World Series winners visit White House
Free Press wire reports | 11/8/2019, 6 a.m.
![The World Series champion Washington Nationals were honored at the White House on Monday, although more than a half-dozen players … The World Series champion Washington Nationals were honored at the White House on Monday, although more than a half-dozen players …](https://epmgaa.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2019/11/07/Nationals_at_the_White_House_t580.jpg?8f1b5874916776826eb17d7e67de7278c987ca33)
The World Series champion Washington Nationals were honored at the White House on Monday, although more than a half-dozen players skipped the ceremony on the South Lawn.
Reliever Sean Doolittle, who along with his wife has worked with Syrian refugees and military veterans and supports gay rights, did not attend the event hosted by President Trump. Also among those not listed as being in attendance Monday are National League MVP candidate Anthony Rendon, outfielders Victor Robles and Michael A. Taylor, and pitchers Joe Ross, Javy Guerra and Wander Suero.
Of the 25 players on Washington’s World Series roster, 18 were in attendance. Principal owner Mark Lerner was the only member of the ownership group listed as attending.
The Nationals’ White House visit was the latest stop on their whirlwind victory tour around the nation’s capital after coming back from a 3-2 series deficit to beat the Houston Astros in Game 7 on Oct. 30. The team parade down Constitution Avenue drew tens of thousands of cheering fans last Saturday, while on Sunday night, the team celebrated at the Washington Capitals hockey game. President Trump applauded the team’s first title in franchise history, calling it a “comeback story for the ages” and predicting it will be the first victory of many. He singled out World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg, NLCS MVP Howie Kendrick and others.
Catcher Kurt Suzuki donned a “Make America Great Again” hat during the half-hour ceremony, and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman thanked the president for keeping the country safe before presenting President Trump with a No. 45 Nationals jersey.
Despite those moments and the president referencing impeachment, the Nationals’ visit did not have as much political undertone as when the 2018 champion Boston Red Sox were honored by President Trump but without manager Alex Cora, who did not attend that ceremony after citing his frustration with the administration’s efforts to help his native Puerto Rico recover from a devastating hurricane.
Washington manager Dave Martinez, whose parents are Puerto Rican, was in attendance and made brief remarks.