Remembering Roy Halladay

As we take a look back at Roy Halladay's career, vivid things are remembered in our minds: Game 1 of the 2010 National League Division Series, May 29, 2010, his dominance with the  Blue Jays...the list goes on and on. One of the greatest pitchers to ever take foot on the pitchers mound is retiring today, as Roy Halladay will be signing a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. This will allow him to retire in uniform in Orlando. 

Remembering Halladay is great for me. I remember the first time the Phillies were in the market for a starting pitcher before the 2009 season, and how they were looking at this guy named Roy Halladay, according to my "super fan grandpa." Instead, however, they had to settle on a consolation prize named Cliff Lee. I was okay with that, but I wasn't really sure exactly what Halladay would end up bringing to the Phillies. In 2010, Halladay was traded to Philly, and I was excited as could be. My grandpa told me how great this guy was, and how he could bring us back to the World Series for a third year. I knew enough then to never doubt my grandpa. He was right.

I remember May 29, 2010 vividly in my mind. I knew the Phillies were in a mid-season slump, and needed some morale boost. I decided to wear my Roy Halladay jersey that day. My family and I went into a store a few hours before the game, and one of the people who worked there said this, "You're a Phillies fan? Oh, Halladay, he's pretty good." I just smiled and said "yes I am" and that we needed some boosting coming into that night's game. Halladay seemed to answer my call, pitching out after out, dominating hitter after hitter. In about the fifth inning, I asked my parents if I could stay up until Halladay gave up a hit. It was a Saturday, so they agreed, and I was able to watch. From start to finish, I watched Roy Halladay deliver arguably the greatest performance of his career. I was in shock and super happy. 

Later that season, the postseason to be exact, I heard about Halladay's mastery again. This time however, it occurred during the middle of one of my own baseball games. My mom told me to come over to her and handed me the phone (my dad was on the other line). He said that Halladay had just thrown the second no-hitter in postseason baseball history. I started jumping up and down, and remembered that I recorded the game on TV so that I'd be able to watch it when I got home. I became REALLY happy when I remembered that the game would be able to be watched whenever I wanted. I still have the recording of Halladay's no-hitter to this day. 

As I remember Halladay as a whole, I remember his competitiveness, his demeanor, and his heart for the game for baseball. I absolutely loved watching Roy Halladay throw every pitch, and he was one of the main reasons that I wanted to be a pitcher for my Little League team. I wanted to do what Halladay did just because of the person he is.

In five years, when Halladay is up for induction to the Hall of Fame, I will be a huge supporter. He means a lot to me, and I loved watching him pitch over these past few years. I'll miss you, Roy Halladay.