This Date in Phillies History: November 16

Events in Phillies history on November 16

November 16, 2010: Former Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay was announced as the unanimous winner of the National League Cy Young Award for his first season with Philadelphia. Halladay went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA in 2010 and led the majors in WAR (8.4), wins (21), complete games (9), shutouts (4), innings (250.2), batters faced (933), and so/bb (7.3). He also threw a perfect game against the Marlins.

Phillies players, managers, executives, or broadcasters born on November 16

Don Hahn (1948): Former Major League outfielder who played 9 games with the Phillies in 1975, his final season in the majors.

A DEEPER DIVE… Roy Halladay’s career

Roy Halladay’s career is remembered as one of the most complete and consistently excellent pitching journeys of the modern era, and his time with the Phillies stands as the defining chapter of that story. Before he ever arrived in Philadelphia, he had already built a reputation in Toronto as a workhorse with uncommon precision and competitive drive. But when the Phillies pulled off the trade for him in December of 2009, both sides were looking for something more. Halladay wanted the chance to pitch for a contender, and the Phillies wanted a true ace to anchor a rotation built for October. The fit was instant.

His 2010 season with the Phillies became one of the greatest single-season performances in franchise history and one of the best ever by a modern pitcher. He threw 250.2 innings, led the league in wins and complete games, and brought a sense of total command every time he took the mound. Citizens Bank Park could be a hitter-friendly place, but Halladay made it feel like a cavern. His rhythm was almost mechanical. He worked quickly, trusted his defense, and kept opponents guessing with a mix of cutters and sinkers that never seemed to land in the same place twice. Teammates talked about how prepared he was and how much his presence elevated the entire pitching staff.

TRIVIA QUESTION: Who did the Phillies give up to acquire Halladay? (answer at the end of the post)

The crowning moment of that season came on May 29, when Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in Major League Baseball history, shutting down the Marlins with the same quiet intensity he brought to every start. It was the kind of performance that instantly becomes a landmark, not just for a team but for a sport. He didn’t celebrate much afterward, which fit his personality. For Halladay, the game was always about the work, not the spotlight.

As it turned out, he saved an even bigger moment for the postseason. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series, his first career playoff start, Halladay delivered a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. It was only the second no-hitter in postseason history and the first since Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956. The atmosphere that night in Philadelphia still ranks among the loudest and most electric in the ballpark’s history. The feat felt surreal even then. Halladay had dominated all year, but to bring that level of excellence into the playoff pressure cooker said everything about him. He didn’t overpower hitters as much as he out-thought them, using pace and location in a way only elite pitchers can sustain.

Halladay won the National League Cy Young Award in 2010 and followed it with another strong season in 2011. He helped the Phillies win a franchise-record 102 games that year and formed part of a rotation many considered one of the best ever assembled. Even as the team’s offensive core began aging, Halladay gave the Phillies a chance to win every time he pitched. Eventually, injuries caught up to him. Shoulder problems slowed him in 2012 and 2013, and it became clear his body could no longer support the workload he had demanded of it for so long.

After retiring, Halladay stayed connected to baseball, especially at the youth level. His death in November 2017 in a plane crash was a shock felt across the sport. The investigation later noted issues surrounding the accident, but most of the baseball world chose to focus on his legacy as a teammate, mentor, and fierce competitor. The Phillies retired his number 34 in 2020, a reminder not just of his achievements but of how deeply he had connected with the city in a short time.

Roy Halladay’s career remains a story of excellence built on discipline and intelligence. His years in Philadelphia were brief, but they were powerful, memorable, and filled with moments that will be celebrated for generations.

TRIVIA ANSWER: The Phillies sent Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Drabek, and Michael Taylor to Toronto for Roy Halladay on December 16, 2009.

Please scroll down to comment on this story or to give it a rating. We appreciate your feedback!

Disclaimer: Some of the products featured or linked on this website may generate income for Philly Baseball News through affiliate commissions, sponsorships, or direct sales. We only promote items we believe in, but please assume that PBN may earn a cut from qualifying purchases that you make using a link on this site.

Rate this:

Share this:

Related