Roy Halladay Retirement Reactions: He's a Hall of Famer, right?

Roy Halladay surprised the baseball world today with an impromptu press conference where he re-signed with his original team—and major league home for 12 years—the Toronto Blue Jays and officially announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.

The News Breaks

Roy Halladay is retiring

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 9, 2013

Source: Halladay will sign a contract and retire as a Blue Jay.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2013

The Reaction

This news certainly came out of left field, so we were treated with some real and sincere initial reactions to Halladay's announcement. This is how it looked across Twitter.

Holy cow. I'm shocked RT @JonHeymanCBS: Roy Halladay is retiring

— Kevin Burkhardt (@kevinburkhardt) December 9, 2013

Halladay was the best pitcher in baseball way more recently than it seems. Just a damn shame that injuries robbed him of longer career.

— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) December 9, 2013

What a career for Halladay. This is a fitting end if he believes he no longer can compete. He would never want to embarrass himself.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2013

Shoulders are stupid. I will miss watching Roy Halladay pitch.

— David Cameron (@DCameronFG) December 9, 2013

Always will remember Halladay blanking 2003 #Tigers for 10 innings with just 99 pitches. Poor Nate Cornejo. http://t.co/YwhTUwJDna

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) December 9, 2013

Hard to be a fan of other players while you're still playing, but I was truly a fan of Roy Halladay. Sad to see him go.

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) December 9, 2013

Was it a smart decision for Halladay to retire? Perhaps. While Halladay was coming off of injuries and a lost 2013 season where both his velocity and effectiveness decreased, there was interest there—Jorge Castillo of the Star-Ledger tweeted earlier that the New York Mets had reached out to Halladay prior to the announcement. As Ken Rosenthal said, if Halladay thought he could compete, he'd be out there. This announcement tells me that he does not think that his back nor shoulder could hold up.

The following tweet from Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan brings up another topic that has been greatly discussed today...

Roy Halladay's retirement is both happy and sad. Glad he's going out on his terms. Bummer that his arm gave out. A Hall of Famer for me.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2013

The Hall of Fame Question

Is Roy Halladay a Hall of Famer? As one of the most dominant pitchers of an era full of sluggers and cheaters, you can sure make the argument. Here are some of those who did just that.

Re: Halladay retiring: His annual innings counts are like something from the stone age -- 239.1, 266, 220, 225.1, 246, 239, 250.2, 233.2.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 9, 2013

Halladay two-time Cy Young winner, Top 5 seven different seasons. I'll vote for him for the Hall of Fame.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 9, 2013

Is there any doubt Halladay is a Hall of Famer? Shouldn't be. But only HOF starter since WW2 with fewer wins than him (203) is Koufax (165)

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 9, 2013

One more on Halladay: Over last 2 yrs just 3 starters (Lyles, Blanton Keuchel) had a higher ERA. Over previous 10 yrs no one had a lower ERA

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 9, 2013

Yes, Roy Halladay is a Hall of Famer http://t.co/aILe6tZp40 via @cbssports

— Eye on Baseball (@EyeOnBaseball) December 9, 2013

Halladay is a Hall of Famer. Best pitcher in the game 2002-11. Two Cy's, top five seven times. One of six P's ever 203 W's, .659 winning %

— Tim Kurkjian (@Kurkjian_ESPN) December 9, 2013

For Roy Halladay the Hall of Fame is next

— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) December 9, 2013

Roy Halladay's HOF case is fascinating. With ERA, 2 Cy's, big IP/CG years, postseason no-hitter, etc, I think he gets in eventually. #doc

— Dan Shulman (@DShulman_ESPN) December 9, 2013

Roy Oswalt on Halladay: "Hands down, he was the best pitcher of this era and a first ballot Hall of Famer."

— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) December 9, 2013

While it's up for discussion there seems to be not much of a debate here. 2,749.1 innings pitched, 3.38 ERA, 360 starts, 67 complete games—20 of them shutouts, 203 wins, 2,117 strikeouts and a 1.178 WHIP in his career... Yeah.

Whether or not Halladay winds up in the Hall of Fame has yet to be seen, what I do know is that he was one of the most dominant, professional, class acts that Major League Baseball has seen in the last 15 years. He will be missed.

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