Harper ends Judge’s top-selling jersey reign
NEW YORK — The new No. 3 is the new No. 1.
Major League Baseball says Bryce Harper has the sport’s top-selling jersey, ending a two-year reign for Aaron Judge‘s No. 99.
Based on sales from MLBShop.com of Majestic jerseys since New Year’s Day 2019:
Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies this spring, and his new No. 3 jersey set professional sports records for sales in 24 and 48 hours, according to online retailer Fanatics. His jersey has been at No. 1 on MLB.com since Jan. 1.
Harper overtook Judge, the New York Yankees‘ 6-foot-7 slugger who had topped the list since his breakout rookie season in 2017.
Reigning American League MVP and World Series champion Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox is third, two-time AL MVP Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels is fourth, and veteran St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is fifth in figures released Thursday.
Going into Harper’s debut in his new home, we put our experts on the spot with over/unders for his 2019 numbers and asked them to call the dates for big Bryce milestones.
The Chicago Cubs are the only team with two players in the top 10: Javier Baez at seven and Anthony Rizzo at nine.
Manny Machado placed 12th, making him the first San Diego Padres player to crack the top 20 since MLB began publicizing it in 2010. Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with San Diego this winter.
Now-retired Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was 13th.