Halladay saluted in Toronto, Philadelphia after posthumous HOF induction

The absence of Roy Halladay, one of Cooperstown's newest inductees, is clouding a day of celebration across baseball.

"Doc," who died in a single-plane crash at the age of 40 in November 2017, was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday after receiving 85.4 percent of the vote in his first appearance on the ballot.

His induction inspired an outpouring of emotion throughout the baseball world, most notably across Canada and in Philadelphia, where Halladay starred for the Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays during his 16-year career.

Halladay is the sixth player the Baseball Writers' Association of America has elected posthumously, and the first since Rabbit Maranville in 1954, according to the Hall of Fame.

"If only Roy were here to personally express his gratitude for this honor, what an even more amazing day this would be," Halladay's widow Brandy said in a statement.

"It means so much to me, Braden, and Ryan."

Braden Halladay, Roy's eldest son who's now embarking on his own pitching career (he's committed to Penn State), saluted his father on Twitter:

The Blue Jays retired Halladay's No. 32 this past April, and they also remembered their franchise icon.

“Of the countless players that have worn the Blue Jays uniform, few have done so with the determination and elegance of Roy Halladay," said Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro.

"Today is a bittersweet day for our community and organization, as we remember a beloved pitcher, teammate, and family man, but we can take comfort in the boundless impact Roy had on Canadian fans nationwide and the game of baseball."

Toronto mayor John Tory also saluted Halladay on behalf of the city, as did Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau:

Halladay only spent four seasons with the Phillies, and many of his former teammates detailed the mark he left on that franchise too.

"He was fierce. He was competitive. He was focused. But most of all, he was great. Not just a great player but also a great teammate and a great friend," former Phillies second baseman Chase Utley said.

"Anyone that has ever heard the name Roy Halladay wishes he were here for us all to celebrate this moment of greatness and give thanks for the many memories he gave us on the playing field, but even more importantly the ones we all got to create when he took off his Superman cape, gave that big ol' cheesy smile, and made you feel like you had known him all your life," added retired shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

Halladay's name is spread throughout the Blue Jays' record books from his 12 seasons in Toronto, as he ranks among the franchise's leaders in virtually every pitching category. During his time in Philadelphia, he tossed a perfect game and a postseason no-hitter while helping the Phillies reach the playoffs twice. He won two Cy Young Awards, one with each team, and his 67 complete games are by far the most for any pitcher since he debuted in 1998.

Halladay was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017, several months before his death. Last year, the Phillies inducted him into their Wall of Fame.