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Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. says Lamar Jackson is, “THE No. 8 in Baltimore now”

The Iron Man praises Lamar Jackson

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Houston Astros v Baltimore Orioles Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

Recently, the legend known as Cal Ripken Jr. shared incredible praise of Lamar Jackson in an article published by The Athletic’s Dan Connolly.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve played, so it makes me feel good. I always think of the question I got asked all the time at the end of my career: ‘When it’s all said and done, how would you like to be remembered?’ And I said, ‘Being remembered at all is pretty cool,’” Ripken said by phone earlier this week. “That is how I felt with Lamar. To remember me and to look at me as No. 8, I thought that was pretty cool.”

Ripken then paused for a moment before adding:

“It’s his time, though. He is No. 8. He’s the No. 8 in Baltimore now.”

As if that wasn’t high enough praise, Ripken also spoke of Jackson’s play.

“You think you’re gonna see something that you haven’t seen before,” Ripken said. “He’s making people miss him and fall down with some of his moves. And just him being able to stretch a play that seems like it’s a dud or something that won’t happen into something that’s really great, it’s just been exciting to watch.”

From the two-time MVP to the expected 2019 NFL MVP, the praise in Baltimore from a legend to a shining star is awe-inspiring.