That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies finally get the Wall of Fame right with Halladay/Gillick

By George Stockburger

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 24: Pat Gillick gives his speech at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 24, 2011 in Cooperstown, New York.Gillick spent 27 years as the general manger with four major league clubs (Toronto 1978-94, Baltimore 1996-98, Seattle 2000-03 and Philadelphia 2006-08). His teams advanced to the postseason 11 times and won the World Series in 1992, 1993 and 2008. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 24: Pat Gillick gives his speech at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 24, 2011 in Cooperstown, New York.Gillick spent 27 years as the general manger with four major league clubs (Toronto 1978-94, Baltimore 1996-98, Seattle 2000-03 and Philadelphia 2006-08). His teams advanced to the postseason 11 times and won the World Series in 1992, 1993 and 2008. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Phillies fans should be excited for the Wall of Fame night this summer

After last years Pete Rose/Wall of Fame debacle the Phillies had to get this year’s class right, and they hit the nail on the head. The organization announced Tuesday afternoon they will posthomunously honor pitcher Roy Halladay by inducting him onto the Wall of Fame.

Halladay pitched for the Phillies from 2010-13 prior to retiring in 2014 with a Cy Young award and both a no-hitter and perfect game during the 2010 season. The 40-year-old passed away in a single-passenger plane crash in November off the coast of Florida.

Joining Halladay on the wall will be the general manager of the 2008 World Series club Pat Gillick. Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011 Gillick spent three seasons as the Phillies general manager and later worked as the club president for two years, preleuding Andy MacPhail.

Gillick, 80, will be the first non-player/manager to be inducted onto the Wall of Fame.

CINCINNATI, OH – JANUARY 19: Former Cincinnati Reds player Pete Rose speaks during a press conference at the Champions Club at Great American Ball Park on January 19, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rose was introduced as the latest member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and will be inducted at a game in June. (Photo by Mark Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – JANUARY 19: Former Cincinnati Reds player Pete Rose speaks during a press conference at the Champions Club at Great American Ball Park on January 19, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rose was introduced as the latest member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and will be inducted at a game in June. (Photo by Mark Lyons/Getty Images) /

Last year the wall did not see a former player, coach, or executive inducted after allegations arose regarding former infielder Pete Rose prior to his induction. The organization instead honored three members of the Wall of Fame who passed away leading up to the ceremony: manager Dallas Green, Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning, and catcher Darren Daulton.

Halladay’s induction was likely even prior to his untimely death this offseason. Philadelphia’s marketing team likely frowned upon having another ceremony honoring a deceased member of the organization as the highlight to Alumni Weekend in the dog days of summer. That’s where Gillick (rightfully) enters the picture as an important piece of the organization’s history leading up to their first World Series in 28 years.

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The organization had to get it right after Rose nearly sullied the wall’s importance with reports he engaged in unlawful activities with minors during his playing days. Remembering Halladay and honoring the Hall of Fame general manager who brought a championship to the city does justice.

Next year fans could see the continuation of a wave of players from the 2008 team after Pat Burrell led off in 2015. The organization changed the eligibility rules prior to the 2016 vote to allow more players from the World Series team onto the wall, requiring a player need only four years of service with the team to be considered and just three years into retirement.

Next: Top 10 Pitchers in Phillies history

Potential candidates for the Wall of Fame in 2019 include Scott Rolen, Jamie Moyer, Shane Victorino, Brett Myers, and Brad Lidge.

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