Matt Holliday

Baseball Player

Matt Holliday was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States on January 15th, 1980 and is the Baseball Player. At the age of 44, Matt Holliday biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.

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Date of Birth
January 15, 1980
Nationality
United States
Place of Birth
Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States
Age
44 years old
Zodiac Sign
Capricorn
Networth
$60 Million
Profession
Baseball Player
Matt Holliday Height, Weight, Eye Color and Hair Color

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Matt Holliday Religion, Education, and Hobbies
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Matt Holliday Life

Matthew Thomas Holliday (born January 15, 1980) is an American professional left fielder and first baseman.

At Oklahoma State University, he is the outfielding and hitting coach.

He has played for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, and the New York Yankees, as a member of Major League Baseball (MLB).

The Cardinals' first-ever World Series appearance in 2011 and the 2010s' playoff triumphs, as well as the Rockies' first-ever World Series appearance.

His awards include a National League (NL) batting championship, the 2007 NL Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award (NLCS MVP), seven All-Star picks, and four Silver Slugger Awards.

Among his other accomplishments in life include 300 home runs, more than 2,000 hits, 100 stolen bases, and batting over.300 eight times. In the seventh round of the 1998 MLB draft from high school in Oklahoma, where he also appeared as a highly regarded quarterback prospect.

He debuted in MLB in 2004, becoming the Rockies' starting left fielder and a middle of the lineup presence.

In 2006, he became the 19th player to reach 195 hits, 30 home runs, 45 doubles, 115 runs, and 110 runs batted in (RBI) in a single season.

As the Rockies won 21 of 22 games in the regular season and in the playoffs en route to their first World Series appearance, he won the NL batting title, September National League Player of the Month award, and NLCS MVP.

He batted.435 in the 2011 NLCS for his first four consecutive appearances, beginning in 2011.

He was the fifth player in MLB history to reach at least 20 home runs, 30 doubles, 75 RBI, and 80 runs scored each season in 2014. In addition to his work as a leader on the track, Holliday is involved in charitable work and assisting his colleagues off the field.

According to this, the Baseball Writers' Association of America's St. Louis chapter has given him the Darryl Kile Good Guy Award.

He is a regular visitor to children's hospitals.

"Homers for Health," a pledge drive for Greater St. Louis hospitals, raised more than $3.7 million from 2012 to 2016.

He has been dubbed the "Stillwater Stinger" because of his striking skills and strength.

Early life

Matt Holliday was born and raised in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He had a natural aptitude for baseball, football, and basketball as a youth, with a natural flair for athletics. He was also larger than most of his peers, so they often modified the rules to reduce their size advantage. Holliday was supposed to play quarterback for both squads in football. Every three of his home runs in baseball were credited as one.

He spent a large portion of his free time with his dad, Tom Holliday, and brother, Josh, at the Oklahoma State University (OSU) baseball field and training complex, where his father served as a mentor. There, the Holliday boys learned about the fundamentals of the game, voluntarily trained and practiced, and waited for future big leaguers like Robin Ventura to play and develop. In addition,, he played American Legion Baseball during the summer. Despite the extensive time spent on baseball, Tom Holliday refused to try to convince his sons which sport or sports to focus on.

Holliday played both baseball and football at Stillwater High School. When playing football, he was a quarterback. He received All-American recognition in football and baseball, as well as his region's Gatorade Player of the Year award in both sports. He also competed for the 1997 USA Junior National Team. He helped the Pioneers rebound from a 42-21 deficit against Tulsa Union by throwing three touchdowns (TD) in the final six minutes of the game for a 43–42 score.

However, his high school football career came to an end with a 63–0 loss to Jenks in the state semifinal match. He had 6,211 yards and 68 TD in his career. His 35 TD passes as a junior set a new school record of over 11 man. Jimmy Johnson, the former Dallas Cowboys head coach, has reportedly told Tom Holliday that his son "couldn't miss" as a NFL prospect. After graduating from Stillwater in 1998, he was rated as the third best quarterback prospect in the country.

Holliday's family has a long tradition of baseball in both college and professional baseball. Tom Holliday, his dad, as well as former baseball head coach of OSU, has been the pitching coach for Auburn University. Dave Holliday, the current Atlanta Braves MLB scout, is an uncle. Josh Smith, OSU's head baseball coach, and a former minor league player with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Heath Holliday, a cousin, has also played baseball for OSU as a catcher.

Personal life

On December 30, 2000, Holliday and his wife, Leslee, married. Matt had returned home from his first professional season after being selected by the Rockies in the MLB draft in 1999, and Leslee was an undergraduate at OSU-Stillwater during his first season. Matt's best friend was dating a Leslee's friend and wanted to do a double date, so her friend asked if she'll go with her. The Hollidays now reside in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Jupiter, Florida, and they have four children. They have three sons, Jackson (born December 4, 2003), Ethan (b. February 23, 2007), and Reed (b. July 24, 2013) and Gracyn (b. November 7, 2009). The Baltimore Orioles drafted Jackson first overall in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. After signing the Cardinals' contract in January 2010, they formerly lived in Austin, Texas, during the offseason until December 2010. During the offseason, Holliday and his family have also lived in Stillwater, where he has also worked with his brother Josh on his swing. In the 2014-15 offseason, Holliday and his family migrated to South Florida, allowing him to stay in peak condition year-round and his sons to continue to play sports in winter months.

