Is Bryce Harper the face of Philadelphia sports? You bet.

Bryce Harper is full of star-studded moments

If there were any doubts that Bryce Harper would live up to the big deal he signed, he sent them away quickly.

This moment was the official welcoming party for Harper to Philadelphia. In his post-game presser, he broke down his feelings and emotions during the moment, saying he sprinted around the bases because he wanted to get back to his teammates, stating, "Besides winning the division and getting into the playoffs, that was one of the coolest moments I've ever had in my life."

Harper didn't stop there. After the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he came back on a mission in 2021, earning the second MVP of his career and his first major accolade as a Phillie. Harper gave the city of Philadelphia something it hadn't had for their baseball team in over a decade: hope.

In 2022, Harper battled through a slew of injuries, including damage to the UCL in his throwing arm and a broken thumb from a Blake Snell fastball. However, nothing can slow him down.

The All-Star right fielder was forced into the DH role to avoid further injuring his elbow. Harper insisted that he could continue to play through his injury. That's how bad he wants to win. Harper knew that the 2022 team had it in them to make a run, and he wasn't going to miss it for the world.

Harper would put the entire city of Philadelphia on his back in the 2022 postseason, hitting .349 with an 1.160 OPS, which included six home runs and 13 RBI. Time after time, the face of Philadelphia sports came through in the biggest moments, almost to a point where you expected him to.

In 2023, Harper made the quickest return in the history of Tommy John surgery and didn't show many signs of weakness. During his 126 games, he posted a .293 batting average with a .900 OPS and finished 12th in MVP voting while learning a completely new position at first base. From there, he went on his usual postseason tear, taking the team to within one win of the World Series.

It has always been about the game for Harper, and it shows through his passion and determination on the field. It also helps that he is one of the best players the Phillies organization has ever seen.

No one loves their city as much as Bryce Harper

Everything about the 31-year-old speaks Philly. The way he talks, the way he plays, the way he conducts all his business is the perfect fit for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is by no means an easy city to play sports in. Countless athletes have come through and fizzled out, not necessarily because they weren't great at their craft, but didn't fit the city's vibes. Harper knew that once he became a Phillie, nothing else mattered.

In almost every interview, press conference, or radio call, you can hear Harper preach his love for the city, the fans, and the atmosphere around the team. Harper talks about his favorite restaurants, listens to (and calls into) WIP on his way to work, and frequently attends sporting events for other teams in the city even though he had different favorite teams before joining the Phillies.

Harper just gets how it is in the great city of Philadelphia: you're either all in, or you're all out.

From the Phanatic cleats and headbands to the "46,026" t-shirts, Harper knows it's bigger than him. There has never been another athlete in Philadelphia who has embraced the culture and even changed their demeanor and attitude towards the game quite like he has in only his first five seasons with the club. His cool, calm presence and elite skills have helped teammates to be great, brought others in to succeed, and changed how Philadelphia looks at baseball.

In a city like Philadelphia, which most would say is a football city, Harper's making his case for why the Phillies are back and why Philadelphia baseball is so great. While other athletes use their skills to promote themselves and their brand, Harper goes out of his way to make it known how much he loves playing baseball in Philly.

While other athletes like Hurts and Embiid are playing at the top level of their respective sports, there is a different vibe around those stars in this city. There have been moments of doubt for all the aforementioned athletes, but no one has proved their worth quite like Bryce Harper has.

Through injury, doubt, and hate, Harper has and will always stand up for his city. In just a decade or two, the whole city will get to watch Harper enshrine himself among the best baseball players in the sport's history when he enters the Hall of Fame in a red Phillies cap.

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