Bryce Harper banner returns to Phillies stadium post-lockout

The Phillies have rehung Bryce Harper’s MV3 banner outside Citizens Bank Park.

The Major League Baseball lockout is over, which means the Philadelphia Phillies can once again celebrate their 2021 National League Most Valuable Player — star outfielder Bryce Harper.

There were exactly two weeks between when Harper earned his second career MVP honors and when the 2021-22 Major League Baseball lockout got underway. The Phillies had installed a hanging ‘MV3’ banner outside Citizens Bank Park, but were forced to take it down once the lockout began in early December, in accordance with federal labor law. Just as anything else that displayed player names, images, or likenesses — such as photos on player bios that were replaced with a silhouette — the MV3 banner was no exception and had to come down.

Fast-forward to slightly more than three months later, the MV3 banner has made its highly anticipated return to Citizens Bank Park. Phillies Vice President of Marketing and New Media Michael Harris tweeted a photo on Friday showing the displayed banner — which celebrates just the eighth MVP season in franchise history.

The short list of other Phils players who previously earned MVP honors includes 2008 World Series champions Jimmy Rollins (2007) and Ryan Howard (2006), as well as 1980 World Series Mike Schmidt (1980, 1981, 1986) — before being preceded by Jim Konstanty (1950), and Chuck Klein (1932).

The MV3 banner symbolizes Phillies greatness that does not come often; considering the celebration of when Harper won MVP lasted barely two weeks before the lockout began, it is good to see the organization pick up where it left off.

Recognizing the “MV3” will continue into the 2022 season, as the Phillies will give away an MV3 shirt during Opening Night — Saturday, April 9 — to fans 15 and over