WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 24: Katie Ledecky hands her Olympic medals to Bryce Harper #34 before throwing out the opening pitch before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 24, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Wasn’t baseball dying? Turns out that Bryce Harper has already pulled in more jersey sales than Los Angeles Laker Lebron James.
The newest Philadelphia Phillies slugger set a new record this week when his jersey was the most sold by any player in any sport during the first 48 hours of its launch. Previously, the record was held by James followed by Giancarlo Stanton when he joined the New York Yankees, Khalil Mack after his trade to the Chicago Bears, and when the San Francisco 49ers picked Jimmy Garoppolo as their franchise quarterback.
Harper’s jersey hit the racks about 10 minutes into his introductory news conference with the Phillies, who’d just signed the 26-year-old to a historic 13-year, $330 million deal.
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Previously, Harper wore No. 34 during his seven-year span with the Washington Nationals. He’s noted for his great admiration of former Yankee Mickey Mantle, who wore No. 7, and wanted his number to add up to Mantle’s. However, recent Hall of Fame inductee Roy Halladay wore No. 34 for four seasons in Philadelphia.
Following Halladay’s tragic death in November 2017, Harper thought taking the number would be unfitting. Instead, he chose to don the No. 3. In doing so, Harper joins Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson. While Harper was never a worrisome figure like Iverson was viewed by some, he is the face of a sport that is drastically trying to reinvent itself just as the NBA was during Iverson’s career. AI took to Twitter when he heard the news, writing, “This number will be retired from the Phillies!!! #illHaveItFirst #SoDope #BryceFan #3”
The last Phillies player to wear No. 34 was catcher Andrew Knapp during the 2017 season. The last Philly to wear No. 3 prior to Harper was outfielder David Lough in the 2016 season.
Fanatics reports that the top three markets for Harper’s jersey sales so far are Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York.
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