Roy Halladay makes the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first attempt

#HOF2019 pic.twitter.com/A4Mk437eZt

— Baseball Hall ⚾ (@baseballhall) January 23, 2019

The focus has shifted from Montréal to Toronto in the Canadian perspective of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Long-time Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay made the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first attempt with 85.4% of the vote. 75% of the vote is required to make the hall.

Halladay pitched from 1998-2013, spending the first 12 years with the Blue Jays. He was one of 6 pitchers ever to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues, winning in 2003 and 2010. Halladay was a 8-time All-Star, including appearances as a Blue Jay in 2002, 2003, 2005-2006, and 2008-2009.

He had 63 complete games from 2002-2011, at least 30 more than any other pitcher in that time.

On December 15, 2009, the Blue Jays traded Halladay to Philadelphia for Travis d'Arnaud, Kyle Drabek, and Michael Taylor.

Halladay's widow, Brandy, is the logical pick to give the induction speech. While piloting a plane, Halladay died in a plane crash on November 7, 2017 into the Gulf of Mexico.

Vladimir Guerrero makes the Baseball Hall of Fame on his second attempt

Larry Walker improved his Hall of Fame situation in his next to last year of eligibility. Walker got 54.6% in 2019, up from 34.1% in 2018. Walker remains 87 votes shy of induction.

Some speak of the Colorado effect as to why Walker's numbers are so good. Walker's numbers with the Montréal Expos in Olympic Stadium were remarkable. Colorado can account for home runs but don't have as much influence on his lifetime .313 batting average. Walker's Gold Glove defensive prowess wasn't aided by the Denver air.

Walker would be the first Canadian hitter to reach the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ferguson Jenkins is in the Hall of Fame as a pitcher.

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Former Toronto Blue Jays slugger Fred McGriff finished his 10-year eligibility run with 39.8%. McGriff finished his career with 493 home runs. His Hall of Fame chances rest with the Veterans' Committee.

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Youppi!, one of 3 mascots inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, just celebrated his 40th birthday. The mascot was introduced in 1979. Youppi! does have Muppet DNA since his creator was a former designer for Jim Henson.

Youppi! was a part of the experience at Olympic Stadium until 2004 when the Expos moved. He has since found a home as the mascot for the Montréal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

Bon anniversaire, Youppi!

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The 2019 class will be inducted in Cooperstown, NY on July 21.

Twitter capture: @BaseballHall