Roy Halladay Remembered As Fierce Competitor, Humble Athlete

CLEARWATER, FL - Roy Halladay was described as a dedicated family man, a fierce competitor and a humble athlete at a celebration of his life held Tuesday at Spectrum Field in Clearwater.

Halladay died last week when his small plane crashed into the ocean near New Port Richey. Halladay won two Cy Young Awards, once in the American League in 2003 with the Toronto Blue Jays and once in the National League in 2010 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Halladay will be eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter, who became friends with Halladay during their time in the minor leagues with the Blue Jays, called Halladay “the best (pitcher) of his generation.”

Carpenter told several anecdotes about his friendship with Halladay, including one about their fishing trips. Carpenter said he would always remember fishing with Halladay on the Amazon River when Halladay suggested they go for a swim.

Carpenter said he was wary of swimming in the Amazon, but Halladay convinced him. Halladay asked how many other people could say that they swam in the Amazon. Carpenter said he took a quick dip in the murky river and quickly got back in the boat. He said he would always remember seeing Halladay doing the backstroke in the Amazon River.

Carpenter said people can search on the Internet for Halladay’s wins, no-hitters and other statistics, but “what you can’t Google is what's in his heart.”

Chase Utley, a former teammate with the Philadelphia Phillies, called Halladay the “best teammate I ever played with and the most fierce competitor I’ve ever seen.”

“As a teammate, I saw every day what it took to be a man among boys,” said Utley, who played for the Los Angeles last season and is currently a free agent.

Utley said Halladay’s biggest gift off the field was deflecting praise to others. He said when Halladay threw a no-hitter with the Phillies, he did not accept the accolades. Instead, Halladay praised his catcher Carlos Ruiz, his teammates’ defense and his pitching coach.

Utley recalled his first spring training moment meeting Halladay. He got to the ballpark in Clearwater early, 5:45 a.m., only to find Halladay in sweaty workout clothes. Utley said he joked with Halladay whether it had been raining. Halladay chuckled, saying he had just finished working out.

“I knew the guy was the real deal,” Utley said.

Image via AP Photo/Steve Nesius