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New York Yankees: 5 Reasons Why Signing Bryce Harper Makes Sense

ByManny Gómez|
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 09: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals takes the field during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 09: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals takes the field during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Bryce Harper wears #34 to honor New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle. 3+4 = 7, Mantle's number.
(Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images)

#34

If you think Manny Machado’s little story about idolizing A-Rod is sweet, wait ’till you hear about why Bryce Harper wears #34.

Harper, according to Jon Saraceno of USA TODAY Sports, always wore #7 as a kid to honor his favorite player, Yankees legend Mickey Mantle. In speaking with Harper, Saraceno learned that Bryce went to a team where he wasn’t able to wear #7 anymore, because of this Harper is quoted as saying, “I took 34. I always thought, ‘Three plus four equals seven.’ I also wore 16.”

Need more proof?

In a Q&A conducted with Nathan Rode of Baseball America prior to breaking out in MLB, when Harper was asked:

"Q: You seem to wear 34 whenever possible. Any significance to that number for you? A: Three plus four equals seven and Mickey Mantle is my favorite player."

Does it get any better than that?

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