Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roy Halladay passed away at the early age of 40 in a plane crash in Florida. The tragedy struck the baseball world yesterday, November 7th.

The Pasco Country sheriff’s office confirmed the news in a press conference, saying that their “hearts and prayers go out to the family”, and that Halladay was a personal friend who “meant a lot to the sheriff’s office,” and that they will be working with the family to provide any assistance they can.

No mayday call was received by the Tampa Bay air-traffic control tower before the small single-engine plane Halladay was flying went down, Sheriff Chris Nocco said.

Nocco said the plane appeared to be nearly completely intact when deputies reached it, although some debris was floating in the 6-foot-deep water nearby. Deputies confirmed that its tail number matched that of Halladay’s plane.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner developed a love for flying after retiring from professional baseball in 2013. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, Halladay got his pilot’s license in November 2016. He posted a number of pictures of himself in the air and at the controls of aircraft.

“The newest challenge in aviation for me! I love every min of flying it can’t wait to take the family on vacation!” he wrote in November 2014.

Former Phillies teammate Cole Hamels, who now pitches for the Texas Rangers, said he remembered how excited Halladay was to be able to start on a new journey.

“Knowing that his father was a pilot … you look up to your dad always,” Hamels told reporters Tuesday. “I think that’s something he had — that bug to want to fly — and that’s something that was his passion. You know you have to respect that.”

Halladay was a beloved player by fans, teammates and coaches. He pitched in the major leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays for 16 seasons from 1998 to 2013. Halladay was the Blue Jays’ first draft selection in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft, the 17th pick overall, and played for the team from 1998 through 2009, after which he was traded to Philadelphia. Halladay was known for his ability to pitch deep into games effectively and, at the time of his retirement, was the active major league leader in complete games with 67, including 20 shutouts.

On May 29, 2010, Halladay pitched the 20th perfect game in MLB history, beating the Florida Marlins by a score of 1–0. On October 6, 2010, in his first postseason start, Halladay threw the second no-hitter in MLB postseason history against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the 2010 NLDS. It was his second no-hitter of the year, making Halladay the fifth pitcher in major league history to throw multiple no-hitters in the same season. During the 2012 season, he became the 67th pitcher to record 2,000 strikeouts. Halladay was also one of six pitchers in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award in both the American and National Leagues.

On December 9, 2013, Halladay signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Blue Jays and announced his retirement from baseball due to injury. At his press conference, Halladay listed a persistent back injury, as well as wanting to be more involved with his family, as his reasons for retiring. Halladay had two children with his wife, Brandy. Although retired as a player, Halladay continued to be a part of the game as a guest instructor for the Phillies and Blue Jays.

Both of his former teams released statements yesterday to remember Halladay.

“We are numb over the very tragic news about Roy Halladay’s untimely death,” the Phillies said in a statement. “There are no words to describe the sadness that the entire Phillies family is feeling over the loss of one of the most respected human beings to ever play the game.”

The Toronto Blue Jays also released a statement calling Halladay one of the game’s most respected players and an “even better human being.”

“it is impossible to express what he has meant to this franchise, the city and its fans” the team said.

We are saddened by the tragic news that Roy Halladay, 2-time Cy Young Award winner & 8-time All-Star, has died in a plane crash. He was 40. pic.twitter.com/SOFv3bOLyt

— MLB (@MLB) November 7, 2017