Bryce Harper:Coming to a Ballpark Near You

   The future of Major League Baseball has arrived.  On Saturday April 28, 2012 Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals made his Major League debut against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. In his first game he was 1 for 3 with a double, made a strong throw from left field, and had a sacrifice fly in the ninth to temporarily put his team ahead by one.  The Nationals eventually lost the game 4-3 when Matt Kemp of the Dodgers crushed the game winner to lead off the bottom of the tenth inning, but finally baseball fans all over the country were able see the phenom on the biggest stage.  Since then he has collected four more hits and showed off his arm once again against the Diamondbacks.  The replay suggested that the runner was out at the plate but the umpire saw it differently.  Maybe in a few years when this rookie becomes a superstar in the league those close calls will start to go his way.
   Bryce Harper has all of the tools to become a star in the Major Leagues.  In just a small sampling of games to display his many talents, he has proven that he belongs there.  He can hit in pressure situations, and his arm in the outfield brings back memories of Clemente.  Before the game on Saturday, Harper was seen signing autographs and taking pictures with fans, and the high socks with the almost completely phased out stirrups is a touch that is hardly seen in the game today.  In fact, one of the few Major Leaguers to still wear the stirrups as part of his uniform is 49 year old Jaime Moyer, who made his big league debut six years before Harper was even born.  This season Moyer became the oldest pitcher ever to win a game in the Major Leagues, and it will be an interesting day when the oldest player faces the youngest.  Bryce Harper's obvious appreciation for the game was displayed when the television broadcast showed him looking around Dodger Stadium in between innings in awe of his surroundings.   This wasn't even a home game for him, but the viewers at home could definitely feel his appreciation of the surroundings.  He was like a fan taking in his first game at a big league ballpark, except for this fan was 1 for 3 with a double and a go-ahead RBI in the ninth.  That day wasn't about the money, it was obvious from this young man's eyes that he appreciated the moment and his natural abilities outshined his nerves. 
   The fans that were in attendance at Dodger Stadium were lucky to witness what they saw.  Even though they booed Harper each time that he approached the plate, those same fans will be telling their grandchildren about the time when they saw him make his Major League debut.  Just like Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson said to Baseball Illustrated in 1975;  "Fans don't boo nobodies."  Bryce Harper is far from a nobody, and if he could stay away from a major injury fans will be visiting a plaque in Cooperstown for the first Washington National inducted.   Los Angeles, California will be where it all began for a 19 year-old phenom with the power and speed of Mantle and the arm of Clemente.  Hollywood tried to be the start of a great story, and provide the backdrop for Bryce Harper to drive in the winning run in his first game, but the baseball "Gods" sense that a rookie has to wait his turn.