Holliday is a Christian and is a member of a Bible study group with fellow Christian colleagues. "I play for God," he has said about his faith. We are supposed to do all things for Him, according to the Bible. ... So I'm trying to do the best job I can for Him. This is my job, not who I am." Leslee has supervised a Bible study for professional athletes' wives in the St. Louis area.

Cal Ripken Jr. was Holliday's most popular player growing up. Bentley has said that if he had a dream car it would be a Bentley Continental GT rather than a sports one because he is "too large for small sport cars."

Since being a licensed agent, Scott Boras has been representing Holliday as his agent. In that he "enjoy(s) sitting down and talking to them, Holliday described his friendship with them. Scott is as accessible as you like him to be. I could call him right now. He has a lot of clients and people who don't hear from Scott, but he'll give you as much or as little attention as you like." Holliday further explained that Boras Corporation's staff psychologist, study into arbitration cases, and statistical analysis of success, he felt that Boras' department gave him the greatest opportunities to succeed.

Holliday, who is mainly known as a reserved figure, has spent years in the shadows of such franchise heroes as Todd Helton and Albert Pujols, which complemented his demeanor well. However, he has risen to fame as a veteran presence for the Cardinals, who are able to assist and entertain younger players and top prospects as they try to adjust to a lifestyle of playing baseball. Matt Adams, Ryan Jackson, Charlie Tilson, and Kolten Wong were all invited by the tony Frontenac Hotel in January 2012. Eating out, striking, eating out, and watching a St. Louis Blues game were among the activities. Holliday's Twitter page has grown more prominent, and he can now be used as a guest on talk radio shows. David Freese, a former teammate who was arrested shortly after Holliday's arrival in St. Louis in 2009, was jailed for driving under the influence. However, teammates who have been regular workout buddies and socializing on Freese have a "positive influence" on the Freese.

Holliday plays squash and likes to take an NFL approach in lieu of a rigorous off-season physical fitness regimen. He has worked with teammates, such as Freese and pitcher Trevor Rosenthal, in sports like "sled pushing, tire flipping, and some fireman carries" and each player takes turns carrying each other for about 20 meters.

Former Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell is one of many Longtime Hollidays with ties to the Hollidays. Farrell pitched for Tom Holliday at OSU, assisting the team in their four College World Series appearances. Farrell often babysat them when they were younger than adults when they were out of town. Matt Holliday was the Red Sox pitching coach years ago when he was a member of the Rockies' 2007 World Series. Holliday was back in action against Farrell six years after that, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the Red Sox boss this time. Farrell's teams were victorious over Holliday's in both series, however, in both series.

Holliday, who is active in charity work, has travelled for his causes around Greater St. Louis while keeping a low profile. Despite being a common sport, he hasn't established his own foundation. Some who know Holliday have argued that he has written "very important" checks to charities. Holliday introduced "Homers for Health" with Freese for Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in 2012. Fans were encouraged to give 25 cents for every home run by the Cardinals. The initiative was very fruitful, raising more than $3.7 million in the first five years. Rose Fogarty, Cardinal Glennon's director of marketing and communications, has done more for this hospital than any other Cardinal has done for this hospital since Stan Musial. Cardinal Glennon was once more on the map in St. Louis. We were welcomed into the spotlight by Matt and Leslee. On Labor Day of 2011, he, his wife, and two sons spent more than two hours at Shriners Hospitals for Children, caring for a 14-year-old boy recovering from hip surgery.

After former teammate Albert Pujols joined the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2011, the Pujols Family Foundation remained in St. Louis and contracted with Holliday for event coordination, such as the Albert Pujols Golf Classic. In Pujols' hometown Dominican Republic, Pujols and his wife, Deidre, founded the charity to raise funds and awareness of hunger and infirm children. Holliday, and his mother, Kathy Holliday, and the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine raised concerns about colorectal cancer screening. Kathy Holliday had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer before the Cardinals took on the Giants in the 2012 NLCS.

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Matt Holliday Career

Professional career

Following graduating high school, football recruiting has increased from colleges and universities around the country, including OSU—Holliday chose professional baseball rather than professional baseball. In the eighth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft as a third baseman, the Rockies selected him as a third baseman. He was rejected earlier because he had already signed to OSU on paper to play football, despite widespread fears that he would pick football over baseball. As a result, Rockies scouting director Pat Daugherty paid him $840,000, the most money paid to any player in that round.

The Rockies drafted him to their Arizona League affiliate, who had a 42-14 record and captured the league championship in Holliday's inaugural professional season. In 117 at bats for a.342 batting average, four doubles, a triple, five home runs, and 23 runs batted in (RBI); his home run total placed third in the league. He played for the Asheville Tourists in 1999, batting.264 with 16 home runs and 76 runs scored. With the bases loaded, he was 3-for-9 with one grand slam and 11 RBI. With a.871 fielding percentage and 57 putouts at third base, Holliday maintained a 57 putouts.

