In an alternate universe, the New York Yankees would have worked out well for Bryce Harper. But the reality is far from that. In 2019, Harper gave an affirmative nod to a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, the backstory is a rather interesting one. Harper was super interested in wearing pinstripes and competing in the sparkling city lights of New York. But then, that didn’t happen and now the Yanks continue to do what they’ve been doing of late. Regret. 

But the Showman, known to turn setbacks into opportunities, grabbed his spot with Philadelphia and the rest is history. The Phillies have nurtured Bryce Harper into an unstoppable force that the MLB world witnesses today. Or was it vice versa? Either way, he is committed to “go through the ups and downs with a city”. The same city that could have been New York.

The New York Yankees Had A Chance With Bryce Harper

Back in 2019, when Harper walked as a free agent, his agent Scott Boras shared his pitch with the reporters. “Harper was built for major markets, pressure situations, and big games. He has an innate will and drive, a fearlessness of the opposition and the rare skill to provide confidence that overcomes temporary fear of failure. Yet when I told teams this, they viewed it as hyperbole and noted he had a poor WAR value the prior season.” Though the Las Vegan validates every word of it with his performances, the New York Yankees did not buy it! The franchise eventually decided to not move ahead with him. 

In lieu of acquiring Harper, the Bronx Bombers spent handsomely on Giancarlo Stanton, the 2017 NL MVP, a year earlier. They took on the $285 million and ten years left on his massive deal when the Miami Marlins made him available at the end of the regular season. That did not turn out well for the Yanks. It has been 14 long years since the Yankees got a taste of the World Series. This might have been a different story, had Bryce been on their roster. But good for Philly, things look up for them while the Yankees spectate the playoffs from the graves they dug for themselves. 

While one can’t revert the decision Brian Cashman, GM of the Yankees Organization made, it is hard to ignore Harper’s words. Growing up, he loved the Yankees, which set the stage for him to join them. But soon, that narrative changed, and he said, “I know the kind of outfield they have, the way they went out and got Stanton in that trade. So it was kind of up in the air. I never heard from them. But everybody knew that growing up I was a huge Yankees fan, of course”. That’s the moment when New York burned the bridges with the iconic right fielder. Fast forward to 2023. 

Here’s Why Harper Is A Once-In-A-Lifetime Player

The Bronx nation witnessed a Harper-ed version of 2023 while they marinate in doubt. This October, the 2x NL MVP has taken the ball off the cover continually. Harper’s slash line through six playoff games this month is .368/.538/1.380. With at least 150 at-bats, he wears the fifth-best career OPS in playoff history like a crown. This record only puts him behind Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, George Brett, and Carlos Beltran, some renowned names in MLB chronicles. With that, it’s safe to say, Harper has backed up the Phillies’ National League Championship Series for the second consecutive year. That’s just the stats. What about the terrific shows that the 31-year-old has been staging lately? 

On Monday, in Citizens Bank Park, Harper not only stole the show but also amplified it 10 fold. Setting the crowd ablaze with a 111-decibel roar, he smashed a homer in the 1st inning of NLCS Game 1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With this, Harper became only the fourth MLB player in history to hit a postseason home run on his birthday. And guess what! It was his birthday on October 16th. The 2012 debutant taught the world how to celebrate. His words right before the game were proof that, when given the spotlight, he would shine. “I’ve always wanted to play on my birthday”. With that, Bryce Harper can qualify as one of the coolest players in the Major League. 

After losing in Game 2 of the NLDS, the Philadelphia Phillies prepared for a comeback. The Braves teased the Phillies with an “atta-boy-Harper”, hinting at the latter’s 4-5 loss. Trailing that, the Phillies came out swinging, winning 3-1 to eliminate the Braves from postseason contention second year in a row. But where’s the fun in winning without a little drama? In Game 3, on Wednesday night, the Phillies won 10-2 and took a 2-1 series lead after the 7x All-Star hit two home runs. Harper circled the bases, staring down at Arcia after every home run.

At 31 years old, Harper has elevated himself to a distinct echelon. Bryce’s recent feat, of giving his team a lead, made him the inaugural Phillies player to successfully steal home during a postseason game, etching his name into the team’s history. Notably, he has achieved the remarkable milestone of amassing 1,500 hits and 300 home runs before turning 31, a distinction shared by a select group of just 17 players in the annals of MLB history, as confirmed by the Phillies Baseball Communications Department. This made it to the headlines and so did the Yankees’ fans’ disappointment. 

Fans Feel The Pain Every Time Harper Comes On

The number of times the Yankees faithful have regretted not signing Harper is uncountable. With every feat that Philly (backed by Harper) achieves, the Yankees feel a punch in their stomach. Though the damage now is irreversible, they have to face the heat of the fans. 

Fans cannot keep calm wherever the Yankees see Bryce Harper ace at the diamond. 

Some fans attribute losing Bryce Harper to Brian Cashman’s decision. One tickled their creativity and brought out the common emotion about Cashman. 

There are fans who just cannot get over the Yankees losing out on a charm like Harper. 

A fan reposted Bryce’s interview, explaining how the Yankees did not even call him back. 

This fan made a hilarious remark on how there is no fanbase that suffered like the Yankees’. 

With that, the storm of despair for the Yankees fans continues while the Philadelphia ace continues to awe the world with his amazing prowess. 

Read More: Bryce Harper Gets the Perfect Birthday Gift from the Philadelphia Phillies, Kelce Brothers, and 45,396 Fans

The Phillies will contend against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 24th of October for Game 6 of NLCS. One can only sit at the edge of their seat watching the game unfurl and witness if the Phillies take the championship series title home, entering the World Series. 

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