Doc: The Life of Roy Halladay

by Todd Zolecki

Overview

Nobody’s baseball story is like Roy Halladay’s.

He was born and raised to be a superstar. He was a first-round draft pick in 1995. He nearly threw a no-hitter in his second big-league start in 1998. But two years later, Halladay suffered arguably the worst season by any pitcher in baseball history. He was months away from being out of the game.

Hall of Fame pitchers do not struggle like that. But Halladay vowed to change. He altered his pitching mechanics and rewired his brain to become one of the greatest pitchers of all time. How did Doc do it? Doc: The Life of Roy Halladay tells the remarkable story; based on more than 100 interviews with Halladay’s family, friends, managers, coaches, teammates, and competitors, including extensive interviews with his wife, Brandy; comprehensive archival research; and previously unpublished commentary from Halladay himself. Doc not only tells the story of Halladay’s illustrious baseball career in Toronto and Philadelphia, but his hard-driven adolescence, his lifelong personal struggles, and his motivation to pay forward the knowledge and philosophies that helped him achieve baseball greatness before his tragic death in 2017.

This essential biography is a testimonial for baseball players and pitchers from high school to the big leagues still searching for their path to excellence, like Halladay. It’s also a celebration and a profound exploration of a generational pitcher and a beloved teammate, friend, and family man.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629378756
Publisher:	Triumph Books
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	252,902
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Todd Zolecki is the Philadelphia Phillies beat reporter for MLB.com. He is the author of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Philadelphia Phillies, and The Rotation: A Season with the Phillies and the Greatest Pitching Staff Ever Assembled.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Doctober 1

Chapter 2 The Basement 15

Chapter 3 Bus 23

Chapter 4 Arvada West 31

Chapter 5 Doc and Carp 41

Chapter 6 10.64 55

Chapter 7 Mel 67

Chapter 8 A New Roy 83

Chapter 9 Harvey 97

Chapter 10 Cy Young Ill

Chapter 11 The Arsenal 125

Chapter 12 The Machine 137

Chapter 13 Time to Move On 153

Chapter 14 Philly 171

Chapter 15 Four More Days 185

Chapter 16 Perfection 201

Chapter 17 It's Only Going to Get Funner 213

Chapter 18 The Rotation 229

Chapter 19 He's Human 247

Chapter 20 How You Fit In 267

Chapter 21 Second Callings 279

Chapter 22 I Love You Too 291

Chapter 23 The Legacy 307

Acknowledgments 323

Sources 327

Index 337

Editorial Reviews

"The Roy Halladay story has so many levels.… [Todd Zolecki] fearlessly explores them all in Doc." —Jayson Stark, writer for The Athletic


“Beautifully written by Todd Zolecki. Was an excellent depiction of the baseball and personal life of the fiercest, most accountable teammate, son, father, husband, and friend.” —Ruben Amaro Jr., former general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies


“Great writing by Todd Zolecki.” —Dan Plesac, MLB Network analyst and former Halladay teammate

“Highly recommend.” —John Barr, host of ESPN’s E:60 documentary “Imperfect: The Roy Halladay Story”​


“A very worthwhile read for Blue Jays and Phillies fans, or for any baseball fan, for that matter. Captures him extremely well.” —Dan Shulman, ESPN and Blue Jays broadcaster


“What a great book! I highly recommend it!” —Dusty Wathan, Philadelphia Phillies third base coach


“Can’t recommend it enough. Read it in two days. Floored by the breadth of the reporting and how Todd handled such a sad and complicated story.” —Jesse Dougherty, The Washington Post

“Can’t put it down.” —Ben Davis, Phillies broadcaster​


“If you’re interested in digging deeper into the Halladay story you should … be picking up a copy of the book from [Todd Zolecki]. It’s extremely well researched and a great read.” —Gregor Chisholm, The Toronto Star

“Very powerful book from Todd Zolecki on Doc.” —John Clark, NBC Sports Philadelphia


“Compelling ... Zolecki’s work is meticulous in detail ... leads readers on a compassionate journey ... artfully and respectfully paints the picture [of Halladay].” —The Toronto Sun

From the Publisher

05/01/2020

When two-time Cy Young winner and eight-time all-star Roy Halladay (1977–2017) tragically died, the world of baseball was devastated, as his love and passion for the game of baseball was unrivaled. Zolecki, Philadelphia Phillies beat reporter for MLB.com and author of The Rotation, has written the life story of Halladay, from his early career struggles to becoming one of the sport's most admired pitchers. Based on extensive interviews with his widow Brandy, along with other firsthand sources, Zolecki brilliantly captures Halladay's personal and professional life, giving a comprehensive look into his baseball career as a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1998 to 2009 and later the Philadelphia Phillies from 2010 to 2013. The author doesn't shy away from difficulties, including Halladay's shoulder and back injuries throughout the years, which lead to his retirement in 2013, as well as his tragic death in a plane crash in 2017. VERDICT Well written and thoroughly researched, this book celebrates Halladay's career while telling the story of a Hall of Famer who's legacy continues to be felt on the sport.—Gus Palas, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL

Library Journal