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. @bryceharper3 : Philly guy. pic.twitter.com/PYNejTtNEu - Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 28, 2019
Harper, a generational talent, signed with the team earlier this month in a record-breaking 13-year, $330 million dollar deal.
His new hometown fans wasted no time getting excited, giving him a before he even took the field and going wild as he jogged out to right field for the first time.
The gang greets Bryce Harper. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/Pv20ME4Xue - MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2019
The truly amazing kicks were just the icing on the cake, some expert pandering to fans who were already plenty thrilled to have the former Washington Nationals star-who has not only hyped up the Phanatic, the teams iconic, goofy, furry green bird, but also another rising Philadelphia icon.
Indeed, ahead of opening day Thursday, Harper was photographed wearing a tee shirt bearing homage to Pulp Fiction with Gritty-the Philadelphia Flyers mascot, who debuted last year-and the Phanatic in place of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson. Gritty appeared to approve of the shirt: BIG MOOD, the bearded, wild-eyed lunatic tweeted.
BIG MOOD @bryceharper3 pic.twitter.com/TbUSCciWmn - Gritty (@GrittyNHL) March 28, 2019
While Harper walked and scored a run in his Phillies debut Thursday, he failed to pick up a hit and struck out twice. Still, his footwear went over well, delighting fans and non-fans alike-though his defection from D.C. clearly did not sit well with Nats fans.
Bryce Harper knows how to suck up to his new fanbase, I'll give him that. Between this and the Phanatic/Gritty Pulp Fiction t-shirt, he's got the whole town eating out of his hand (me included). https://t.co/sgcenc6Qoj - Keith Schweigert (@K_Schweigert) March 28, 2019
If he had one shoe as Gritty and the other as The Phanatic, it would be ao amazing. https://t.co/kGXmHdZNtT - (@StaceGots) March 28, 2019
If he had one shoe as Gritty and the other as The Phanatic, it would be ao amazing. https://t.co/kGXmHdZNtT - (@StaceGots) March 28, 2019
The Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves on Thursday 10-4.