BREAKING: Roy Halladay Is Retiring...As A Blue Jay

CBSSPORTS – Roy Halladay is retiring. The long-time ace will announce his retirement in a Blue Jays press conference Monday, in which he’ll also announce he’s signing a one-day contract with Toronto, so he can retire as a Blue Jay. Halladay, 36, is coming off two injury-riddled campaigns where he failed to live up to his previously high standard of excellence on the hill. This past season he was 4-5 with a 6.82 ERA, which followed a year in which he was 11-8 with a 4.45 ERA. Those two years do not, however, take away from an extraordinary career. Halladay ends up 203-105 with a 3.38 ERA (131 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP and 2,117 strikeouts in 2,749 1/3 innings. He also had 67 complete games, 20 shutouts and a perfect game. In five career postseason starts, Halladay had a 2.37 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and one no-hitter — which came in his first career postseason start.

Uhhh…cool dude? Doc has earned the respect of the city of Philadelphia, and everywhere else, through and through. Class act all the way with the work ethic and determination to boot. Actually the perfect definition of what we want out athletes to represent in this city, so I’m not going to give him too much trash for retiring with Toronto. The man was there from 1998-2009 compared to just 4 years after that with the Phillies. Just sucks he won’t be going into the Hall with a P.

Face it, IF he would’ve signed with the Phils again it would’ve been rough to watch. Was like witnessing your dog of 15 years struggle with his last days. Only a matter of time before he got put down. Wouldn’t have minded if he signed with the likes of Detroit or the A’s as a 3 or 4 to try to make a run, but I’m pretty sure he knows this was the right decision. Dude is WAY too competitive to continue pitching when the tank is on E.

Goodnight, sweet prince. Wish he got a ring, but it’s safe to say Doc will always be a legend here in Philly.

PS – 1st ballot? Best pitcher in the game for a decade…