Blog update as of 5/30/17, we discussed this blog on our podcast:
Bryce Harper said what we’re all thinking, “participation trophies don’t count.”
In fact, exactly what he said was:
“As much as they might tell you, ‘It’s OK you guys lost today,’ no Johnny. No participation trophies, OK? First place only, alright?”
.@Bharper3407 says NO PARTICIPATION TROPHIES! pic.twitter.com/GrGq7oPXJo
— Scott Abraham (@ScottABC7) May 27, 2017
This is something that we preach a lot of over here. We’re not big “participation” trophy guys. We were all kind of on the edge of the participation generation, but luckily not part of it. So, my respect level for Bryce Harper has just jumped by leaps and bound. This is right up there with his “make baseball fun again,” movement. I’m starting to like this guy more and more.
WashingtonPost.com: “The 24-year-old superstar was speaking to a group from the Northwest Washington (D.C.) Little League, but most of the cheers for Harper’s message seemed to be coming from the adults in attendance.
Harper is himself a part of the so-called “participation-trophy generation,” but like many millennials, he doesn’t seem to agree with the assessment that his generation just wants things handed to them. The four-time all-star certainly contributed his fair share to the Nationals’ winning culture in his first five seasons in the majors, averaging 24 home runs, 67 RBI and a .279 /.382/.501 slash line to lead Washington to three division titles. And so far in 2017, he has regained his MVP form and has his team comfortably in first place in the division.
Before anyone accuses Harper of taking a game too seriously, remember, this is the player who sported a “Make Baseball Fun Again” hat and has added decals to his bats to inject a note of levity into a sport oft criticized for being too stuffy and beholden to tradition.
Harper was one of several Nationals players who visited with youth players around the D.C. area.”