The 36-year- old right-hander signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays , where he spent the first 12 years of his career.
He choked and choked back tears when making the announcement at a press conference at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista , Fla. " As a baseball player, you realize that this is something you can not do the rest of your life " Halladay said. " I really have nothing to regret. "
Halladay played for the Phillies from 2010-13 , finishing with two injury-plagued seasons . He won a Cy Young Award in the National League in 2010 , pitching a perfect game of the season and a no-hitter in his first postseason appearance .
Halladay was 203-105 with a 3.38 ERA in 416 career games , including 390 starts. He had 67 complete games and 20 shutouts .
"It has been an exciting process for me ," he said . "I feel very good about it. 's Always going to be things I miss . Much as I worked, I will not lose. I will not lose weight with running laps and poles. "
Halladay was six times All- Star, won the Cy Young Award 2003 and went 148-76 with a 3.43 ERA in 12 seasons with the Blue Jays .
He was traded to the Phillies after the 2009 season and was 40-16 with a 2.40 ERA in his first two years in Philadelphia. But the back and shoulder problems limited Halladay in 2012-13. He was 15-13 with a 5.15 ERA in 38 co starts.Former were effusive in his praise for Halladay.
Chase Utley called him "the last competitor . "
" He is by far the hardest worker I've ever seen in my life and I was treated every game like it's your last ," Utley said. "It was not a coincidence why he was the best pitcher of his era. I'm honored to have had the opportunity to see him throw for four years. 'm Going to miss his presence and passion, but above all , I will miss his intensity."
Halladay Roy Oswalt said he was a first ballot Hall of Famer.
" Roy was one of the best pitchers in the game and the students I have had the honor to play with ," Oswalt said. " No doubt it was the best pitcher of this era. "
Halladay had shoulder surgery during the season and returned in September, but clearly was not right. He went 4-5 with a 6.82 ERA in 13 starts this year.
"It's fun to play the game and go out and compete ," he said . "I wanted the fifth day more than anything. Exit and know that it will not feel good and I would not do it the way I wanted was frustrating. Tried to give everything I can , but something was holding me . felt I could not give them what I wanted. "
Halladay badly wanted to play for the Phillies have a chance to win the World Series. The Phillies had won three straight division championships , the 2008 World Series and 2009 NL championship by the time Halladay arrived. They had the best record in the majors in the first two seasons of Halladay , but lost to the San Francisco Giants in the 2010 NLCS and St. Louis Cardinals in the Division Series National League 2011.
In his last appearance in the postseason, Halladay lost to Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals 1-0 in the decisive Game 5 of the 2,011 mourning. Early in the series, the Cardinals were boosted when a squirrel scampering Meeting in the field.
" I think the only thing I took away from that you can have the best team on paper, can make the guys that they want it ," Halladay said. " But when the squirrel runs across the plate while he is trying to launch , there is nothing you can do about that. So you really start to realize that there are plenty of things out of your control. it takes more than nine guys. takes nine guys, and you need the 25 on the list. takes coaches , staff, and a lot of luck is needed. "
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