Harper, 19, has sparked his team to first place in the National League East since being called up in late April. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Trout has injected himself into the MVP conversation with the Angels. The success of the two rookies has drawn comparisons to another classic rivalry.
During the 1980s, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson captivated the nation with their heated rivalry. Now, with baseball’s two top young talents at the all-star game for the first time it looks like their rivalry could just be getting started.
At this year’s All-Star game, when asked about their relationship, Trout joked, “We really don’t like each other.”
To which Harper responded, “It’s like Bird and Magic. He’s Magic. I’m Bird.”
While the two were joking — they actually are quite good friends — their “rivalry” will certainly be fun to watch if and when they square off over the next many years.
The next chapter in the Harper versus Trout story will begin Tuesday night in Kansas City with the two All-Stars battling it out for home-field advantage in the World Series.
