Maple Leafs salute Roy Halladay with pregame tribute
The Toronto Maple Leafs honoured one of the city’s greatest sportsmen and one of Canada’s most celebrated athletes, former Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, prior to Wednesday night’s game versus the Minnesota Wild.
The video tribute, which provided a brief look-back and timeless scenes from his unparalleled 12-season run with the Blue Jays, was followed by a moment of silence for Halladay. “Doc” died in a tragic accident Tuesday when a plane he was piloting crashed in the Gulf of Mexico.
For an athlete that inspired so many baseball fans from north and south of the border, there’s been no shortage of tributes and stories shared about his relentless work ethic, devastating arsenal on the mound and commitment to family.
Most notably, the Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies – the two teams he played for his in legendary career – used the signage outside their stadiums to honour his passing, while the Raptors held a moment of silence themselves at Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night.
Loved by everyone. pic.twitter.com/gnlRiNcbcw
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 9, 2017
Halladay spent four seasons with the Phillies following his time in Toronto, throwing a perfect game and no-hitter in the postseason. Fans of the organization have been contributing to a memorial set up outside Citizens Bank Park.
Fans have started a memorial for Roy Halladay outside of the Third Base Gate at Citizens Bank Park.
Today, we will remember Doc through the words of his teammates and friends. #RIPDoc pic.twitter.com/5P8QPjrVlT
— Phillies (@Phillies) November 8, 2017
Halladay was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017. He’s eligible for induction into Cooperstown in 2019.
Remembering Roy Halladay:
