Bryce Harper
| Birthdate | 10/16/1992 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 2012 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Nationals, Phillies |
| Position | Right Field |
Bryce Harper was drafted at 18, the youngest position player in All Star history at 19, then the Rookie of the Year; 3 years later he was the MVP.
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Seventeen year old Bryce Harper was the first overall pick in the 2010 draft
Seventeen year old Bryce Harper was the first overall pick in the 2010 draft
Bryce Harper left high after his sophomore year and enrolled as a 17-year old at the College of Southern Nevada. In 66 games he hit .443 with a .526 on-base percentage, slugging 31 homers with 98 RBI. For his efforts he received the 2010 Golden Spikes Award given to the nation’s best amateur baseball player.
It was all part of the plan to reach the Major Leagues as early as possible. After his lone collegiate season, Harper entered the draft as a 17-year old.
The Washington Nationals selected him with the first overall pick in the 2010 draft.
Each first-rounder that year received a note card like this one from Hall of Fame commissioner Bud Selig. Here Selig congratulates the first-round selection and closes with, “You are the future of our great game and I wish you the best in your career.”
Selig has signed the bottom of the card in blue ink.
Bryce Harper was an All Star and Rookie of the Year in his first season
Bryce Harper was an All Star and Rookie of the Year in his first season
The Washington Nationals selected Harper first overall in the draft. He made his big league debut at Dodger Stadium on April 28, 2012 and was named to the All Star game as the youngest position player in the history of the Midsummer Classic. By season’s end Harper was the National League Rookie of the Year.
In the collection is this lineup card from Harper’s 17th big league game. In the National’s 7-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Harper hit his first Major League triple, the 15th hit of his career. He also scored twice.
The lineup card is signed by Washington manager Davey Johnson.
Bryce Harper earned the Hank Aaron Award in his MVP seasons of 2015 and 2021
Bryce Harper earned the Hank Aaron Award in his MVP seasons of 2015 and 2021
In 1999 Major League Baseball created the Hank Aaron Award to recognize the the top overall offensive performer in each league. According to MLB.com, a panel of Hall of Famers combines with a fan vote to determine the recipient.
Bryce Harper earned the honor twice. Both times he was also the league’s Most Valuable Player. In 2015 Harper led the NL in runs (118), homers (42), OBP (.460), SLG (649), and OPS+ (198). His second Aaron nod came in 2021. That year he slugged 35 homers to go along with league-leading figures in doubles (42), SLG (.615), and OPS+ (179).
Shown here is a telegram from the day after Aaron passed the Babe Ruth to become baseball’s career home run leader. Dated April 9, 1974, it reads, “Congratulations on number 715”. Aaron has signed the bottom right of the telegram. Click here to see a list of Hank Aaron Award winners.
Bryce Harper's longest hitting streak is 19 games - here's the dugout lineup card from the 19th contest
Bryce Harper's longest hitting streak is 19 games - here's the dugout lineup card from the 19th contest
July 27, 2017 was quite a night for the Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals. Harper extended his hitting streak to a career-high 19 games. He also hit the third of four consecutive fourth-inning homers to push Max Scherzer and the Nats to a 15-2 drubbing of the Milwaukee Brewers. The fourth-inning offensive explosion was only the 8th time in big league history that a team hit four bombs in a row.
Harper dominated the contest, amassing ten total bases thanks to a pair of homers and a double. Brewers pitcher Michael Blazek set a Major League mark for futility in one inning by yielding five hits that left the yard. Blazek also tied the mark by surrendering six homers overall.
In the collection is the lineup card that hung in the Milwaukee dugout that night. Notice Harper batting third in the lineup that included future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer.
