Remembering Roy Halladay
One year ago today, Roy Halladay died in a plane crash off the coast of St. Petersburg, Fla. while piloting a single-engine aircraft. The 40-year-old was the only occupant on the plane.

Halladay spent 16 years in the majors, including four in Philadelphia. The eight-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner undoubtedly will be remembered as one of the best pitchers of his generation. He'll be on the Hall of Fame ballot come 2019.

“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.”

In the days following his death, dozens of former players paid tribute to Halladay with many attending a service to celebrate his life at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.



"He was the best teammate I ever played with," said Phillies legend Chase Utley. "The most fierce competitor I've ever seen."

Utley shared a story of how Halladay routinely arrived in the clubhouse in the mornings, well before everybody else. The first time they met Utley said was in the early morning when no one was around at the ballpark. He noticed Halladay was wearing wet clothes and found out he already completed a workout before the sun was up.

"That's when I knew he was the real deal," Utley said.

The Phillies honored Halladay last season with induction into the Phillies Wall of Fame. The club also has plans to retire his No. 34 after he's enshrined in Cooperstown, which is more of a question of when as opposed to if.

"One of the greats," former manager Charlie Manuel said. "He'll always be remembered around here."
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Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PGordonPBR

BY PATRICK GORDON
Managing Editor
pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com

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