Cy Young Award tops off Halladay’s perfect season

The Phillies’ right-hander was the easy choice for the NL Cy Young Award, winning it unanimously on Nov. 16, 2010.

Among National League pitchers, only Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants struck out more batters. Halladay was third among NL starters in ERA, although he pitched nearly 70 more innings than the league leader. He led both leagues in innings (250.2), complete games (nine), shutouts (four), wins (21) and wins above replacement (8.5).

“It’s by far the most fun I’ve ever had playing this game,” Halladay told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Halladay had been traded to Philadelphia prior to the 2010 season and instantly performed at an ace level for the Phillies, winning his first four games and holding a 1.64 ERA after nine starts.

On May 29, Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in MLB history, striking out eleven against the Florida Marlins.

“It’s something you never think about,” Halladay said after the game in the Inquirer. “It really is. It’s hard to explain. There’s days where things just kind of click and things happen.”

Before the 2010 season, after 12 years in Toronto in which Halladay amassed a 3.43 ERA, 1,495 strikeouts, six All-Star appearances and the 2003 Cy Young Award, he requested a trade. He was set to be a free agent after the 2010 season. At 32, his career was nearing an end, and he had still yet to make a playoff appearance.

The Blue Jays eventually completed a deal with the Phillies, who were trying to get back on top of baseball and thought Halladay could push them over the edge.

Behind Halladay, the Phillies had their best season since 1993, winning 97 games and cruising to an NL East title by six games.

Finally, Halladay made his October debut. On Oct. 6, on the biggest stage, he nearly matched his May 29 performance. In Game 1 against the Cincinnati Reds, Halladay threw the second no-hitter in AL/NL playoff history, after Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. He struck out eight batters, and his only blemish was a fifth inning, full-count walk to Cincinnati right fielder Jay Bruce.

Halladay and the Phillies swept the Reds in the NLDS before falling to the Giants in the NLCS. Halladay went 1-1 in the series, dropping Game 1 to Lincecum before bouncing back with a victory over him in Game 5.

With his second Cy Young win, Halladay became the fifth pitcher to win the award in both the American and National Leagues. Three of them – Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martínez and Randy Johnson – are Hall of Famers. He was also the first pitcher ever to throw a no-hitter and perfect game in the same season.

“It was definitely special for me…knowing how great the competition was and how good guys were doing,” Halladay told the Associated Press. “To be able to finish it this way is a tremendous thrill.”

Halladay retired following the 2013 season and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019.