Major League Baseball

Halladay says thank you to fans in Toronto

Published Dec. 22, 2009 10:03 a.m. ET

foxsports

Former Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay has taken out a full-page newspaper advertisement thanking the city and the team's fans.

Halladay was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on Dec. 16 after 12 seasons with Toronto. The ad in the Toronto Sun on Tuesday said that he felt ``blessed'' to have been part of the organization since being drafted in 1995.

Said the right-hander: ``Toronto will forever have a special place in my heart. The memories will last a lifetime and so will my gratitude.''

The 2003 Cy Young Award Winner was 148-76 with a 3.43 ERA for the Blue Jays. He was traded to the Phillies in a four-team blockbuster deal that included Cliff Lee.