(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

With the Washington Nationals set to travel to Philadelphia today for a three-game series against the Phillies, local sensation Bryce Harper has again proved his worth by poking fun at the competition, telling USA Today:

“Hopefully I get a couple boos,” he said. “I’m excited to get up there and play. Hopefully they don’t throw any batteries at me.”

Harper was of course referring to an incident in which fans threw batteries at Dick Allen, the Phillies’ first prominent African American player, forcing him to wear a batting helmet at he took the field. What’s interesting is that the incident far pre-dates Harper; the Nats’ sensation is 19, while Allen’s abuse at the hands of his own fans took place in the 1960s. Philadelphia fans have long been considered the worst in professional sports.

The last time the Phillies played the Nats—here in D.C.—pitcher Cole Hamels purposely hit Harper, resulting in a suspension for Hamels.