Roy Halladay was a workhorse starting pitcher in an era that saw pitchers throw less innings year by year. Today he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and he truly deserves to be in Cooperstown for what he accomplished in baseball.
It was a devastating day for the world of baseball when it was announced that Roy Halladay had passed away in a tragic plane accident.
For one, a family lost a son, father, and husband that not only loved his family but also loved helping sick children and donating time and money to numerous charitable causes over his life.
For others, the fans and players in baseball lost a brother and an icon; the very definition of what hard work can do to achieve whatever they set their mind too.
Through his seasons in Toronto and Philadelphia, Roy ‘Doc’ HallDaya was always one of the best pitchers on the roster and was revered for his work ethic; both physically and mentally, on and off the field.
Early in his MLB career, when the struggles were mounting, Halladay credited sports psychologist Harvey Dorfman for helping with insight when he needed it the most.
This is important in today’s day and age, as athletes are using these services more often in order to deal with the stresses and pressures of everyday life of being in the spotlight.
For the physical side, when Halladay showed up at the ballpark, everything was scheduled and the workouts would not be skimped on, even if it was the last day of the season.
He was well known for running ‘marathon like’ segments after his pitching assignments and for waking up early in the morning to complete these workouts day after day, whether it was spring training or late in the season.
Another aspect that was dear to Halladay was charity.
Well known for his exploits on the field, it was what Halladay and his family did off the field that made his legacy even more impressive than it already was.
During his tenure in Toronto, he and his wife Brandy ran ‘Doc’s Box’, a private box at the Rogers Centre that hosted sick and underprivileged children who could watch the Blue Jays games live and in private. He would also frequently visit with the children who attended these games.
On top of this charitable cause, as part of his contract, Roy Halladay would also donate $100,000 to the Jays Care Foundation each year.
With his hard work, Doc was able to dominate both on and off the field, which is why he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer with his name being on 85.4% of all the ballots submitted.