Roy Halladay

Two-time Cy Young Award winning pitcher Roy Halladay died in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, Halladay’s ICON A5, a small-engine aircraft, went down around noon on Tuesday off the coast of Florida. Halladay was 40 years old.

Halladay’s wife, Brandy, is an AQHA all-around competitor from Florida. Brandy met Halladay when they were just kids, living in Colorado. In high school Brandy’s family moved away and she and Roy lost touch. They reconnected in 1996, started dating and were married two years later. They have two sons, Brayden and Ryan and for the past few years have been living outside Tampa.

Brandy Halladay

Halladay was an eight-time All-Star and went 203-105 with a 3.38 ERA in his 16-year career with the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. He threw a perfect game with the Phillies during the 2010 season and a no-hitter that postseason. He retired after the 2013 baseball season but served as an instructor in spring training for the Phillies earlier this year and coached both his sons’ baseball teams. He received his pilot’s license several years ago and often said that he had dreamed of flying even as a boy. Halladay said the terms of his baseball contract prevented him from having a pilot’s license while he was playing. The entire Halladay family was dedicated to service and community involvement. The Halladay Family Foundation has helped children’s charities, hunger relief and animal rescue.

Halladay is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2019.