In 2000 and 2001, Holliday appeared for Salem. He had a total of 510 plate appearances, 28 doubles, seven home runs, seven home runs, and a.335 on-base percentage and a.389 slugging percentage for 2000. He played 112 games at third base, was charged with 32 errors in 300 total chances for a fielding percentage of.893 and turned 13 double plays. The Rockies moved Holliday to the outfield in 2001. He was named Player of the Month for June, batting.324 in seven multi-hit games, three doubles, seven home runs, and 22 RBI. After undergoing elbow surgery in July that ended his season, he played 72 games on the season.

In 2002, Holliday was promoted by the Rockies to the Carolina Mudcats of the AA Southern League (SL), where he was named a mid-season All-Star. After collecting nine hits in 24 at bats with one home run and eight RBI, he was dubbed league Hitter of the Week on June 27. He received the award on July 18, after hitting seven runs and driving in ten runs and a career-best six RBI against Birmingham on July 14. With 128 hits in 463 at bats, 10 home runs, and 64 RBI, Holliday's batting.276 with 79 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. He played for the Mesa Solar Sox of the off-season Arizona Fall League (AFL) in 2002 and 2003, batting.316 with four home runs, 21 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 35 AFL games. Holliday stayed at a prestigious left fielder for the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League for the 2003 season, batting.253, 28 doubles, 42 extra-base hits, and 206 total bases. His 15 outfield assists tied for second in the league. In Panama's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, he was given a spot on the USA Baseball team. They were refused from qualifying for the 2004 Summer Olympics.

At the start of the 2004 season, the Rockies assigned Holliday to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, presumably expecting him to spend the majority of the season there. After just six games with Colorado Springs, injuries to outfielders Preston Wilson and Larry Walker expedited his move to the Major Leagues. On April 16 at Busch Memorial Stadium against one of his future teams, the St. Louis Cardinals, he made his major league debut in left field against one of his future teams. In three at-bats, Holliday was hitless. Holliday's first appearance on his debut, a single, and then a double in Kit Pellow. On April 22, Holliday's first home run of his career came against José Lima of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jeromy Burnitz and Charles Johnson teamed up against the Florida Marlins for back-to-back home runs, the sixth such appearance in franchise history.

On May 18, Holliday's first multi-home run game against the Cincinnati Reds was her first game in his career. Both home runs were sold as part of back-to-back home runs with Burnitz, making them the first teammate pair to do so in a game since Seattle's Mike Cameron and Bret Boone in 2002. On June 12, the Rockies threw a game in which the Rockies had a 5–1 deficit in their first MLB grand slam against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, tying a game in which the Rockies had a 5–1 deficit. He hit.357 in June for the month of June. Walker was traded by the Cardinals to the Cardinals in August, giving Holliday more outfield playing opportunities. On September 12, he suffered a sprained elbow while diving for a ball against the San Diego Padres. His final batting line had a.290 batting average in 121 games, with 31 doubles, 14 home runs, 65 runs scored, 48 extra-base hits,.488 slugging percentage, and 195 total bases. In both of those categories, he ranked in the top ten among NL rookies. After the season, Holliday was selected to both Baseball America's All-Rookie Team and Topps' Major League Rookie All-Star Team, and his fifth place in the Rookie of the Year balloting.

In his second major league season, Holliday was the cleanup hitter behind franchise legend Todd Helton in the middle of the 2005 season. Holliday, who was 119 at bats going into the season, scored his first home run against the San Francisco Giants' Noah Lowry on May 17. On June 2, he had his second multi-homer game and first with three extra base hits against the Cardinals, his second game in his career, as well as his first. He was put on the disabled list (DL) with a right fractured pinky and returned to play on July 18. After batting.444 with three home runs, eight RBI, an.852 slugging percentage, and a league-leading 12 hits and 23 total bases, he earned his first NL Player of the Week award for July 25 to 31.

With 32 RBI in September, Holliday led the NL in the NL for the first time in that month. In a Rockies 20–1 victory on September 20, he hit two home runs and tied a Rockies' single-game RBI total in 2005, and second in the major leagues. In each of the Rockies' last 22 games, he completed the season with a seven-game hitting streak and hit base in each of the Rockies' final 22 games. Holliday played 125 games and improved in almost all offensive categories from his rookie year, including 147 hits, 19 home runs, 68 runs, 14 stolen bases, 51% on-base percentage, and.361 on-base percentage. His.307 batting average ranked eighth in the Netherlands at eighth place. The club selected his option for 2006, which was worth $500,000 ($693,729.8 today), or about $100,000 ($138,746 today), which is more than the average for a player with equivalent service time. He was named as the year's Best Player of the Year.

Before the MLB season, Holliday was selected to Team USA for the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Despite being batting just.255 through May 1, 2006, Holliday has scored 24 RBI in 25 games. He had 169 hits for a.339 average from May 1 to the end of the season, the fourth-highest in the major leagues. He batted.404 from June 1–27, his second in the NL in that period. Holliday, who was an All-Star pick to the game in Pittsburgh for the first time in his career, was hitting.339 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI at the time of his pick. For the first time as a big leaguer, Holliday played right field in the game.

