If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that I’m a big baseball fan and I love my Toronto Blue Jays.

So on Tuesday I was shocked and saddened when I heard that the greatest pitcher in Blue Jays history, Roy “Doc” Halladay, died in a plane crash off the coast of Florida.

He was just 40 years old.

I spent many nights watching Doc pitch for the Jays, and what always struck me was how good he was (even though the Toronto teams that he pitched for weren’t great, he always gave them a chance to win).

And he was a true professional:

In 2009, the team granted him his wish to try for a World Series and traded him to the contender Philadelphia Phillies. Before leaving, Doc paid for ad space in Toronto newspapers for an open letter that he wrote to the city. He said:

“I am sincerely grateful for the incredible support and compassion the Blue Jays fans have always shown me. I am in awe of your overwhelming passion and devotion. Toronto will forever have a special place in my heart. The memories will last a lifetime and so will my gratitude”

When he pitched a perfect game for the Phillies in May 2010, he bought 60 swiss-made watches for his teammates and staff that read: “We did it together. Thanks, Roy Halladay”.

When he retired in 2013, he signed a one-day ceremonial contract with Toronto so he could retire as a Blue Jay.

The guy was a total class act.

The news hit me hard on Tuesday night.

I just wrapped up a group coaching call and my brother texted me to tell me. I was stunned.

You know how people say they remember vividly where they were when JFK was shot, or when Elvis died, or when 9/11 happened? Every Toronto Blue Jays fan, myself included, will remember where they were when they heard that Roy Halladay died.

The other reason the news hit me hard was because Halladay is roughly my age (I’m a year younger than him, 39). So it’s a reminder to me that life can end at any moment, regardless of how young you are.

Today is Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day in the US), and it’s another reminder of how precious life is since many of the soldiers who died in the World Wars were much younger than Halladay was.

I don’t have a call to action or pitch today, I’m just asking that you enjoy your family, friends, loved ones, and life while you still can.