TORONTO, July 1 (Reuters) - Roy Halladay(notes) got a standing ovation on Friday in his first visit back to Toronto where he earned his reputation as one of the game’s top pitchers.
Halladay, now the centerpiece of Major League Baseball’s most dominant pitching rotation with the Philadelphia Phillies, delivered his team’s lineup card to home plate before Friday’s game and received the day’s loudest ovation.
“I thought it was great, very classy,” said Ryan Howard(notes), whose two-run single in the ninth gave the Phillies a 7-6 win over the Blue Jays.
“For what he’s done here, for the city and for the organisation, I thought it was very nice for them to recognise that.”
Halladay is not scheduled to pitch against his former team until Saturday when the series resumes but the Blue Jays asked the Phillies if he would participate in the pre-game ritual.
The two-times Cy Young Award winner tipped his red cap to the adoring crowd and had an ear-to-ear smile as he soaked in the warm reception.
Halladay, traded to the Phillies ahead of the 2010 campaign for prospects, was supposed to have his ‘homecoming’ last year but the series was shifted to Philadelphia because of security concerns with a Group of 20 summit in Toronto that weekend.
Since leaving the Blue Jays, Halladay threw a perfect game during the 2010 season and followed that with a no-hitter in his playoff debut.
While the Blue Jays acknowledged the rousing reception for Halladay was well deserved, they will not let it affect them on Saturday when he takes the mound against them.
“He was the face of this franchise for such a long time and he deserved the stranding ovation,” said Blue Jays pitcher, and former Halladay team mate, Ricky Romero(notes).
“But as of tomorrow he’s our enemy and I hope we don’t see a standing ovation from our fans. It’s time to get it on once we step into those lines we got to beat him.”
Not all athletes have had such a warm welcome in their return to Toronto. Former local favourite Chris Bosh, who played for the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors, was vilified earlier this year the moment he stepped on the court when he arrived in town with his Miami Heat.
Halladay, now the centerpiece of Major League Baseball’s most dominant pitching rotation with the Philadelphia Phillies, delivered his team’s lineup card to home plate before Friday’s game and received the day’s loudest ovation.
“I thought it was great, very classy,” said Ryan Howard(notes), whose two-run single in the ninth gave the Phillies a 7-6 win over the Blue Jays.
“For what he’s done here, for the city and for the organisation, I thought it was very nice for them to recognise that.”
Halladay is not scheduled to pitch against his former team until Saturday when the series resumes but the Blue Jays asked the Phillies if he would participate in the pre-game ritual.
The two-times Cy Young Award winner tipped his red cap to the adoring crowd and had an ear-to-ear smile as he soaked in the warm reception.
Halladay, traded to the Phillies ahead of the 2010 campaign for prospects, was supposed to have his ‘homecoming’ last year but the series was shifted to Philadelphia because of security concerns with a Group of 20 summit in Toronto that weekend.
Since leaving the Blue Jays, Halladay threw a perfect game during the 2010 season and followed that with a no-hitter in his playoff debut.
While the Blue Jays acknowledged the rousing reception for Halladay was well deserved, they will not let it affect them on Saturday when he takes the mound against them.
“He was the face of this franchise for such a long time and he deserved the stranding ovation,” said Blue Jays pitcher, and former Halladay team mate, Ricky Romero(notes).
“But as of tomorrow he’s our enemy and I hope we don’t see a standing ovation from our fans. It’s time to get it on once we step into those lines we got to beat him.”
Not all athletes have had such a warm welcome in their return to Toronto. Former local favourite Chris Bosh, who played for the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors, was vilified earlier this year the moment he stepped on the court when he arrived in town with his Miami Heat.
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