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Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper Honors Harambe in Game 5

By Brendan Dlubala

Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a single during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a single during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bryce Harper is often the center of attention on the internet. But during last night’s game, the Washington Nationals star decided to honor a different internet icon.

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper took a stance on internet memes Thursday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. For Game 5 of the NLDS, Harper featured a picture of a gorilla and the letters “RIP.” It was clearly intended to honor Harambe. Harambe was the gorilla who was tragically killed at the Cincinnati Zoo back in May.

Maybe it was a way for Bryce Harper to try and break out of a slump. Before last night’s game, Harper was slashing .214/.421/.286 this postseason. That is after his 2016 season slash line of .243/.373/.441. Harper was the unanimous National League MVP in 2015 but had a rough go of it in 2016.

Harper has joined a number of MLB athletes embracing the #RIPHarambe movement. New York Mets star Noah Syndergaard wore a shirt with “RIP Harambe” on it to the Cincinnati Zoo. Yasiel Puig authored a Snapchat party video where Dodgers minor leaguers could be heard mentioning Harambe.

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Zoo has spoken out against all of the Harambe memes. “We are not amused by the memes, petitions and signs about Harambe,” Thane Maynard, Cincinnati Zoo director, wrote to the Associated Press.

During the 2016 offseason, Major League Baseball banned personalized bat knobs. MLB lifted the ban in April after Bryce Harper had a “100” emoji on his bats while he searched for his 100th career home run.

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It seems now Bryce Harper is taking advantage of the opportunity as he continues to use personalized knobs. It’s too bad that Nationals fans will now have to wait until the 2017 season to see anymore of Harper’s unique bats.

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