Ripken family 'thrilled' for Holliday to wear dad's No. 7

BOSTON -- Baseball has long been a family game, and now, two of MLB’s most recognizable surnames will forever have a connection in Orioles history.

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On Wednesday, Baltimore selected the contract of Jackson Holliday from Triple-A Norfolk, recalling the 20-year-old infielder for his first stint in the big leagues. MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect is no stranger to MLB as the son of former All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday.

The younger Holliday will be wearing No. 7, which his dad wore during the majority of his stint with the Cardinals (2010-16) and in his final season with the Rockies in ‘18.

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But in Orioles lore, No. 7 has long belonged to Cal Ripken Sr. The former manager, who died in 1999 following a battle with lung cancer, wore the number when he led the team in the ‘87 and ‘88 seasons. After his firing in ‘88, his son, Billy, took the number and wore it the rest of that year. No Baltimore player has worn it since, as it had been unofficially retired.

Cal Ripken Jr., Baseball Hall of Famer and Orioles ownership partner, shared on social media that his family is “thrilled” for Jackson Holliday to bring back the orange No. 7:

In a text message to MLB.com, Matt Holliday said he is “super grateful” the Ripken family is allowing Jackson (the oldest of his four kids) to don his old number in the big leagues.

Billy Ripken said that he and Cal Jr. discussed it Wednesday morning and agreed that it was the right opportunity for the No. 7 to return to Baltimore.

“If anybody’s going to do it, I think that family’s going to honor the fact that Sr. was a part of that, and it gives us another opportunity to throw Sr. out there,” Billy Ripken said on MLB Network. “So I’m all on board with it.”

Now, another family numerical legacy has been created.