Roy Halladay ASG Starter (2009 & 2011)
Roy “Doc” Halladay is the only one of the Jays’ celebrated list of outstanding starting pitchers to ultimately be inducted (posthumously) into The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Halladay was widely recognized as being the best of the best through the first decade of the 2000s.
He started twice, with his first nod being in 2009 in St. Louis. Halladay battled for two innings, surrendering four hits and two earned runs. The American League was able to bail Doc out in the later innings, as Joe Mauer came up with a clutch RBI double, leading the AL to a 4-3 win. Halladay would return to deliver a masterful two-inning performance as the National League starter, while with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011.
Cease Recognized as the Next Great Blue Jays Starting Pitcher
In the ever-changing landscape of MLB rosters, it is worth noting that all three previous Toronto Blue Jays ASG starting pitchers were products of the Jays organization. They were drafted, groomed, and ultimately reached stardom with the Jays.
That doesn’t in any way diminish the naming of Cease to this elite list, but it does provide a testament to the legacy of starting pitchers within the Jays system. Cease acknowledges those who preceded him, and over the next six or so years, which is the duration of his current contract, he has more than enough time to further solidify his place among the best Blue Jays pitchers to have ever taken the mound.