Holliday defeated Matt Cain of the Giants on September 19, 2006, the longest home run in MLB since 2006. Although the official distance was 443 feet (135 meters), HitTracker estimated it at 496 feet (151 meters). The Rockies' comeback from a 7-0 deficit to a 9-8 victory was helped by his grand slam and triple five days later against the Braves. After hitting four home runs, three doubles, and a triple, he became the Rockies' second NL Player of the Week for the week ending September 24, he earned his second NL Player of the Week for the week beginning September 24. Holliday batted.326 in 155 games, 34 doubles, 34 home runs, 119 runs, 119 RBIs, 119 stolen bases, 3.530 total bases,.387 on-base percentage, and a.386 on-base percentage. He was the 19th player to reach or exceed 195 hits, 30 home runs, 45 doubles, 115 runs, and 110 RBI in one season. He was ranked in the top five of the National League in batting average, hits, runs, extra base hits, total bases, and slugging percentage. Since being an outfielder, he earned his first Silver Slugger Award.

Holliday, a hitter who continues to develop as a hitter, started the 2007 season as the Rockies' number five hitter but then moved to his third slot for the final five months of the season. He spanned his career-high 14-game streak from April 17 to May 1. On April 21, his two outfield assists tied for the sixth inning and tied for outfield assists in one inning, a club record for outfield assists in one inning. In the 8th game against the Braves on April 29, Holliday scored his first walk-off home run on the 11th rank off Bob Wickman for a 9–7 victory. He dominated 15 games from May 22 to June 7, his longest streak in history. Holliday registered 30 doubles, 15 home runs, 69 RBI, 122 hits, a.341 average, and a.573 slugging percentage in 87 first half games. For the second straight season, NL players and coaches selected him in with 725 votes to participate in the All-Star Game at AT&T Park in San Francisco. He has also competed in the Home Run Derby.

In the final 60 games of the season, Holliday scored.361 (86-for-238). With a.481 on-base percentage and four home runs, two doubles, and 10 RBI, the Rockies captured four of the six games on the week, ending July 29. He started his best 17-game hitting streak from August 10 to 27. Holliday's run of 36 consecutive games against the Diamondbacks ended at 38, with Helton and Walker advancing to base safely on August 22 to August 31.

On September 16, Holliday's second NL Player of the Week pick and fourth of his career, batting.407 with a.500 on-base percentage, 11 runs scored, and 31 total bases. He scored 11 home runs in a 12-game stretch from September 9-20; only Alex Rodro matched that feat in 2007. In a 9–8 victory over the Dodgers on September 19, one of his career and his 200th hit of the season. His September totals included a.367 batting average, 29 runs scored, six doubles, 12 home runs, 30 RBI, and a.796 slugging percentage, earning him NL Player of the Month honors while the Rockies won 13 of their 14 final scheduled games. Throughout the season, he attracted considerable attention for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, which increased even more than September.

The Rockies and Padres matched the regular season with identical 89-73 records, with MLB announcing a one-game extension to determine the wild-card champion. Trevor Hoffman's triple in the bottom of the 13th inning for the Padres was the tying run. In a bloody collision with catcher Michael Barrett, Holliday scored the winning run on Jamey Carroll's sacrifice fly, but controversy arose over whether he touched home plate. The Rockies made the playoffs for the first time in Holliday's career.

Holliday claimed his first batting title after registering a career-best.340. As the National League's top hits (216), doubles (137), extra base hits (92), and total bases (386), he appeared in 158 games and set career highs (216), compiled RBI (137), and total bases (386). In addition,, he came in third in each of runs scored (120), slugging percentage (.607) and OPS (1.012), and fourth in home runs (36) and adjusted OPS+ (150). At the time, the 63 walks were a new career peak. He was only the fifth National Leaguer to lead the NL in both batting average and RBI, and only the 13th major league player to have at least 200 hits and 50 doubles in the last 45 years.

Holliday homered twice against the Phillies in the National League Division Series (NLDS), as the Rockies swept. Colorado then moved to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) to face the Diamondbacks and swept them in four games. On his way to be named the NLCS MVP, Holliday batted.333 with two home runs and four RBI. The Rockies' first-ever trip to the World Series, where they defeated the Boston Red Sox in 21 of 22 games. In Game 2, Holliday had four hits, but the Red Sox won by the same score after four hits in the eighth inning, but closer Jonathan Papelbon took him off first base for the third out in Game 2. Boston eventually defeated the Rockies, snapping them off of the playoffs, effectively ending their season on a four-game losing streak.

Following the season, Holliday finished second in MVP polling with 336 points to Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins with 363, the closest result for the NL MVP since Terry Pendleton of the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Barry Bonds by 15 points. For the second time, Holliday was named the Rockies' Player of the Year, and The Sporting News named him to their All-Star team. The high school jersey number 24 at Stillwater High School was retired on December 14, according to the school. Businesses in Stillwater were encouraged to celebrate him on a marquee or window by announcing a "Welcome Home Matt Holliday" note on a marquee or window. The city council approved to rename the baseball field from Babcock Park to Matt Holliday Field, as well as the phrase "Matt Holliday, Stillwater's Major League Baseball Hero Day." Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma also named the day "Matt Holliday Day" throughout the state.

