Roy Halladay (born May 14, 1977 in Denver, Colorado), nicknamed Doc, is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Roy Halladay, the ace of the Toronto Blue Jays, got his nickname from the old famous Colorado gunslinger, "Doc" Holliday. He has played for the Jays since 1998 and was the team's first draft selection (17th overall) in the 1995 MLB Draft. He bats and throws right-handed. Halladay had his best seasons in 2002, when he made the All-Star team, and posted a 19-7 record with 168 strikeouts and a 2.93 earned run average, and 2003, when he won the American League Cy Young Award with a 22-7 record, 204 strikeouts and a 3.25 earned run average. In 2003, he also led the American League in innings pitched (266.0) and tied for the American League lead in complete games (nine). In 2004, he went 8-8.
The first half of the 2005 season proved to be largely successful for Halladay, as he proved to be one of the best pitchers in the American League. He was even slated to be the starting pitcher for the American League at the All-Star Game in Detroit. However, on July 8, Halladay suffered a broken leg when he was hit with a line drive off the bat of Texas Rangers left fielder Kevin Mench. Obviously unavailable for the All-Star Game, he was replaced by Matt Clement of the Boston Red Sox. Despite rehabilitation and further evaluation on his leg, it was decided that Halladay would sit out the remainder of the season.
Halladay's pitches include a good fastball, one of the best curveballs in the league, and a forkball. He also possesses one of the most dangerous cut fastballs in the league. He can use this pitch to curve in to righties as well as lefties, and is often called the most dangerous in an already great arsenal of pitches. He usually posts a good strikeout-to-walk ratio and is a ground ball pitcher.
On March 16, 2006 Halladay signed a $40 million, 3-year contract that will keep him with the club through the 2010 season.
