Bryce Harper is a man of the people, connecting with a radio caller Chuck on-air two days after the Phillies star dedicated a home run to him.
The pair spoke with one another and exchanged pleasantries.
“I just want to say thank you. It’s been a great last couple of days, and next to my kids being born, this has been the greatest moments of my life,” Chuck told Harper on Thursday’s 94WIP Marks & Reese. “So I appreciate you and I thank you for being a great Phillie, for coming on here listening to us, and shouting me out, out of the blue, for real.”
Harper replied, “I appreciate it, Chuck. We’re all a family. You guys pull for us; we pull for everybody. I appreciate you so much and thanks for the words, thanks for being kind. I really appreciate that, thank you.”
Harper was listening to 94WIP’s Marks & Reese show in Philadelphia on Tuesday and one caller in particular garnered his attention ahead of his team’s game against the Angels.
Harper went out that night and hit his 299th career home run as the Phillies defeated the Angels, 12-7.
Harper, a two-time National League MVP, told the media scrum after the game he was inspired to go deep by a caller he heard talking on the radio before the game.
“It’s funny, I was driving in today, and I’m listening to WIP like I do a lot. The 2 p.m. hour,” Harper said. “A guy named Chuck called in, and he calls in a lot. He’s hilarious.
“He was talking about our team and talking about me and stuff. I walked in the training room, and I was like, ‘I’m gonna go deep tonight for Chuck.’ That guy had me fired up, man.”
On Thursday, the two spoke to one another and exchanged pleasantries live on air.
Harper added that he listens to Philly sports talk radio and roots for all the local teams.
“I just enjoy it, the good and the bad … I love listening about sports,” he said. “Being able to hear about what the Eagles are doing, or the Flyers, or the Sixers, or what the fans are thinking or anything, I like to kind of consume myself with that so I can get the vibe of it … I root for all those guys too, we’re kind of all in this together.”
Harper hit his 300th career homer in Wednesday’s 10-8 loss to the Angels.