Cal Ripken Jr. was in the headlines Wednesday for a couple of different reasons.
He expressed his excitement that Jackson Holliday, promoted to the big leagues on Wednesday, will be the first player to wear the No. 7 jersey since Billy Ripken in 1988. Holliday becomes only the seventh player in Orioles history to don the number, which has been unofficially retired to honor Cal Ripken Sr. since his passing in 1999.
Wednesday, MoonBall Media — the media company launched by former Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer— announced that the Orioles legend would serve as executive producer for its latest docuseries, which is in development.
This unscripted series tackles legendary sports feats, showcasing icons and hidden gems who’ve achieved the extraordinary, including Ripken. So, the series will story Ripken’s historic streak as the premiere episode.
“I am excited to be a part of this unscripted project,” Ripken said in a release. “What the MoonBall team, led by Anthony (Seratelli) and Eric, have developed will give fans a unique perspective on some of the most memorable events in sports. I am honored that they have included me on the team and that my streak will be featured in the first episode.”
Spending all 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Ripken earned the nickname “Iron Man” for his astounding record of 2,632 consecutive games played. The Maryland native stands as one of only 10 players to achieve both 3,000 hits and 400 home runs, solidifying his place in the MLB record books.
Ripken’s accolades extend beyond his endurance. Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility with an incredible 98.53% of the vote, he secured the third-highest percentage ever at the time. For position players, it was the highest ever.
“As a young shortstop growing up in the northeast, Cal was an idol of my childhood and future baseball career. It’s been an unbelievable honor to connect and partner with him to bring great sports stories to the big screen,” said Seratelli.
“They don’t come much more legendary than Cal Ripken Jr. It’s been exciting to team up with Cal and get this project underway,” added Hosmer.
