HOLIDAY, Fla. — Former Toronto Blue Jays star pitcher Roy Halladay has died after his plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico. He was 40.
The sheriff’s department in Pasco County, Fla., confirmed Halladay’s body was found at the scene of the crash.
RIP Roy Doc Halladay, a true baseball great and a man with a generous heart.Our thoughts and prayers are with Roy and his family during this difficult time. We were blessed to have known him and consider him to be a member of our family. We are grateful for his love and support. pic.twitter.com/wMprVclFtC
— Pasco Sheriff (@PascoSheriff) November 7, 2017
Halladay’s ICON A5 plane went down around noon off the coast of Florida. The sheriff’s office marine unit responded to the downed plane and found Halladay’s body. No survivors were found.
Police said they couldn’t confirm if there were additional passengers on the plane or say where it was headed.
Halladay was an amateur pilot who often posted on social media about small planes. ICON aircraft had posted a video with Halladay trying out a new plane.
Statement from the Blue Jays organization on the tragic passing of Roy Halladay: pic.twitter.com/Ih8D0RQE9p
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 7, 2017
“We are numb over the very tragic news about Roy Halladay’s untimely death,” the Philadelphia 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.”
Known as ‘Doc’ he retired in 2013 after 12 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays followed by four seasons with the Phillies.
Halladay won the Cy Young Award twice, first with the Blue Jays in 2003 and again in 2010 with the Philadelphia Phillies.
He threw the 20th perfect game in MLB history on May 29, 2010.
He also was the second pitcher to throw a no hitter in post season history.
Other baseball players to die in plane crashes included Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente in a relief mission from Puerto Rico travelling to earthquake victims in Nicaragua on New Year’s Eve in 1972; New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson piloting his own plane near his home in Canton, Ohio, in 1979; and Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle piloting his own plane in New York City in 2006.
More coming.
The Canadian Press
