This January is Ryan Howard Month here at Phillies Nation, but we know of at least one individual who couldn’t wait until the new year and opted to celebrate early. Six months early, to be exact — and five, and four.
That individual would be Bryce Harper. (Did the headline give it away?) Because the second half of the season that arguably won Harper the 2021 MVP Award was a callback to another bonkers second half by a Phillie in an MVP (and Hank Aaron Award) season of his own: Howard, in 2006.
Remember that torrid second half by Harper?