Phillies: 10 Things to Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving
By Matt Rappa
This Thanksgiving, there are several things to be thankful for regarding the two-time World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Thanksgiving is a time of recollection and gratitude … appreciating the things in life that mean the most to you. Among those things is being able to watch, follow and attend games of Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies.
Click through to see 10 things each Phillies fan should be thankful for this holiday season, one of which having perennial All-Star candidate and six-time All-Star, right fielder Bryce Harper, on the team.
1: Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper‘s first of at least 13 seasons in red pinstripes is complete, and the Phillies have plenty of reasons to be thankful that they have the six-time All-Star, Silver Slugger and Most Valuable Player awards-winner on their team.
His reliability both in the field and at the plate goes a long way in justifying his once-record-breaking $330 million contract that will last through the 2031 season.
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In 2019, among National Leaguers, Harper recorded the most defensive games (152) and putouts (284), and assists (13) as a right fielder. At the plate, the slugger recorded a career-high 114 RBI, helped by his 35 home runs, his most since his MVP Award-winning season in 2015 (42).
Harper became the first Phillies player to record more than 290 total bases in a season (292) since 2010, when Jayson Werth tallied 295. Also, the Las Vegas, Nevada, native became the first Phillies outfielder with at least 70 extra-base hits and 110 RBI in a season since Pat Burrell in 2002, as well as the fifth Phillies player to ever record more than 40 extra-base hits in a season at Citizens Bank Park, joining Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Werth, and teammate Rhys Hoskins.
Bryce Harper addresses Phillies fans before the season finale: "I believe in this organization, I believe in this city and we will reign again."
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) September 29, 2019
In addition to his actions on the field, it is also important to appreciate Harper’s own appreciation for Phillies fans. This became evident as recently as in late September, when fans of his former Washington Nationals team heckled him from the stands.
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“I’ve got 60,000 fans up in Philly that appreciate me as a player and appreciate me as an individual and my family, as well,” Harper told reporters. “I owe a lot to those people up there in Philly because they show up for me every single night and they are there to cheer us on and boo us and keep us going as a team and as individuals, as well, and I’m looking forward to the next 12 years. Can’t wait.”
Harper has been worth every penny so far. Similar to Ryan Howard in his MVP Award-Winning season in 2006, it’s hard to want to miss one of his at-bats. There is always the potential for greatness.