Philadelphia Phillies Gearing Up For NLCS Game 1 on Bryce Harper's 31st Birthday

Bryce Harper turned 31 years old on Monday, setting the stage for the Philadelphia Phillies slugger to make some wild playoff history.

Game 1 of the NLCS between the Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park just happened to fall on Harper's birthday, and fans have already been showering him with praise in the lead-up to the much-anticipated showdown. This will mark the first time Harper will play in an MLB game on his birthday, according to Dalton Feely and Sarah Teper of Jomboy Media.

Bryce Harper turns 31 years old today. This is the 1st time he's played an MLB game on his birthday

Does Harper (a career 1.017 OPS Playoff Hitter) hit his 1st career Birthday HR during Game 1 of the NLCS tonight?

(h/t @tepersarah)
— Dalton Feely (@dfeely14) October 16, 2023

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, just three players have ever hit a home run on their birthday during the postseason. There have been 105 instances of players having at least one plate appearance on their birthday in a playoff game, per Langs.

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong hit a home run in Game 2 of the 2015 NLDS, the same day he turned 25 years old. Evan Longoria accomplished the feat on his 28th birthday in Game 3 of the 2013 ALDS with the Tampa Bay Rays. Kansas City Royals first baseman Willie Aikens, meanwhile, hit two home runs in Game 1 of the 1980 World Series the day he turned 26 years old.

Harper has a shot to join that exclusive list Monday, as his 306 career home runs rank second among players currently in the playoffs, only behind Longoria. His .633 career slugging percentage in the playoffs is also the best of any player still standing.

No birthday luck was necessary for Harper in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, either. The two-time MVP went 6-for-13 with three home runs, five RBI and five walks in the series, putting up a .462 batting average and a 1.765 OPS across the four divisional games.

3 players have homered on their birthday in the postseason:

- 2015 NLDS G2 Kolten Wong (25th)
- 2013 ALDS G3 Evan Longoria (28th)
- 1980 WS G1 Willie Aikens (26th) -- 2 HR (!!) https://t.co/OBNCkt9Bxn
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 16, 2023

Game 1 of the NLCS is scheduled to begin at 8:07 p.m. ET. Harper is starting at first base and batting third in the Phillies' lineup.

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