Holliday signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the Rockies on January 18, 2008, covering his last two years of arbitration. In addition, the Rockies gave a four-year, $72 million contract extension, as well as a fifth-year franchise with a club option for a fifth year at $12 million. The team viewed the deal extension as a unique deal worth nearly $107 million for the two years that involved arbitration. In comparison, Holliday and his partner, Scott Boras, felt that the extension was undervalued in comparison to comparable players. Negotiations in spring training stalled, as a result.

In the eighth inning against the Braves on April 7, Holliday recorded three hits and hit the go-ahead home run, earning the Rockies a 2–1 victory. He hit.462 (6-for-13) in a three-game sweep of Atlanta, with a double, triple, and home run, as well as six RBI. The Rockies won four of six games, earning him the NL Player of the Week award for the period ending April 13. Holliday led the NL with a.480 batting average and 10 RBI, while homering twice with a.880 slugging percentage and.519 on-base percentage. In the bottom of the ninth inning, he took the game-tying home run against New York Mets closer Billy Wagner, and then the game-winning single off Aaron Heilman in the 13th to drive in Jonathan Herrera. Due to a strained left hamstring, the Rockies reactivated Holliday on the 15-day DL and reactivated him on June 10.

On July 4, the Rockies posted their biggest comeback in team history in the form of a nine-run deficit against the Florida Marlins. The Marlins led 13–4, but Holliday gave the Marlins two home runs, including a grand slam, to cut the Marlins' lead to 17–17 in a thrilling 18-17 victory. For the third year in a row, Holliday was selected as a reserve outfielder for National League in the All-Star Game on July 6. He recalled Alfonso Soriano, the Chicago Cubs' outfielder who did not play due to injury, as the starter in right field, and made a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. He batted.370 with eight home runs and 24 RBI,.660 slugging percentage, and 24 runs scored in 27 games for the month of July. In 28 games, six home runs, nine doubles, and a.392 on-base percentage, Holliday's totals in August included 11 stolen bases and 30 runs scored in 28 games, with six home runs, nine doubles, and a.392 on-base percentage.

He batted.321 with 173 hits, 25 home runs, 88 RBI, 107 runs, and 290 total bases in 139 games. He led the team with 28 stolen bases despite a.409 on-base percentage, both career highs, and captured his third consecutive Silver Slugger Award. Holliday was first in ultimate zone rating (.991), fourth in total chances (252), and fifth in putouts (240) among all MLB left fielders. In about 100 fewer innings than those who came before him, he had his chances and putouts.

Because of inability to commit to a contract extension, the Rockies traded Holliday, Greg Smith, and outfielder Carlos González to Oakland Athletics on November 12, 2008. During the 2008–09 off-season, Holliday began working with former A's and Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire as a personal hitting coach, and he became the Cardinals' head hitting coach the following off-season.

Holliday, who spent the majority of the off-season on the Rockies' trade market, was once more a common target of rumors during the spring. The Athletics were off to a promising start, but it was unlikely that the club would have been able to re-sign him over the course of the season or if he had become a free agent following the season. He got off to a slow start when playing in Oakland due to minor injuries. On the last day of April against the Texas Rangers, he made his first home run of the season. He batted.240 in April, and his St. Louis Cardinals.316 on-base percentage and.489 slugging percentage over 65 games were among his best ever baseball numbers from May 11 to.489 on-base percentage. In a May 17 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, he reached base five times and stole base of the season.

Following a 10-run victory, the A's defeated the Minnesota Twins 14-13 on July 20, the first in team history. Holliday had two home runs and six RBI, including a seventh-inning grand slam that tied the score at 13. This game was his second game in his career in which he scored a grand slam plus another home run in his team's record-breaking comeback. The Rockies' first comeback came against the Marlins on July 4, the first such comeback to the area in a year. In a 16–1 win over the Twins two days later, he had three more hits and three runs scored against them. In his last two weeks in Oakland, an offensive surge that raised his trade value dramatically by hitting.390 with a.422 on-base percentage and a.756 slugging percentage. When batting.286 with 11 home runs and 54 RBI, he had 93 games played for the club.

The A's traded Holliday, Clayton Mortensen, Shane Peterson, and $1.5 million on July 24, 2009. He was a dramatic boost for Cardinals left fielders, who had batted.212 with a.294 on-base percentage and a.342 slugging percentage in 2009, as well as cleanup hitters who had batted.250 with a.325 on-base percentage and a.443 slugging percentage. He took the fourth slot in the lineup behind All-Star first baseman Albert Pujols. Because the Pujols already had jersey number 5, the number Holliday number Holliday wore with Colorado and Oakland also.

Holliday won 8–1 on his debut in his Cardinals debut with an RBI and a stolen base. In his next nine games for a.606 on-base percentage, a 1.061 slugging percentage, three homers, and ten RBI, he recapped his debut with 20 hits in 33 at bats, a.606 on-base percentage, a 1.061 slugging percentage, six doubles, three home runs, and ten RBI. At least one game in those nine games featured Holliday, with at least one hit and twice reaching base. His combined totals in July 26 games with Oakland and St. Louis included 40 hits, 20 runs scored, a.412 on-base percentage, 13 doubles, four home runs, 16 walks, and four stolen bases. With a 20–6 record in August, the Cardinals stepped into improved play in August, extending a National League Central division lead from one-half to ten in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 3, the Cardinals progressed to their 1,000th MLB hit.

