Former Pitcher Roy Halladay Killed In Plane Crash
HOLIDAY, Fla. (AP) — Roy Halladay, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who pitched a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter, died Tuesday when his private plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. He was 40.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said during a news conference that Halladay's ICON A5 went down about noon Tuesday near Holiday, Florida.
The sheriff's office marine unit responded to the downed plane and found Halladay's body. No survivors were found.
They said they couldn't confirm if there were additional passengers on the plane or say where it was headed.
Halladay retired in 2013 after 12 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays followed by four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The right-hander was an eight-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner.
Halladay was an amateur pilot who often posted on social media about small planes. ICON aircraft had posted a video with Halladay trying out a new plane.
ICON released a statement on Tuesday addressing Halladay's death.
The company offered their condolences to the pitcher's family and said they "will do everything it can to support the accident investigation going forward and we ill comment further when more information is available."
ICON also said that they had gotten to know Halladay and his family in recent months and that he was a great advocate and friend of theirs.
Other baseball players to die in plane crashes included Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente in a relief mission from Puerto Rico traveling to earthquake victims in Nicaragua on New Year's Eve in 1972; New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson piloting his own plane near his home in Canton, Ohio, in 1979; and Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle piloting his own plane in New York City in 2006.
The Phillies and Blue Jays sent out statements on Halladay's passing Tuesday.
"We are numb over the very tragic news about Roy Halladay's untimely death. 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. It is with the heaviest of hearts that we pass along our condolences to Brandy, Ryan and Braden."
"The Toronto Blue Jays organization is overcome by grief with the tragic loss of one of the franchise's greatest and most respected players, but even better human being. It is impossible to express what he has meant to this franchise, the city, and its fans. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."
The baseball community flooded social media with condolences after news came of Halladay's death.
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