logo
ISA Grading Advertisement

Bryce Harper Gets Into Baseball Cards, With a Little Help From Matt Strahm

* We may earn a commission from purchases made through our affiliate links.

bryce-harper.png

Bryce Harper has added a new hobby to his already busy life: collecting baseball cards. The Philadelphia Phillies superstar, a two-time National League MVP, never considered himself much of a memorabilia guy — until now.

The turning point? Teammate Matt Strahm. Known around the league as a serious collector, Strahm has a YouTube channel where he opens packs, shows off his collection, and talks hobby life. When Harper showed interest, Strahm rallied the card community by posting on X, asking collectors if they’d trade rare Harper cards in exchange for game-used items like his gloves, cleats, or bats.


Why Harper’s Change of Heart?​

At 32, Harper has been in the big leagues since he was 19. Looking back, he admits he regrets not holding on to more mementos.

“I never collected cards growing up,” Harper said. “Honestly, I threw away so much when I first got called up. My wife’s always telling me, ‘Why don’t you save this stuff? The kids will want it someday.’”

He’s not chasing autographs or other players’ gear — that’s never really been his thing — but he does want pieces of his own career and, now, his cards.


Cards for the Future​

It’s not uncommon for veterans to turn nostalgic as their careers move along, and Harper seems to be entering that stage. Collecting gives him a way to preserve memories and create something to pass on to his family.

And as the Phillies chase another NL East crown, Harper will keep adding to his on-field résumé. Only now, he’ll have a growing stack of cardboard reminders to go along with it.

Share:

PWCC Auction Advertisement

0 Comments

Related

Sports Card News

Raichu rumor becomes reality: a “Prerelease” Base Set copy just sold for about $550,000


  • bionic Avatar
  • by bionic
  • September 23, 2025, 12:22 am

Raichu rumor becomes reality: a “Prerelease” Base Set copy just sold for about $550,000


For years it was the hobby’s favorite ghost story. An English Base Set Raichu with a green “PRERELEASE” stamp that wasn’t supposed to exist. Over the weekend, one finally crossed the auction block in a PSA EX-MT 6 holder and brought roughly $550...

Read More

Mega Evolution returns today: products in stores, top chase cards, and how to track the full Pokémon TCG checklist


  • bionic Avatar
  • by bionic
  • September 26, 2025, 12:10 am

Mega Evolution returns today: products in stores, top chase cards, and how to track the full Pokémon TCG checklist


Pokémon’s new Mega era landed today and it feels like a true tentpole release. Big-box aisles and local shops rolled out two different Elite Trainer Boxes, fresh Booster Bundles, and stacks of 3-pack blisters. With Mega Evolution returning, a deeper ...

Read More

2025-26 SP Hockey preview, checklist notes, and smart ways to collect


  • bionic Avatar
  • by bionic
  • September 22, 2025, 11:53 pm

2025-26 SP Hockey preview, checklist notes, and smart ways to collect


SP is Upper Deck’s quiet retail grinder. It is not built to flood you with autos, it is built to give set builders a clean checklist, rookies with real numbering, and a few tough chases that feel earned over time. The 2025-26 release sticks to that pl...

Read More