Blue Jays' president offers statement on Halladay's Hall of Fame induction

Steven Psihogios
Updated
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Roy Halliday's name is revealed, newly appointed on a stadium fascia in a ceremony honoring the late Jay's pitcher before the MLB season game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON., Canada March 29, 2018. The Blue Jays also retired his No. 32 on opening day. Jays players will wear a no. 32 patch on their jerseys throughout the season in tribute to Halladay. Halladay, nicknamed 'Doc' who spent 12 seasons as a pitcher with the Jays, died in November 2017 when his personal plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico near Tampa. He was 40 years old. Halladay joins Robero Alomar (no. 12) as the only 2 players in Jays history to have their jersey numbers retired. (Photo by Jeff Chevrier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Roy Halladay will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Sunday. (Jeff Chevrier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

With the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony set to take place on Sunday, July 21st, Toronto Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro offered a statement regarding the inclusion of late team legend, Roy Halladay:

“On behalf of the Toronto Blue Jays, I would like to congratulate Brandy, Braden, Ryan, and the entire Halladay family, on the induction of their beloved husband, father, son, and brother, Roy Halladay, into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. While this weekend’s celebration is bittersweet for anyone whose life was touched by Roy, we are proud to join in the recognition of his exceptional career and contributions to the game of baseball. There has seldom been a player to step on the mound with the passion and grace that Roy demonstrated, and his incredible legacy will now be forever enshrined in Cooperstown, through this monumental and well-deserved honour.”

It will indeed be a bittersweet moment when ‘Doc’ joins the list of baseball’s very best. The ex-Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies hurler is part of the 2019 class which also includes Mariano Rivera, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Harold Baines and Lee Smith.

Halladay will not be inducted specifically as a member of the Phillies or Blue Jays, but rather as a Major League Baseball player.

The former two-time Cy Young award winner was just 40-years-old when he passed in a tragic plane crash.

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