For the first time in three years, the Cardinals won the National League Central division crown, winning a playoff berth. They lost an NL-best.600 winning percentage in 65 games with Holliday on the roster; he batted.353 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI; twelve were game-winning RBI. After the All-Star break, he ranked in the top ten in MLB in batting average (.357), home runs (16), and RBI (66). His combined A's and Cardinals numbers included a.313 batting average, 24 home runs, and 109 RBI.

Despite the inspired play after acquiring Holliday, the Cardinals did not fare well in the postseason, where they met the Dodgers in the NLDS. Holliday defeated Game 1 in Game 1, resulting in a game 1 loss. Clayton Kershaw, the starter, was on the mooi to start a game. With the Cardinals holding a 2–1 advantage and two outs in the ninth inning, Holliday dropped a line drive off James Loney's bat. If he'd caught the ball, the Cardinals' victory and a 1–1 Series tie would have concluded. Loney ended up on second base, putting the Dodgers up to eventually win the game by a 3–2 margin. Los Angeles swept the best-of-five series, bringing an end to the Cardinals' season, and Game 2's blunder left Holliday with a reputation as a "goat."

On November 5, Holliday applied for a free agency. Despite playing almost 100 games in the American League, he came in 16th in the NL MVP poll, with one of fourth place voted. Both contracts involving Holliday were later classified as failures for the A's, as two of the players they dealt with became multiple All-Stars. González, who won the 2010 batting title, Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove Awards with the Rockies, was one of many. Street was the second All-Star. Even if the Cardinals had never fired Holliday in his free agency, Jesse Spector of Sporting News claimed that the second agreement was a "landslide win" for them.

The Cardinals agreed to a seven-year, $120 million contract ($149.1 million today), and he shortened his uniform number to 7 in honor of fellow Oklahoman Mickey Mantle. For 2017 or $1 million buyout, the agreement has a complete no-trade clause and a $17 million team buyout. It was the best contract in team history and the most important of the 2009–10 offseason. He was given a new name at the Cardinals' annual Winter Warm Up: "The Stillwater Stinger."

In four straight games from June 18 to 22, Holliday was batting second, and Holliday was home in four straight games from June 18 to 22. He drove in eight of the Cardinals' 12 runs from June 18 to 20 in a weekend series against Oakland. For June 20, he was named National League Player of the Week, batting.435 with four home runs and eight RBI. He was also voted into the All-Star Game as a reserve player on July 4th. He batted.487, seven home runs, 13 RBI, and nine runs scored in ten games against both his former clubs. In a 16-game hitting streak from September 9–24, he batted.431 runs in a 16-game winning streak. His.364 average for September and October was ranked second in the NL in second place.

Holliday played in 158 games this season, batting.312 with 186 hits, 45 doubles, 28 home runs, 103 RBI, 95 runs scored, 69 walks, a.390 on-base percentage, and a.532 slugging percentage. He was ranked second in doubles, third in hits, fourth in total bases, and fifth in batting average, sixth in on-base percentage, and seventh in slugging and RBI. He was named to The Sporting News All-Star Team and finished 12th in the NL MVP awards for his second time. With the Darryl Kile Good Guy Award, the St. Louis chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America recognized his charitable work and service as a team leader.

Following a home run on the day before, Holliday had an emergency appendectomy. Despite a forecast that the wait would take four to six weeks, he returned just nine days later. He reached base in seven straight plate appearances against the Houston Astros on April 26 and 27, and did so in ten of 15 plate appearances in the series. He made his fifth MLB All-Star Game appearance and third Home Run Derby appearance. In a late August game against the Dodgers, a new "injury bug" struck Holliday after two appearances on the disabled list twice this season. He left the game due to numbness that had rooted deep inside his ear during the eighth inning. It was removed without further incident from the team's trainers.

The Cardinals were 10+1 games behind the Braves in the wild card playoff playoffs as of August 28, with 28 people remaining to play. Holliday scored his 200th home run against the Brewers on September 1 in his 200th appearance in the MLB, becoming the 300th player to do so. On September 13, Tendonitis developed in his right hand, limiting him to three more weeks until the rest of the season. St. Louis won 20 of their last 28 games, allowing them to overtake the Braves for the wild card position in the last game of the regular season; the Braves had the most games remaining in MLB history with 28 games remaining. Holliday batted.296 runs, 75 RBI, 36 doubles,.388 on-base percentage,.525 OPS,.912 OPS, and 151 OPS+, ranking sixth in the National League in on-base percentage, seventh in OPS+ and ninth in doubles, with a 68 percent finish in 124 games.

In the NLDS against the Phillies, Holliday's tendonitis resurfaced, restricting him to two of the five games in the series. He was in better form against Milwaukee in the NLCS, batting.435 with ten runs scored, five RBI, and a home run. The Cardinals beat the Brewers, advance to the World Series against the Texas Rangers. In Game 6 on a play diving into third base, where catcher Mike Napoli and third baseman Adrián Beltré had picked him off, and the injury kept him out of Game 7. The Cardinals won again and the Series, giving him his first World Series ring. Despite having only three hits in 19 at bats, Holliday walked seven times, the most since Bonds' 13 in the 2002 World Series, boosting his on-base percentage to.385 as he hit five runs.

