By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: mlb.com
Roy Halladay was a pitcher you wanted on the mound any day. October 6, 2010, is a day baseball fans will never forget.
Halladay tossed a complete-game no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the NLDS. He threw a no-hitter in his first career postseason start. After pitching many seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and winning Cy Young awards, he finally got a taste of postseason play. Halladay made his presence felt.
The Reds were happy to be in the postseason, as it was their first trip since 1995. The Reds had a solid lineup with Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, and Drew Stubbs. Halladay’s no-hitter against a talented Reds team managed by Dusty Baker is impressive.
Halladay finished the game with eight strikeouts and walked just one batter. The Phillies won the game 4-0. It’s been 16 years, but it still feels like it happened the other day. The last postseason no-hitter was in 1956, when Don Larsen tossed one in the World Series.
Doc is no longer with us, but the memories never fade. Doc had a commanding four-seam fastball, but his sinker and cutter made him unhittable at times. His control and command led to eight All-Star selections and two Cy Young awards.
Halladay was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019, two years after his passing. His wife delivered the speech in Cooperstown. The Blue Jays and Phillies organizations have honored Halladay and always will, especially Bryce Harper and Zach Wheeler.
The Phillies didn’t win the World Series in 2010. They lost to the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS. The kind of pitcher Halladay was deserved more chances at a championship, but that’s not what it’s all about. It’s about the legacy the player leaves behind.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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