The Philadelphia Phillies will wear their powder blue uniforms for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night. The decision, inspired by the team’s 1980 season, was announced during a workout on Tuesday.
“I thought it’d be cool,” Bryce Harper said. “Kind of an ode to ’80.”
Traditionally, the Phillies wear their powder blue jerseys on Thursdays at Citizens Bank Park. However, discussions about wearing them during road games have been ongoing for several years. Phil Sheridan, the Phillies’ director of clubhouse services, first contacted Major League Baseball about this possibility in June. After receiving approval from the league for both regular season and postseason games, the team confirmed with the Dodgers that they would wear their traditional white uniforms at home, allowing the Phillies to bring their powder blues for the trip.
“I’ve been messing around with Phil about it for like two, three years now,” Harper said. “Like, ‘Hey, dude. Are we ever going to do it?’ A few of us brought it to him a couple weeks ago. And then obviously they had to send me to talk to everybody.”
Harper has previously advocated for uniform changes. More than four years ago, he asked if the team could wear red tops on the road and succeeded after making his case in person.
“We love wearing the blues,” Harper said. “We just thought it’d be fun.”
Kyle Schwarber added that the choice was not based on superstition: “It’s not like it’s a superstitious thing or anything like that. We just like the way they look, like the way they feel. They were picked out before the series, so we’re happy that we’re wearing them. Excited to change it up a little bit. Get out of the grays and have a different road uniform.”
The Phillies are currently down 2-0 in the best-of-five series and face a challenging opponent in Los Angeles. Despite this, Harper described a relaxed atmosphere among teammates during their flight to California.
“Played a lot of cards,” he said. “That was fun. Obviously, we didn’t think about [Game 2] or anything like that. Just got rest quick last night, got on the flight this morning and try to get here and get to the workout. So glad it’s sunny and 80 degrees in L.A.”
Reflecting on fan reactions after being booed at home in Game 2, Harper commented: “I don’t feel that way. I love playing at the Bank. I love our fans. I boo myself when I get out. I’m the same way. I trust in what they do… If we deserve to be booed … they spend their hard-earned dollars to come watch us play; they expect greatness out of us and I expect greatness out of myself and my teammates as well.
“If they believe that, I don’t know what’s going through their head or mindset. We’ve got some of the best fans in baseball, and they make me play better. So I enjoy it. I will probably get booed tomorrow night, too… It’s kind of the same thing.”
Harper also shared personal news about his family: his wife Kayla recently gave birth to their fourth child.
“I’ve got an incredible wife, man,” Harper said. “She pushed that thing out in three pushes and 30 seconds. She’s an absolute monster doing it… I’m serious, it’s an incredible thing. Being able to hold your son for the first time is something that, it’s one of the greatest moments of my life.”
He became emotional while discussing his family: “I love my family. I love my kids,” he said.“I love … baseball.But at the end of the day,my family means the most to me.I definitely miss them right now.”
