As you might remember I am a Phillies fan and this one hurts bad. Losing Dutch Daulton and Doc Halladay way too early, along with Dallas Green and Jim Bunning. 2017 will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

In 2009 the rumors were flying that the Blue Jays would trade Doc. The Phillies were the team showing the most interest. By chance Toronto made an appearance in Philly that year, I believe in June. Doc Halladay was scheduled to pitch the series finale on a Thursday afternoon. My best friend Rick and I had to go. We are diehard Phils fans. We wanted to see him up close and cheer him on to let him know Philly couldn't wait until he was on our side. Unfortunately Halladay was scratched from his start, so we didn't get a chance to see him pitch. Phils lost that game too, lousy day.

The Phillies ended up acquiring Cliff Lee instead that summer. It worked out well. But Doc was the real prize. When the Phils traded for him in the offseason I was ecstatic. (Of course Amaro blew it by trading Lee and I'm still ranting about that.)

Roy Halladay came as advertised. Clubhouse leader, dominant pitcher, perfect game. The whole package. When you read his teammates' tweets you can tell what he meant to that clubhouse. My buddies and I paid $80 bucks apiece to sit in the upper deck when he won his 20th game. First Phillie to do it since Carlton in 1982. We had to be there. We knew he would win. Lord knows when it will happen in Philadelphia again.

The no hitter against the Reds. I started watching that game at work and raced home to see the last two innings. My cousin came over and we literally jumped for joy when Doc got it. The only thing wrong with Doc's tenure with the Phillies was they didn't win the world series.

I thank you if you have made it this far. Just had to get out how much joy Roy Halladay brought to all Phillies fans. The fact that he was a classy, gracious family man made him even more special. I was lucky enough to see him pitch 5 or 6 times in person. R.I.P. Doc.