Biden welcomes World Series champions in the first sports visit in 15 months
WASHINGTON » Thirty-two years, six Presidents and several baseball generations later, the Dodgers made it back to the White House, World Series trophy in tow.
A group of approximately 50 members of the organization — players, coaches, front office staff and ownership — visited the White House on Friday morning, when they were honored by President Joe Biden, becoming the first sports team since the pandemic started 15 months ago to make the traditional visit.
Biden praised the organization as “a pillar of American culture and American progress — the team that brought us the voice of Vin Scully and the arms of Sandy Koufax and Fernando Valenzuela … and above all else the heart of Jackie Robinson.”
“What an opportunity — to go to the White House, get to meet the president, the vice president, be in there and see it,” said pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who drew the honor of speaking on behalf of the team and presenting a jersey to President Biden. “I’m not a public speaker so to get to speak at the White House was a nerve-wracking thing but pretty cool.
“I’ll probably never get to do that again unless we go back next year. That was not a bucket-list thing because I never expected to do it. But that was pretty cool.”
Twenty players from the 2020 team, which won the title by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in October, were in attendance at the East Room ceremony along with team owner Mark Walter, president and CEO Stan Kasten, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman — and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Among those not participating in the East Room ceremony were reliever Blake Treinen, the only member of the 2020 team still on the Dodgers’ active roster who did not attend, and injured pitchers Dustin May, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Scott Alexander, who is in Triple-A Oklahoma City on a rehab assignment. Outfielder Mookie Betts did not attend when the Boston Red Sox visited the White House following their 2018 World Series victory but did attend Friday.
Only one of the Dodgers’ players — relief pitcher Joe Kelly — wore a mask during the ceremony. All parties had to undergo COVID-19 testing before entering the White House.
Kelly was also the only player wearing a mariachi jacket. He sported the jacket he swapped for a jersey at Dodger Stadium earlier this week when a mariachi band performed on the field.
“Unexpected but not surprised
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, third from bottom left, reacts as President Joe Biden arrives at an event to honor the 2020World Series champion Dodgers baseball team at the White House on Friday in Washington. by the outfit,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said later.
Biden joked about the divided baseball loyalties in his administration and predicted more championship visits for the Dodgers, saying they were “building a new dynasty for a new generation” and joking that “it’s never a good idea to bet” against players like Betts, Kershaw and outfielder Cody Bellinger.
“It takes a team to persevere through one of the most challenging seasons, one of the most challenging years of our nation’s history,” Biden said. “When the pandemic struck, it upended just about everything, every part of American life. Families
were grieving for loved ones lost. The economy had collapsed. The pain and fear in the nation were dreadful.
“When the season began, it was easy to feel we had bigger things to worry about than sports. Of course we did. But I think we discovered that we need sports more than we ever realized. We see it now as fans return to ballparks and arenas all across the country. … It’s a uniting feature.”
Biden also praised the Dodgers for having Dodger Stadium used as a COVID-19 testing site, a vaccination site and a polling place over the past year.
“It was great,” Kasten said. “As you all saw, everyone was in good spirits. As
you also saw, Democrats and Republicans alike in the room. That’s always nice when we can be a source of unity. We were proud to be there. The president and vice president could not have been more gracious.”
Long suffering for his playoff disappointments, Kershaw stepped to the podium and made some remarks before he and Walter presented a Dodgers jersey to Biden — No. 46 to the 46th president. Roberts presented a jersey to Vice President Kamala Harris, joking that the Northern California native and “looks very good in blue.”
Biden also teased Harris for being a fan of the Dodgers’ long-standing rival, the San Francisco Giants. He also told stories about his own exploits in a congressional baseball game, saying he hit a ball off the wall that thrilled his sons more than any of his political accomplishments.
Biden also joked that he was “a man of courage” for holding up the Dodgers jersey and posing for photos with it. The first lady, Jill
Biden, he said, is “a Philly girl through and through” and roots for the Phillies.
“Mr. President, thank you for having us. It’s an honor to be here and get to celebrate our World Series victory,” Kershaw said at the podium. “Last season was a special one for us, but it was also a challenging one for our country and our hope is that we were able to provide just a little bit of comfort and joy and relief to our fans going through some tough times.
“This season, it has been incredible to have fans back in the ballpark. We missed their energy and their passion for the game. It means
so much to us that people are coming back to the ballpark and things around the country are going back to normal. Hopefully — like you said — we can come back and visit again next year.”
Kershaw has had to make speeches at awards ceremonies when he won the MVP and Cy Young Awards. But those were “different,” he said.
“Different setting when you’re in front of your peers from baseball,” Kershaw said. “When you’re talking in front of the President of the United States it’s maybe a little more nerve-wracking. Either way, it was a cool opportunity.”
“What an opportunity — to go to the White House, get to meet the president, the vice president, be in there and see it. I’m not a public speaker so to get to speak at the White House was a nerve-wracking thing but pretty cool.”
— Clayton Kershaw, Dodger’s pitcher