Homer History: Bryce Harper and the home run almost no one saw
Yahoo Sports baseball writer Chris Cwik tells the tale of Bryce Harper’s first ever home run at Nationals Park.
In our Homer History series, writers re-tell the stories of memorable home runs from their perspective. In this installment,Does a home run matter if it never officially happened, and was only witnessed by a handful of people? What follows is the story of Bryce Harper’s first home run at Nationals Park. No, not the one above that Major League Baseball officially recognizes as his first home run. This is something entirely different.
The day was a blur, but this is how it went to the best of my recollection. And two things are absolutely true: The home run happened just as it is described, and the feat remains the most incredible thing I’ve ever witnessed on a baseball field.
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In June of 2010, the Washington Nationals selected Bryce Harper with the first pick in the amateur draft. Harper was, by all accounts, a franchise-altering player. He was famously featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16, and got his GED after his sophomore year in order to begin his professional baseball career earlier than expected. Harper was considered a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
That August, the Nationals brought on another youngster with none of Harper’s on-field talent, but all of his bravado. That was me. In August of 2010, I joined the Washington Nationals as a production assistant in the marketing and broadcasting department. It was my first real job after graduating from college, and I was both excited and terrified at the prospect of reporting to Nationals Park on my first day.
A week after I was hired, Harper agreed to terms with the Nationals. Just a few days later, he arrived at the park to sign his first professional contract. As a member of the broadcasting department, I was tasked with following Harper around for the day, as we recorded video for the scoreboard. Harper would sign his contract at a large conference table, explore the Nationals clubhouse for the first time and, when all of that was done, step onto the field for his first-ever batting practice at Nats Park.
By the time Harper took the field for batting practice, there was a lot of nervous energy in the park. Some of that was from Harper, some of that was from everyone in attendance. There were roughly 30 people on the field for BP. That included Harper and his family, Nationals employees, front-office representatives, various members of the coaching staff. And me.
Finally, Harper stepped to the plate for his first round of batting practice in Nationals Park. Anticipation was high. This was the franchise savior getting his first chance to show everybody that he was the real deal.
[Previously in Homer History: When Jim Leyritz halted hopes of a Braves dynasty]
The first pitch was thrown and … Harper made solid contact. In fact, the first couple offerings were fine, but nothing special. Harper sprayed some line drives around the field, but you couldn’t help but want more from the most hyped athlete since LeBron James.
Sensing Harper was likely overanxious, and maybe a little nervous, the coach throwing batting practice stopped about halfway through the first round. He stepped off the rubber and approached Harper at home plate. The two had a brief discussion, in which I’m guessing the coach told Harper to relax. Whatever the coach said worked. On one of the next pitches, perhaps even the next one, Harper finally got a hold of one.
The sound of the bat on the ball was deafening. Those in attendance let out a primal noise. The type of sound you hear when someone witnesses something amazing, but is so shocked they forget how to form words.
That was the appropriate response. The ball was absolutely crushed. It finally landed … in the third deck of right field in Nationals Park. Two thoughts immediately went through my mind. One, “holy crap, that’s Adam Dunn territory!” Two, “holy crap, this kid is only 17!”
In an instant, all the crazy stories about Harper, the hype, massive expectations and the superhuman feats of strength, were immediately confirmed. Few major-league players could hit a ball to the third deck. This was a 17-year-old kid!
Harper would go on to have a successful round of batting practice. He would hit a few more bombs that day, but none of them matched that first mammoth blast.
[Elsewhere: MLB owners reportedly investigate issues with tanking]
In my time working in baseball, I was fortunate enough to experience some exceptional moments. I’ve seen a triple play in person and I was there when Jayson Werth hit a walk-off home run to win Game 4 of the NLDS.
Those memories are great, and I’ll never forget them. But Harper’s third deck blast at Nationals Park is the one baseball event I know I’ll tell my grandchildren about when I’m old. Since I was one of the few who was there to experience it, all I can do is share the story and hope you’ll do the same.
COMING WEDNESDAY: Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown on one of the least predictable homers in playoff history.
PREVIOUSLY IN HOMER HISTORY
– The night a hobbled Kirk Gibson broke my heart (by Mike Oz)
– Cal Ripken Jr. wowed us yet again on Iron Man night (by Lauren Shehadi)
– When Albert Pujols silenced Minute Maid Park (by Jeff Passan)
– Bill Mazeroski’s great walk-off World Series winner (by Kevin Iole)
– The Big Papi grand slam that still haunts Detroit (by Al Toby)
– That time Joe Blanton hit a home run in the World Series (by Sam Cooper)
– When Jim Leyritz halted hopes of a Braves dynasty (by Jay Busbee)
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik