That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Top 5 starting pitchers since 1980

By David Esser

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 08: Starter Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 08: Starter Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images) /
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Phillies
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 06: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Carlos Ruiz #51 after throwing a no hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on October 6, 2010 during Game 1 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Reds 4-0. (Photo by: Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) /

#2. Roy “Doc” Halladay

The date was October 6th, 2010 and Roy Halladay was set to take the mound in Game 1 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Pressure was at an all-time high. Not only was Halladay on one of the best teams in baseball at the time, but he was making his first career postseason start. Despite all the greatness he had displayed over the years, this was easily the biggest moment he had faced.

So what did “Doc” Halladay do? Well, he threw the second ever no-hitter in postseason history.

Halladay was acquired by the Phillies from the Blue Jays in the winter of 2009, and since that moment on, he did nothing but dominate. Halladay won 40 games in his first two seasons with the team, getting selected to consecutive All-Star games while also winning the NL Cy Young in 2010 (he placed second in 2011).

Phillies
MIAMI – MAY 29: Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies is congratulated by his teammates after he pitched a perfect game against the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium on Saturday, May 29, 2010, in Miami, Florida. Roy Halladay pitched a perfect game for the 20th perfect game in MLB history. (Photo by Robert Vigon/Florida Marlins/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

In his Cy Young winning season, Halladay led the majors in complete games, shutouts and innings pitched. He also led the NL in hits allowed (fewest), BB/9, and K/BB.

The following year in 2011, Halladay would rank as the best in terms of his K/BB rate and FIP, while leading the NL in ERA+, complete games, and BB/9.

As mentioned previously, Halladay had never played in the postseason before coming to Philly. This was a fact that many fans were quick to point out too. However, across 5 games in October with the Phillies, Halladay would post an ERA of 2.37.

Halladay retired at the age of 36 in 2013. He would finish his career an 8x All-Star, 2x Cy Young winner, and a 2x MLB wins leader. He pitched both a perfect game and a no-hitter, had his jersey retired by two different organizations, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame just last year.

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