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Orioles Legend Cal Ripken Jr. Supports Jackson Holliday Wearing Father's No. 7 Jersey

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVApril 10, 2024

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 10: Jackson Holliday #7 of the Baltimore Orioles talks with the media before making his MLB debut against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 10, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Brian Fluharty/Getty Images

Highly regarded Baltimore Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday has the blessing of the Ripken family when it comes to wearing No. 7.

Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. expressed his excitement to watch Holliday play for the organization and said the family is "thrilled" he will be wearing the same No. 7 that Ripken's father, Cal Ripken Sr., did:

Cal Ripken, Jr. @CalRipkenJr

Our family is thrilled that <a href="https://twitter.com/J_Holliday7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@J_Holliday7</a> will be wearing dad's #7 ... Excited to watch him play!

Bill Ripken shared the conversation he had with his brother, Cal, about it and said, "If anybody's going to do it, I think that family is going to honor the fact that Sr. was a part of that. And it gives us another opportunity to throw Sr. out there. So I'm all on board with it."

MLB Network @MLBNetwork

Bill Ripken shares the backstory and today's conversation with his brother Cal as Jackson Holliday becomes the first <a href="https://twitter.com/Orioles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Orioles</a> player to wear #7 since the passing of Cal Ripken Sr. 🧡🖤 <a href="https://t.co/w9bxS4694L">pic.twitter.com/w9bxS4694L</a>

Like the Ripkens, the Hollidays are a baseball family. Jackson is the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday and will now have the opportunity to write his own legacy.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday the Orioles were calling the younger Holliday up to the major leagues ahead of Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Holliday is the No. 1 prospect in the entire league, per MLB.com's rankings, and figures to provide a significant boost for a franchise chasing a second consecutive American League East crown.

As for the number, Holliday will be the first Orioles player to wear it since Ripken Sr. died in 1999. Ripken Sr. played in the minor leagues and managed for Baltimore, while Ripken Jr. wore No. 8 as arguably the best player in franchise history.

Ripken Jr. is a Hall of Famer who won a World Series and two MVPs during a career that included 19 All-Star selections.

Now it will be Holliday looking to lead Baltimore back to a World Series crown.