Joel Wilson – Staff Writer

jnw5443@psu.edu

On March 2, 2019, Bryce Harper signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. At the time, his
13-year, $330 million contract was the richest in MLB history. He had decided to move on from
his original team, the Washington Nationals, because he wanted to win championships. While
this contract was notable for its size, the Phillies were still not considered legitimate
contenders. Philadelphia would finish the 2019 campaign at 81-81, sink below the .500 mark in
2020, and then improved for a second-place NL East finish in 2021. Despite the improvement,
the club still did not make the playoffs.
Coming into the 2022 season, the Phillies were still looking for the magic promised in the Bryce
Harper deal. Despite being only a few games above .500, Harper was putting up all-star caliber
numbers in the first half. The club hit a bump in the road on June 25 when the Padres’ Blake
Snell threw an up and in pitch to Harper. The ill-placed offering found the thumb of the Las
Vegas born slugger, giving him a stint on the injured list. Harper was not worried, however. On
July 5, he promised that he would be back during the 2022 season. On August 26, Harper was
true to his word. He returned to the lineup and went 1-4 in a 7-4 win against the Pittsburgh
Pirates.
The Phillies quietly clinched a Wild Card spot on October 3 – the last available berth in the
National League. After sweeping the Cardinals and beating the Braves in a four game NLDS, the
Phillies boarded a plane to the west coast for an NLCS against the very team that had injured Bryce Harper three months prior.
The Phillies won the opener 2-0 but lost the next day 8-5. With the series tied, the two clubs
returned to an energetic Citizens Bank Park. On October 21, Philadelphia won 4-2. The
following night, the two clubs played a high-scoring, lead-changing instant classic, which the
Phillies won 10-6. With a 3-1 series lead, the Phillies hoped to clinch their first trip to the World
Series in 13 years after their next game.
Sunday afternoon was a cold, rainy day in eastern Pennsylvania. The Phillies did not let the
gloomy weather dampen their high spirits. Bryce Harper, who has been used as the DH in every
game of the series, looked out from the dugout and waited for his chance.
The Phillies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the third inning thanks to Rhys Hoskin’s fifth
homerun of the postseason. The fourth inning saw San Diego’s Juan Soto cut that lead in half
with the Padres’ longest homerun of the postseason.
The score would stay 2-1 until the seventh inning. Josh Bell came to the plate and cracked a
game-tying double to right field, scoring Jake Cronenworth. Jose Azocar came in to pinch run
for Bell. Two wild pitches from Philadelphia right-hander Seranthony Dominguez allowed
Azocar to come around and score for the first San Diego lead of the day. Bryce Harper’s
moment was drawing near.
Leading off the bottom of the 8th inning was catcher J.T. Realmuto. He singled on a line drive to
left field. Harper came to the plate, ready to swing.
On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, with a 2-2 count, Harper made solid contact against a 99-
mph fastball placed on the outer edge of the plate. The ball flew off Harper’s bat with authority.
The crowd rose to their feet as they saw how hard it was struck. The noise grew louder as the
ball neared the warning track. The chorus reached its crescendo as the ball carried over the left
field wall and into the third row of seats. As Bryce Harper made his trip around the bases,

45,485 voices yelled their approval. Play by play announcer Joe Davis called it, “The swing of his
life.” While the ball may not have shattered floodlights, it was a moment reminiscent of Roy
Hobbs’ famous homerun in “The Natural.” When Harper sunk his spikes into home plate, the
Phillies were the proud owners of a 4-3 lead.
The Padres would not score in the top of the ninth inning. A flyout to right field ended the game
and won Philadelphia their 8th NL pennant. At the Warren C. Giles Trophy presentation
ceremony, Harper was crowned as NLCS MVP. The spirit surrounding Sunday’s hero, as well as
the entire team, was one of a group who still had work to do.
The Phillies are now four wins away from a World Series title, and they are determined to
succeed. Game 1 of the 2022 World Series will be Friday, October 28.