Holliday reached base in 41 straight starts between June 22 and August 8, 2012. The club's 15-game winning streak from June 27 to July 16 was a season-high for the team. He batted.500, 17 runs scored, four home runs, and 21 RBI; his batting average, on-base percentage (.549), and slugging percentage (.824) all led MLB from June 16 to July 6. As he went on the bereavement list, Holliday was selected as the NL All-Star team to replace teammate Yadier Molina. At Busch Stadium on July 21, Holliday ran the longest home run ever recorded to date. The ball went 469 feet (143 m), flocked past the 'Big Mac Land' sign in left field to the second deck. He held the record until Brandon Moss crossed the distance four years later. On August 26, he was safely hitting four runs in five at bats against Cincinnati, but he also had four RBI and missed hitting for the cycle by a home run. On August 30, he was singled out in the first inning against the Nationals for his 1,500th career victory. With 27 home runs and 102 RBI, Holliday finished the season with a.295 batting average and 102 RBI.

During Game 2 of the NLCS against the Giants, he slid into second baseman Marco Scutaro during a normal ground ball double play and ended up on top of him. Scutaro left the game to have x-rays taken. The controversy over whether Holliday intentionally attempted to hurt him arose and applexed. At that time, the Giants trailed 1–0, but they won by seven runs, 7–1. The Giants won the game eventually. For 2012, the Missouri Athletic Club named Holliday their Sports Personality of the Year.

During a seven-run 10th inning against the Reds in an 11–4 victory, Holliday scored a grand slam on June 9, 2013. He left the Cubs early on July 11 due to a tightened right hamstring injury while running to first base, prompting the Cardinals to place him on the DL. He returned to the Braves on July 27. In another game against the Reds on August 26, Holliday's three-run home run was the longest at Busch Stadium in 2013 at 442 feet (135 meters). He hit 13 runs in 26 at bats during his last road trip of the season. However, back spasms kept him out of many games at the end of the regular season. The Cardinals set a new MLB record by hitting.330 with runners in scoring position, and Holliday was fourth in MLB in those situations this year, with a.390. In total, he had 22 home runs, 94 RBI, and a.300 batting average. His 41 double plays grounded into were a career high and set a new Cardinals franchise record.

At 97–65, the Cardinals tied for his best in the NL, granting Holliday his fifth career postseason appearance and fourth with the Cardinals. Faced with a must-win Game 4 match against the Pirates in the NLDS, he won by two runs in a 2–1 victory. The Cardinals defeated the Dodgers in their third straight NLCS match. Holliday started 0-for-13 but Ricky Nolasco came to help St. Louis beat St. Louis 4–2. The Cardinals won Holliday's third trip to the Fall Classic and second against the Red Sox in six games. For a.625 slugging percentage, Holliday had six hits in 24 at bats, one triple, and two home runs; the Red Sox had won the championship in six games. Holliday's 2013 postseason was marked by four home runs, 10 RBI, and a.507 slugging percentage.

Holliday started his season in franchise history by winning base in all of his first 30 home games of 2014, extending a streak of 42 dating back to the previous September 6. On June 17 at Busch Stadium against Washington, the 277th player in MLB history to do so. Jon Jay led him in in his 1,000th run in his career. Holliday's 400th double hit his career double and his 1,000th home run was a 435 feet (133 m) home run against Dan Haren of the Dodgers on July 19, his 400th double appearance in his career, while batting for his 1,000th run scored.

Holliday and fellow outfielder Carl Crawford were selected to their Hall of Fame in the Arizona Fall League on July 20. Holliday was the National Player of the Week for the week ending September 2, four of whom won separate tournaments – along with a NL-leading four home runs,.889 slugging percentage, and 24 total bases, while the Cardinals took first place in the NL Central. He was home run against the Rockies on September 12, the longest home run at Busch Stadium and the second-longest in the stadium's history, just after the one he surpassed the Cubs two years ago. He batted.538 with RISP from August 30 to the end of the season. He ended the season on a.272 average, 20 home runs, 90 RBI (eighth in the NL), 37 doubles, 83 runs scored, 247 runs on base, 74th), and.443 slugging percentage (10th) and a.443 slugging percentage. At least 400 feet (120 meters) in Holliday's 20 home runs; his home run true distance average of 417.9 feet (127.4 m) led all MLB. Holliday's ninth season in a row, with at least 20 home runs, 30 doubles, 75 RBI, and 80 runs scored, making him the fifth player in MLB history to do so. Stan Musial (10), Manny Ramirez (10), Pujols (10), and Miguel Cabrera (nine).

For the second time in six seasons since acquiring Holliday, the Cardinals came first in the NL Central division for the fifth time and met the Dodgers in an NLDS for the second time in six seasons. Holliday defeated them 6–1 in Game 1, but Pedro Báez, a three-run home run off reliever, made the difference in a 10–9 victory. In an NLCS rematch between the Cardinals and the Giants, the Cardinals faced them in a NLCS rematch but were defeated in five games. He ranked 14th in the National League MVP competition, marking his eighth appearance in the National League MVP rankings.

