Holliday holiday proves he still matters in Stillwater

Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday might have been No. 2 in the National League MVP voting, but he’s No. 1 in Stillwater, Okla.

Stillwater High School retired his No. 24 baseball jersey Friday night.

Holliday was a two-sport All-American in high school: baseball, and football as a quarterback. He also played basketball until his senior year.

“High school is such a special time, and you don’t really realize that until later,” Holliday said at the ceremony, which was held between the girls and boys basketball games. “It’s been almost 10 years since I went to school here, and I still regret that I didn’t play basketball my senior season. Baseball was my first passion, but I liked basketball just as much. I just wasn’t tall enough or athletic enough to make a living playing it.”

Said Stillwater Mayor Roger McMillian, “There’s a little bit of Stillwater in you, we hope, and a whole lot of Matt Holliday in Stillwater.”

In addition to his uniform being retired, the mayor announced the city council voted to rename the baseball field at Babcock Park “Matt Holliday Field” and proclaimed the day “Matt Holliday, Stillwater’s Major League Baseball Hero Day.”

Also, according to the Stillwater NewsPress, Gov. Brad Henry declared the day “Matt Holliday Day” throughout the state.