Just when you thought star outfielder Bryce Harper might have run out of ways to become even more beloved by the Phillies rabid fanbase, he manages to pull another rabbit out of his hat.
On Tuesday night prior to Game 1 of the NL Wildcard series against the Marlins, Harper opted to roll up to the Citizens Bank Park in an Allen Iverson shirt.
Bryce Harper repping Philly legend Allen Iverson on his way into the ballpark today ? pic.twitter.com/HpTA0ignH1
— MLB Life (@MLBLife) October 3, 2023
Confidence of a king.
Simply put, if you want get a sports fan from Philly on your side in an instant, mention literally anything about Iverson. The former 76ers All-Star point guard is a Philadelphia fixture, who has basically become a living, breathing version of Rocky over the years since retiring.
But seriously, what a week it's been Harper leading up to another postseason run. This is the same player who even had diehard Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld singing his praises, offering up the following words.
"Really liked Bryce Harper storming up the third base line last week, to yell at (umpire) Angel Hernandez."
Here's the incident of note, which was a terrible call. But if we're being completely fair here, everyone loved Bryce Harper yelling at Angel Hernandez. It would be an extremely difficult task to become a more unpopular umpire than the infamous Hernandez.
Bryce Harper lost it on Angel Hernandez after this check swing call pic.twitter.com/JLPpoNLWJy
— Talkin? Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 28, 2023
Capping things off with a souvenir for a fan in the form of a flying batting helmet is exactly why he's been such a magnetic force with fans ever since his arrival in 2019.
The outstanding postgame quote probably didn't hurt either.
"I'm going to get fined for being right, again."
The words of a man who can seemingly do no wrong in the eyes of Philadelphia.
