Eight years ago today, Roy Halladay threw a perfect game for the Phillies. Unfortunately, this anniversary carries a somber tone.
May 29, 2010. A rather innocuous Saturday night. The Phillies were down in Miami for a weekend series with their newly-acquired ace, Roy Halladay, taking the mound. What started like seemingly any other ballgame turned into a moment ingrained in franchise history.
Doc turned in one of the greatest single-game performances in Phillies history. He threw just the second perfect game in over a century’s worth of Philadelphia baseball. Halladay racked up 11 strikeouts as he utterly dominated the Marlins.
Halladay’s perfect game was just the 20th in MLB history at the time. Altogether, there have only been 23 in over 140 years since the league started.
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The fact that Halladay got one came as no surprise to A.J. Burnett. As he put it, he “always just assumed that he would get one at some point … because if anyone was ever built to throw a perfect game, it was that dude.” He was right to not be surprised; Halladay had the durability, command, and intelligence to be unhittable certain nights.
Of course, this year’s anniversary of Halladay’s perfect game is different.
He passed away in a plane accident last November at 40 years old. His death made waves throughout Philadelphia, Toronto, and the rest of the baseball community. This is the first time we can’t look back at the perfect game in a 100 percent positive way.
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Burnett, who pitched with Halladay in Toronto for three years and in Philadelphia for one, became one of his best friends. He wrote a great article in the Player’s Tribune on the anniversary of the perfect game in remembrance of his friend. He talked about plenty of conversations the two had together and his reaction to the news of Halladay’s death.
This year continues to be one of remembrance for Halladay. He will be inducted into the team’s Wall of Fame Aug. 4 before what will likely be one of the most highly-attended games of the season. The Blue Jays are wearing a commemorative patch on their jerseys this season.
His number could be retired by the Phils after Halladay is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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For now, just remember the good times Halladay gave you when he was a Phillie.