Baseball legend Roy Halladay dies in plane crash

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Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay died Tuesday after a plane he was piloting crashed in the Gulf of Mexico, authorities confirmed.

The 40-year-old two-time Cy Young winner, who retired four years ago, was the only person on board the single-engine ICON A5 plane, the Pasco County Sheriff's Department confirmed.

The Phillies issued a statement of condolence soon after news of the crash emerged. "We are numb over the very tragic news about Roy Halladay's untimely death," the Phillies said.

Roy Halladay tips his hat to the fans after a post-game interview following their MLB American League baseball game against the New York Yankees in Toronto, September 4, 2009. /Reuters Photo

"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."

Halladay played for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia in a 16-year career which included a perfect game in 2010 and a no-hitter in the playoffs the same year.

He was selected to the All-Star team on eight occasions but never won a World Series.

Halladay is survived by his wife, Brandy, and two sons, Ryan and Braden.

Source(s): AFP