Roy Halladay is one of the greatest Toronto Blue Jays pitchers of all time and if he enters the Hall of Fame, he’d like to be honored as one.
Speaking with Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star, Halladay admitted “I’d go as a Blue Jay” when asked about which team he’d like to represent should he enter the Hall of Fame. Halladay is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2019. The 39-year-old was at a celebration of Toronto’s best players, said he wanted to end his career as a member of the bluebirds.
“I wanted to retire here, too, just because I felt like this is the bulk of my career.”
His pick of Toronto over Philadelphia might seem like a no-brainer, considering he spent 12 seasons with the franchise before getting traded to the Phillies in late 2009. But Halladay accomplished some incredible feats in Philly. He won his second career Cy Young and was MLB’s win leader in 2010. He pitched two no-hitters (one was a perfect game) for Philadelphia, including a postseason no-hitter in 2010.
Halladay went 148-76 with a 3.43 ERA during his time in Toronto and was known for being an innings eater who got better with age. He won the Cy Young in 2003 and was the ace of the Blue Jays rotation for nearly a decade. Yes, Halladay’s first two seasons in Philadelphia were outstanding as he posted a 40-16 record with a mid two’s ERA. But, overwhelming evidence suggests Toronto is the right choice. Halladay is the most iconic pitcher in Jays history. Seeing him inducted in anything other than a Toronto cap would be insane.
[TheScore]
