"I love being your dad" - Matt Holliday pens heartfelt tribute to daughter Gracyn Ivy for her 15th birthday
Former MLB player and St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Matt Holliday posted a heartfelt message for his daughter Gracyn Ivy on her 15th birthday, through social media. Jackson Holliday's father is known for winning the World Series title with the Cardinals during his playing days in 2011. While his oldest son is already making a name in the major leagues, his only daughter celebrated her 15th birthday on Thursday.
Holliday posted a picture with Gracyn on his Instagram profile, with a heartfelt tribute which read:
"You are such an amazing young lady! Most of our pictures are silly selfies so here ya go! I love being your dad!"
Matt was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 1998 MLB Draft and went on to make his major league debut with them in 2004. He won the NLCS MVP with the Rockies in 2007 before eventually joining the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009. After winning the World Series with St. Louis in 2011, he had a short spell with the Yankees before returning to Colorado to end his playing career.
Matt Holliday met his wife Leslee on a blind date in 1999 and married her the following year. The couple has three sons and a daughter together, with their oldest (Jackson) already a major league player in the MLB.
While he has had short coaching stints after retiring, Holliday is very much a family man now and has brought up his children in a competitive, sporting environment. He remains a beloved figure among baseball fans across the country and his warm tribute to his daughter made a mark on social media.
When Matt Holliday threw out the first pitch to son Jackson Holliday in Colorado
Matt Holliday is a seven-time All-Star slugger and a legendary figure in the Colorado Rockies organization. As his son Jackson Holliday played his debut season in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles, the former Rockies star threw out the first pitch to his son when they came to play in Colorado in September.
Jackson went on to end his rookie season on a positive note. Recording a .189 average with 5 home runs in 60 games, he showed plenty of promise for the future.
No matter what lies ahead, Jackson will certainly remember sharing the field with his father on his first visit to Colorado as a major league player.