Holliday began his 2017 season with a 12-game hitting streak that evolved into a run of base in each of the first 45 games of the season, beating Pujols' National League record of 42 games to start a season, which he set in 2008. Since Derek Jeter earned 53 points in 1999, it was the longest streak in MLB since he started in 2001. Holliday's game-continuity spanned 47 games dating back to the 2014 campaign. After umpire Joe West was suspended for arguing a called third strike, the fourth ejection of his career, the contest became finalized on June 2 against the Brewers.

Holliday sustained a right quadriceps strain while diving for a fly ball off the bat of the Rockies' Carlos González, and the Cardinals placed him on the 15-day DL on June 8. At the time, he was batting.303 with three home runs and 26 RBI, and he had been receiving a lot of fan support in the All-Star Game voting. Despite missing a month, he continued to gain significant votes, and eventually was selected a starting outfielder for the first time in his career. Due to his quadriceps injury, he was unable to participate in the game.

Holliday's first home run after returning from the DL on July 21 against Carlos Rodon of the Chicago White Sox in an 8–5 victory, his sixth grand slam in history. On July 30, he returned to the right quadriceps, causing the club to release him from the DL. After missing 41 games, the Cardinals activated him on September 15. In 277 plate appearances, Holliday played 73 games and finished the season with a.279 on-base percentage,.410 slugging percentage,.804 OPS, four home runs, and 35 RBI.

On Opening Day of the 2016 season, the Cardinals opened Holliday at first base, a position he had never played during his career. Holliday took his 512th hit at Busch Stadium on May 6 against Pittsburgh, snaping his personal record of 511 hits at Coors Field. He made more than 500 hits at both stadiums, and only the 14th to do so within the last five years. In a 6–0 loss to the Brewers, Holliday hit a home run that traveled 466 feet (142 m) off Jhan Mariez and just about exited Miller Park. He recorded his 1,000th game with the Cardinals the next day, also against the Brewers.

Mike Montgomery of the Cubs struck Holliday on the right thumb on August 11, 2016, fracturing it. He was put on the DL by the Cardinals. Holliday chose either allow the thumb to heal naturally or with surgery, and it may have caused him to return before the season's end. He had multiple delays in recovery. Having been told in the final days of the 2016 season that the Cardinals would not pick up the option for 2017 worth $17 million, he was activated from the DL, but his thumb was already fractured — right in time for the September 30 game against Pittsburgh. In that game and the 20th of the season, he scored his first career pinch-hit home run. "While I'm sorry this is going to be it in St. Louis, I'm sure that it's time to move forward." Though his batting average had decreased to a career-low.246, Holliday was hopeful about a revival. "My misses could be more in the air than on the ground," he said in a third-fastest exit velocity of at least 100 batted balls in 2016.

Holliday, the New York Yankees' primary designated hitter, after becoming a free agent for the second time in his career, signed a one-year deal worth $13 million on December 7, 2016, turning him into the Yankees' primary designated hitter (DH). One clause in the deal was an unusual, "enormously specific" no-trade clause pertaining to one team, the Oakland Athletics.

In the third inning of a 5–0 Yankee victory, he recorded his first RBI and double for the Yankees on the same play against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. In the third innings of a 6-5 loss, it was his first home run for the Yankees. In a 5–4 loss to the Orioles on the following day, Holliday hit Kevin Gausman, his first-inning single, on his 2,000th career appearance. On April 9, Holliday took a career-high five walks, tying a Yankees franchise record. Holliday beat the Orioles 14-11 on April 28, with a walk-off three-run home run off Jayson Aquino, which brought a comeback after trailing 19.

On May 3, Holliday scored his 300th home run against the Toronto Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman. He became the 93rd player in major league history to reach that milestone, with 2,000 hits.

Due to a viral disease outbreak, Holliday was placed on the 10-day disabled list on June 28. Holliday tested positive for Epstein-Barr virus, a condition associated with mononucleosis, on July 5. In the ninth inning versus Craig Kimbrel of the Boston Red Sox on July 15, the Yankees eventually won in 16 innings, 41. Due to a lower back strain, Holliday was also placed on the 10-day disabled list on August 6. He batted.231/.316/.432, his highest batted average for the 2017 season.

Holliday signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies on July 28, 2018. The Rockies have sent him to the Albuquerque Isotopes. For the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field against the San Diego Padres on August 23, Holliday was drafted into the starting lineup and played left field against the Colorado Rockies. Garrett Hampson, an infielder, was asked to Albuquerque to make room on the 25-man roster, and in the process, Hampson's uniform number 7 was given to Holliday, so Hampson would wear number 7 on his return to the club in September.

In 2018, he batted.283/.434 at 52 runs in 53 at bats. At 25.1 feet per second, he had the slowest baserunning sprint speed of any major league left fielders. He was the fourth-oldest player in the National League at his age.

On October 29, he was elected by a free agency and would then retire. In May 2022, he was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame, and in August 2022, he will be inducted into the "Red jacket club."

Coaching career

Matt will be joining Josh's coaching staff at Oklahoma State University as an outfielding and hitting coach, as announced on July 18, 2019.

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