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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Clark chapter.

Harry Lerory Halladay III, 40, former American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies, died yesterday in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico.

“We are numb over the very tragic news about Roy Halladay’s untimely death,” the Phillies announced Tuesday.

Video shows that Halladay seemed to be making quick altitude changes before crashing his ICON A5 plane off the coast of Florida. Halladay was alone in the plane.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation.

Professionally known as Roy Halladay, or by his moniker “Doc,” Halladay grew up in Colorado. He was drafted by the Blue Jays straight from high school and was called up to the major league in 1998.

“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,” the Phillies announced.

Halladay pitched a perfect game for the Phillies on May 29, 2010 against the Florida Marlins.

Surprisingly though, Halladay had an earned run average (ERA) in 2000 at 10.64, making it the worst in history for any pitcher who pitched at least fifty innings.

But that didn’t stop his impact on the Blue Jays either. He was tied at the end of his 2009 season for the second-longest streak in the American League (AL) that season. Halladay had a scoreless run of 24-innings.

“Forever in our hearts,” the Blue Jays posted on Facebook.

Halladay then went on to pitch a no-hitter in 2010 in the post-season, making him only the fifth pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to throw multiple no-hitters in a single season.

His games won were greater, and almost doubled, his losses. Halladay had a win-loss record of 203-105. His ERA was 3.38, and he had over 2,100 strike outs in his MLB career. In 2012 he became the sixty-seventh pitcher to reach two thousand strike outs.

Halladay won two Cy Young Awards, two of which are given annual to the best MLB pitcher in the National and American League. This put him in the ranks with players like Sandy Koufax, Steve Carlton, and Roger Clemens. He is one of the six pitchers in the MLB to have won this award in both leagues.

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A memorial outside of the Third Base Gate at Citizen Bank Park has formed in honor of Halladay.

“You are so loved and will be so missed, Doc,” the Phillies posted on Facebook.

Monica Sager is a freelance writer from Clark University, where she is pursuing a double major in psychology and self-designed journalism with a minor in English. She wants to become an investigative journalist to combat and highlight humanitarian issues. Monica has previously been published in The Pottstown Mercury, The Week UK, Worcester Telegram and Gazette and even The Boston Globe. Read more of Monica’s previous work on her Twitter @MonicaSager3.
Alexis is a student at Clark University studying Spanish and Political Science. When she's not at the library you can find her watching Netflix (probably Bones or The Office), on the elliptical, on KJP's instagram, or reading the news. She's passionate about politics, travel, and fashion. Her goals for the future include getting a job after graduation and trying to live the ideal New England lifestyle. Alexis is very excited to be a new Campus Correspondent along with Annabelle Merlin. HCXO!