Given the nature of the contract that the Philadelphia Phillies signed Bryce Harper to in March – 13 years/$330 million – his deal is unquestionably the most important signing in franchise history, whether it turns out to be successful, unsuccessful or somewhere in between. And the reaction to his signing may very well have been the most excited Phillies fans have ever been about a transaction, though the signing of Cliff Lee ahead of the 2011 season is at least in the discussion.
As it turns out, the jubilation surrounding the signing of both stars isn’t the only common thread between the two.