Former Toronto Blue Jays star pitcher Roy Halladay has died after a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office in Florida confirmed Halladay's death today after the former pitcher's ICON A5 airplane — a single-engine, two-person amphibian plane — went down into the water about a quarter mile west of Ben Pilot Point in New Port Richey — about an hour's drive northwest of Tampa.
"The worst case scenario happened and it breaks our hearts," says Sherriff Chris Nocco.
RIP Roy Doc Halladay, a true baseball great and a man with a generous heart.Our thoughts and prayers are with Roy and his family during this difficult time. We were blessed to have known him and consider him to be a member of our family. We are grateful for his love and support. pic.twitter.com/wMprVclFtC
— Pasco Sheriff (@PascoSheriff) November 7, 2017
The sherriff's office reports no mayday calls were made to Tampa Air Traffic Control, but a 911 call was recorded at 12:06pm.
Halladay was the lone person in the plane.
The reason the plane went down still hasn't been confirmed as the specifics of the crash remain under investigation.
Halladay won the Cy Young Award — given to the top pitcher — twice, first with the Blue Jays in 2003 and then with the Philadelphia Phillis in 2010.
Halladay also threw the 20th perfect game in MLB history on May 29, 2010.
Roy Halladay's cap and ball from his 2010 perfect game. His legacy lives on in Cooperstown. Rest in peace, Doc. pic.twitter.com/PqASdhK8bf
— Baseball Hall ? (@baseballhall) November 7, 2017
A statement released by the Toronto Blue Jays says the "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" and continues to say, "it is impossible to express what he has meant to this fracnhise, the city and its fans."
He was 40 years old.
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New Port Richey, Florida. (Photo courtesy Google)