Blue Jays announce they'll be retiring Roy Halladay's number on opening day

BarDown Staff

Blue Jays/Twitter

On November 7th, 2017, tragedy struck the sports world as Toronto Blue Jays legend Roy Halladay died in a plane crash.

BREAKING: Toronto Blue Jays legend Roy Halladay has died in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico. He was 40

A post shared by TSN (@tsn_official) on Nov 7, 2017 at 1:24pm PST

Baseball players honoured Halladay by sharing stories that exemplified how incredible a person he was and how the Jays legend inspired them.

My deepest condolences to the Halladay family during this difficult time. The world lost a great one too early today #RIP34 pic.twitter.com/njBOuXZ9FW
— Max Scherzer (@Max_Scherzer) November 7, 2017

I only own like 5 signed jerseys, and I was so scared to ask him. He wrote that he liked watching ME pitch. What an honor pic.twitter.com/ufj4G8u5DD
— dan haren (@ithrow88) November 7, 2017

Some of you have no idea what Roy Halladay meant to the careers of so many of the up & coming stars. Phone calls. Group talks etc. RIP Doc
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) November 7, 2017

With the season right around the corner, on Monday the Blue Jays revealed how they would be honouring Halladay this season and it's in a way many fans hoped it would be.

Join us Opening Day, as we pay tribute to the late Roy Halladay and retire his uniform number.

In Doc's honour, we will wear a commemorative No. 32 patch on our jerseys for the 2018 season. #DocForever pic.twitter.com/yHD3HpY3dB
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 12, 2018

Halladay's No. 32 will join Roberto Alomar's No. 12 as the only numbers the Jays have retired in the history of their franchise and there's no better time to retire his number than on opening day. The commemorative patch the players will wear this season is a wonderful touch, too, and fans are very happy that Halladay's number will go where it rightfully belongs.

Well done @BlueJays .
— The Smiling Goat (@thesmilinggoat) February 12, 2018

Respect. Well done.
— karen (@mutable_me) February 12, 2018

Nicely done! #Respect #RIPDoc
— Monica Montero (@montero_monica) February 12, 2018

So glad to hear this, will be an honour to attend Opening Day for this very reason, thank you. #DocForever
— Tracey (@VivasMum) February 12, 2018

We love you, Doc. pic.twitter.com/SuOc6vvlWM
— Josh (@JoshTolliver) February 12, 2018

Thank you. This is perfect.
— Leah Kessel (@leahflame) February 12, 2018

#BlueJays to retire Roy Halladay's number on Opening Day.

As it should be. pic.twitter.com/hHDcmhGVMI
— Jays From the Couch (@JaysFromCouch) February 12, 2018

All Roy Halladay on my timeline this morning. @BlueJays retiring his number on opening day. Respect!
— Brad Nowakowski 🚨 (@bnowakowski85) February 12, 2018

The @BlueJays will retire Roy Halladay's #32 on opening day, 2018. This is great news. #BlueJays
— Lance Phillips (@lancephillipsTV) February 12, 2018

Classy move. R.I.P. Roy.
— Dave P (@that_ob) February 12, 2018

#DOCforever
— darcy murphy (@murphydarcy15) February 12, 2018

Once a Blue Jay, Always a Blue Jay. No. 32 will go into the rafters forever. #BlueJays #Legend #RoyHalladay
— Spencer (@Spence_OnSports) February 12, 2018

(H/T: Toronto Blue Jays)