was engraved with the date of the game, the line score, and the recipient's name.

October 6, 2010: Halladay Pitches Postseason No-Hitter

On October 6, 2010, in his first postseason appearance, Roy Halladay pitched a no-hitter (his second of the season), against the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of the National League Division Series (NLDS).

October 2010: Halladay Wins Best Moment ESPY Award

In October 2010, Roy Halladay won the Best Moment ESPY Award for his postseason no-hitter.

2010: Halladay's Perfect Game

In 2010, Roy Halladay pitched a perfect game.

2010: Contract Conclusion

Roy Halladay's three-year, $40 million contract extension concluded in 2010.

2010: Traded to the Phillies and Cy Young Award

Traded to the Phillies before the 2010 season, Halladay pitched a perfect game, a postseason no-hitter, and won the National League Cy Young Award.

April 24, 2011: Halladay Strikes Out 14 Against Padres

On April 24, 2011, Roy Halladay struck out 14 and allowed just five hits as his team swept the San Diego Padres, winning 3–1.

2011: Led NL in Complete Games

In 2011, Halladay led the NL in complete games.

2012: Bryce Harper debuts with Washington Nationals wearing #34

In 2012, Bryce Harper made his debut with the Washington Nationals, wearing uniform number 34.

April 3, 2013: Halladay's First Start of the Season

On April 3, 2013, after struggling in spring training, Roy Halladay gave up five runs in his first start in the Phillies' second game, striking out nine in 3+1⁄3 innings pitched.

April 14, 2013: Halladay Records 200th Career Win

On April 14, 2013, after struggling in his prior starts, Roy Halladay pitched eight innings allowing just one run against the Miami Marlins, whom the Phillies defeated 2–1. Halladay recorded his 200th career win in the game.

December 9, 2013: Halladay Announces Retirement

On December 9, 2013, Roy Halladay signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Blue Jays and announced his retirement from baseball due to injury. He cited a persistent back injury and wanting to be more involved with his family as reasons for retiring.

2013: Retirement Announcement

After the 2013 season, Halladay announced his retirement.

2013: Last MLB season

Roy Halladay played his last MLB season in 2013.

November 7, 2017: Roy Halladay's death

On November 7, 2017, Roy Halladay died at the age of 40 when he crashed his ICON A5 amphibious plane into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida.

2017: Elected to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

In 2017, Roy Halladay was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

January 2018: Autopsy Report Reveals Drug Combination

In January 2018, the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office released an autopsy report revealing that Roy Halladay's blood contained a combination of drugs, including morphine, hydromorphone, amphetamine, fluoxetine, baclofen, and zolpidem (Ambien).

March 6, 2018: Braden Halladay Invited to Baseball Canada Camp

On March 6, 2018, Braden Halladay, Roy Halladay's son, was invited to Baseball Canada's U18 spring training camp.

2018: Blue Jays Retired Halladay's Number 32

In 2018, the Toronto Blue Jays retired Roy Halladay's number 32 during a pregame ceremony on Opening Day.

January 22, 2019: Election to Baseball Hall of Fame

On January 22, 2019, Roy Halladay was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in his first year of eligibility.

March 2, 2019: Bryce Harper Chooses Not to Wear Number 34

On March 2, 2019, Bryce Harper announced that he would not wear the number 34 as a member of the Phillies, to honor Roy Halladay.

2019: Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

In 2019, Roy Halladay was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

February 4, 2020: Phillies Announce Retirement of Halladay's Number 34

On February 4, 2020, the Phillies announced they would retire Roy Halladay's number 34 on May 29, 2020, the tenth anniversary of his perfect game.

April 15, 2020: NTSB Releases Report on Fatal Plane Crash

On April 15, 2020, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report stating that Roy Halladay was performing aerobatics while impaired by multiple psychoactive substances, leading to a loss of control and a fatal plane crash. The plane nosedived into the sea, resulting in Halladay's death by blunt force trauma and drowning.

May 29, 2020: Retirement Ceremony Postponed

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the retirement ceremony for Roy Halladay's number 34, initially scheduled for May 29, 2020, was postponed.

May 14, 2021: Roy Halladay Field Announced

On May 14, 2021, on what would've been Roy Halladay's 44th birthday, Jays Care Foundation announced the naming of Toronto's first accessible baseball diamond as Roy Halladay Field.

August 8, 2021: Phillies Retire Halladay's Number 34

On August 8, 2021, the Phillies retired Roy Halladay's number 34 during a pregame ceremony. Zack Wheeler pitched a two-hit shutout, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to retire 22 consecutive batters since Halladay in his 2010 perfect game.