"I just remember going for it and feeling that pressure. It's the last out of the game, one final moment for you to complete it. I wanted to get it for," said Carlos Ruiz through Phillies ticket operations coordinator Delvy Francisco.
Phillies commemorate Roy Halladay's postseason no-hitter
Fifteen years later, every Philadelphia Phillies fan remembers how he sealed a no-hitter for now Hall of Famer Roy Halladay. The bat blocking him, the spin, the throw, the out and the embrace, all of it was poetry in motion to any baseball fan.
Before Game 2 of the NLDS, the Phillies honored the fifteenth anniversary of Halladay's postseason no-hitter, first with a video package, then with a surprise ceremonial first pitch. The late Roy Halladay's sons, Braden and Ryan, went to the mound to throw to catcher Carlos Ruiz, who made the final out that memorable night.
Braden, a pitcher drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, got the pitch but airmailed it a bit. In typical 'Chooch' fashion, the championship-winning catcher was able to get it.
"I'm glad it was him so that he could go up and get the pitch," joked Braden Halladay afterward.
"Personally, it's tough to be in front of that many people. Makes me think about how incredible it is that my Dad did it not only in the regular season but in the postseason."
The Philadelphia faithful serenaded Ruiz with the distinctive sound of his nickname through the stadium. A loud "CHOOOOOOOOCH" rang out, making the moment even more special for the former Phillies catcher.
"Obviously, those moments are in your mind and in your heart," reflected Ruiz. "It was such a great honor to be a part of this moment."
The Halladay kids were just that on that night in 2010, kids. Ryan was only five years old. Being in a playroom, he didn't know his dad threw a no-hitter until after it happened. And with his birthday the following day, he didn't really care. "All I knew, we were going to the aquarium that night for my birthday, and that's all I could think about," said Ryan.
Ryan does have a lot of great baseball memories thanks to Philadelphia, but a 5-year-old does have their priorities.
Being ten years old at the time, Braden has very different memories of the night. "I'd never been to a playoff game before, because my dad wouldn't let us go unless he was in it," recounted Braden. "I remember how intense everything was. In the 6th or 7th inning, I kind of started to realize what was going on, and it was more nervous than I was today."
Those moments and a whole host of others have now built a special connection to the Phillies. Braden and Ryan grew up around the Phillies organization. When they get to return for special moments, like this, the memories feel alive.
"I think the opportunity to be back here and to relive everything my Dad did. It almost feels like I'm back here with him," said Braden. His brother Ryan agreed.
"I think that anytime I get to be around it, it helps me stay close to my Dad," said Braden.
Both Braden and Ryan were elated to find out Chooch would be the one catching for them. They only found out that morning. "Honestly, if you could have asked for anyone, we would've picked Chooch 10 out of 10 times," said Ryan. "It was perfect."
"Nobody better," agreed Braden.
As things were wrapping up, Ruiz wanted to give a message to Braden and Ryan.
"Whenever I come back, being here, being with Roy's sons, getting to see his wife as well, I hold that near to my heart. I just want them to know that they're always going to have a special place in my heart as well," said Ruiz through Francisco.
Thanks to that night fifteen years ago and other great moments in the life and career of Roy Halladay, his sons and his catcher will be forever connected.
