WASHINGTON — After clinching the National League East Tuesday night, Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper showed up in the locker room in a custom-made D.C. firefighter’s helmet.
MyFoxDC reported that the gift came from a couple of D.C. firefighters who are big fans of Harper, who wanted to be a firefighter had he not made it into the big leagues.
“I knew what his plan was, and me and my fiancée were watching the game, and she said, ‘He doesn’t have it on, he doesn’t have it on,’ and then he popped it on and everything and everybody started talking about it,” firefighter John Landi said.
He knew what Harper wanted after seeing a tweet the outfielder sent out last Friday asking D.C. firefighters for a little help, according to the report.
“Yeah, he actually said a couple of years ago that if he wasn’t a ballplayer, he wanted to be a fireman,” Landi said. “So he was specifically looking for the fire helmet, and another guy on the job from Engine 24, he makes all the custom front pieces.”
Firefighters Landi and Jason Vogt got to work and custom made the helmet for No. 34 and sent it to his agent earlier this week, according to the report.
“All the guys on the job were real happy about it and it was good to see Harper wanted to represent us,” Landi said. “It’s a critical moment for the Nats. They just won the NL East and he wants to represent the D.C. fire department, so it’s pretty good.”
During an interview after the game, the first question had to do with the unusual head gear.
“D.C. firefighters hooked me up,” Harper said.
Firefighter Landi would like to see the helmet in another locker room celebration.
“He’s got to do it now,” he said. “It’s a good luck charm. It’s tradition now.”