No. 3: Bryce Harper
You knew it was coming. After five years with the Phillies, we can give this number to Bryce as he wrestles it away from previous holder Chuck Klein. But it wasn't easy. Klein, for whom the Phillies retired a letter "P" a few decades ago because he did not wear a number for the majority of his Phils career, was a great player. But he did pull on the number 3 for the final two seasons of his first stint in town (1932-33) prior to penny-pinching Phillies ownership trading him to the Cubs.
During those two seasons, Klein was the best player in the National League. In 1932, he captured the MVP by leading the league in home runs and stolen bases, then somehow one-upped that in 1933 by winning the Triple Crown (.368, 28 HR, 120 RBI), although he finished second in MVP voting to 23-game winner Carl Hubbell of the Giants. So, despite just two seasons wearing the number (and a forgettable few weeks wearing it in 1942 during his second stint with the Phillies), Klein cast a long shadow.
7year old Caleb was upset that he got separated from his two brothers, so @bryceharper went into dad mode 🥹 pic.twitter.com/mnG0jGXeMf
— Taryn Hatcher (@TarynNBCS) August 5, 2023
Still, Harper was not to be denied. Obviously, we all look forward to many more years of him padding his Hall of Fame resume, but even now, he's done enough to claim this number. With 122 home runs, two Silver Sluggers, and an MVP award in the bank, Bryce Harper is the current and likely all-time pick at No. 3.