Embracing Philly:
While Harper expects to be booed, he is drawn to his city’s passion.
❚ What does this deal mean for Mike Trout? Page 7
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Fans lined up outside the parking lot, eagerly awaiting his arrival. The huge scoreboard inside Spectrum Field kept flashing images of his face. The two empty lockers inside the clubhouse, sandwiched between Odubel Herrera and Drew Butera, had his equipment.
And finally, after 179 days since declaring for free agency, Bryce Harper walked through the doors of the Philadelphia Phillies spring training clubhouse, through the stands, atop of the first-base dugout and was officially introduced, becoming the instant face of the franchise.
The news conference, with Harper’s jersey, No. 3, hanging in the backdrop, with posters from his “Sports Illustrated” cover when he was a 16-year-old to his new PlayStation video game cover, was like a scene out of Vegas. It was the first Phillies’ news conference in franchise history on top of a dugout.
It was glorious and spectacular, with the Phillies owner John Middleton calling his team the favorite to win the National League East.
Harper, a lifetime .279 hitter with a .900 OPS, tried to dampen expectations, saying although he is being paid $330 million over the next 13 years, it doesn’t mean the Phillies are going to turn into the 1927 Yankees.
Still, by the end of his news conference, Harper got so caught up in emotions, he said he wanted to bring a championship to D.C.
Oops, he meant Philadelphia. Harper couldn’t help but laugh when his wife, Kayla, told him after the news conference that he slipped up on the final question.
“I was like, ‘Oh, man,’ ” Harper said. “I didn’t even notice it. It’s going to take some time for sure. That’s part of it. When you grow up from 17 to 25 in an organization, and you’re trying to do everything you can to win for that organization, and bring a title somewhere, you’re going to have those slip-ups.”
And, about that new deal, 13 years is a long time, too.
Yet Harper says he insisted there would be no opt-out clause, a full no-trade provision, guaranteeing he would stay in Philly until he’s a middle-aged man.
“I’m putting all of my faith and trust in this organization, and I’m very excited about it,” he said.
Harper, knowing this is the first team to add three All-Star position players in one winter, joining catcher J.T. Realmuto and shortstop Jean Segura, wants to be remembered not for MVP seasons but World Series trophies.
“You’re always remembered for winning,” Harper said, “and what better place to do it than Philly. Fans are blue-collar people and thrive on winning. I’m from a blue-collar family.
“You play in Philly as a visitor, you see the Eagles, the Flyers, the 76ers, all of those big-time memories, it’s an amazing thing to see.
“It’s a winning city. It’s an amazing city. It’s something I want to be a part of, and be a part of for a very long time.”
Harper, 26, can rattle off the exploits of Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and Chase Utley. He showed his respect for deceased Hall of Fame pitcher Roy Halladay, declining to ask for his number 34. He wouldn’t even take the number of his idol, No. 7, Mickey Mantle, since it already belonged to teammate Maikel Franco.
“I thought Roy Halladay should be the last one to wear it,” Harper said. “He’s somebody in this game that, you know, is greater than a lot of guys who have ever played it. A Hall of Famer. Somebody who played the game the right way. Was a great person and was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
“So, for me, it’s Roy Halladay. He’s No. 34 and he’s what represents that number in Philly. And when you go in there and see his name on that flagpole in center field, it’s something that he should be remembered for.”
And his reason for not taking No. 7?
“He’s a teammate of mine, I didn’t want to ask for the number,” Harper said.
So he settled for No. 3, and, no, not because it was Babe Ruth’s number.
“It’s kind of like a family number for us,” Harper said. “My brother wore it in high school. My dad wore it in high school growing up. My mom wore 13. It’s pretty much a family number and it looks OK.”
So how long before Harper hears some boos from their demanding fans?
“Is he going to hit with the bases loaded on opening day?” said Phillies special assistant Larry Bowa, 73, who has spent 29 years in the organizations as a player, coach, manager and executive. “Hey, he’s going to go through the gamut.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it, when you go bad, he’s the guy. But until you’ve been through it ...”
Pressure?
Nah, this is a guy who was on the cover of “Sports Illustrated.” He was in the big leagues at 19. An All-Star before he was 20. An MVP at 23. A free agent at 26.
“It’s going to be new; it’s going to be different,” Harper said. “I’m a Philadelphia Phillie now. This feels like a family already. I’m excited to be part of it.”
“He’s been in the spotlight since he’s been in high school,” Bowa said. “I think he’ll be able to handle it.”
The Phillies, who haven’t had a winning season since 2011, certainly has a fan base believing they’re about to see something special. The Phillies sold 100,000 tickets the first day Harper signed last week, 80,000 tickets the next day and 40,000 the next. By the time opening day comes around, his $20 million signing bonus might have paid for itself.
Harper insists he has already embraced himself for the city of Brotherly Love and if they want to boo him, really, he’s all ears.
“The one thing I know,” Harper told his agent, Scott Boras, “if I get booed, it’s going to be great. That means I did something wrong, and I deserve it. I need those kinds of fans help me become a better player.”