Roy Halladay retires after 16-year career

Citing a desire to avoid surgery for an ailing back and wanting to spend more time with his family, two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay retired Monday after 16 seasons in the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies.

Halladay, 36, signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Blue Jays, where he spent the first 12 years of his career. The right-hander choked up and held back tears while making the announcement at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

“As a baseball player, you realize that’s something you can’t do the rest of your life,” Halladay said. “I really don’t have any regrets. You realize there’s other things for you to accomplish in life.”

Halladay pitched a perfect game and also a postseason no-hitter. But he never made it to the World Series and leaves without the ring he badly wanted. Halladay was 203-105 with a 3.38 ERA in 416 career games, including 390 starts. He had 67 complete games and 20 shutouts. His resume includes three 20-win seasons, eight All-Star games, and three other top-3 finishes for the Cy Young Award.

AP