Roy Halladay Number Retirement - Case Study
Philadelphia Phillies - Citizens Bank Park, 2021
Overview
On August 8, 2021, the Phillies retired Roy Halladay’s iconic number 34 in a ceremony that celebrated his lasting legacy in Philadelphia. The event required a balance of emotion, reverence, and spectacle to properly honor one of the game’s greatest pitchers.
My Role
I created the in-stadium video tribute while also directing and producing the live ceremony in ballpark. This included curating archival footage, editing highlight reels, and aligning playback with key on-field moments like the jersey reveal.
Creative Approach
The video was crafted to move from celebration to reflection, blending Halladay’s career milestones with interviews and behind-the-scenes moments. The pacing and music selection were designed to build anticipation and then pause for emotional resonance, mirroring the arc of the live ceremony.
Impact
The video tribute drew a standing ovation from a sold-out Citizens Bank Park crowd. The ceremony was widely covered in local media and praised by fans and Halladay’s family for its emotional resonance, while the video tribute won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy in the Sports Story News Feature category.
“[Roy] was a legend in a lot of people’s eyes and in my eyes as well, so it was really cool seeing that celebrated before the game”