This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.
When the Phillies signed Bryce Harper to a 13-year, $330 million deal back in 2019 they hoped that the hard-swinging lefty would some day deliver on the big stage and make a memory that would never be forgotten by the team or the city.
Well, that happened Sunday and now Harper will forever be a legend in Philadelphia, a sports-crazed town that is probably pretty hungover this morning after celebrating what Harper and the Phillies accomplished on a soggy Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.
If you somehow missed it – Harper stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eighth with a runner on base and the Phillies trailing 3-2. A trip back to San Diego for a Game 6 of the NLCS seemed highly possible and we all know in sports the quicker you can end a series the better.
Panic was likely starting to settle in a little bit for all the all the fans at a drenched Citizens Bank Park.
Then Harper delivered. He crushed a shot to left field that cleared the wall and sent the place into an absolute frenzy. His two-run home run gave the Phillies a lead they wouldn’t surrender and punched their ticket back to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
How is this stadium still standing pic.twitter.com/Vrhmgo6zYe
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 23, 2022
Harper’s hero status was confirmed while he circled the bases and the stadium shook. This was what all that cash was for and now he’ll likely never have to spend any of that money on a drink in Philadelphia for the rest of his life.
The Phillies now move on to face the Astros in what should be a really fun World Series.
But not matter what happens, nobody in Philadelphia will ever forget that home run by Harper… or all of those drinks they had after that home run. It was one of those special moments where you remember how sports can be so much fun and why you care so much about them. Those are the moments you hope for at the start of every season for each of your favorite teams.
Phillies fans got that moment… and it was delivered by Bryce Harper.
Who is now a Philly legend.
Quick hits: Pedro Martinez trolls Yankees fans… NFL Week 7 Awards… Kate Upton’s cool Justin Verlander jacket… And more.
– Pedro Martinez hilariously trolled the Yankees and their fans after the Astros swept the ALCS.
– NFL Week 7 Awards: Aaron Rodgers got lit up while attempting the lamest block of the week.
– Kate Upton celebrated the Astros’ win over the Yankees with a cool Justin Verlander jacket.
– Christian D’Andrea looks at 1 player from each NFL team that could be dealt by the trade deadline.
