For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated a World Series championship with a visit to the White House on Thursday in Washington.
“I’m thrilled to say welcome back to the White House,” President Donald Trump said in a Rose Garden gathering, adding, “and maybe I’ll see you again next year.”
Dodgers owner Mark Walter gave the president a Trump No. 47 Dodgers jersey and a World Series championship ring.
“Do I have to report this?” Trump asked about the ring while pocketing it.
Walter replied, “It’s got your name on it.”
A few of the Dodgers were not in attendance.
Mookie Betts told reporters that his decision to skip the event wasn’t politically motivated, but that he wanted to spend the team’s off day with his family.
Enrique Hernandez, a critic of Trump’s immigration policies, was absent. Will Smith, who is out injured, as is Hernandez, also didn’t attend.
Clayton Kershaw, who retired after helping the Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series, was present at the White House in his role as a special assistant to the team.
Trump recounted numerous moments in the Dodgers’ latest title run.
Citing his friendship with late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Trump said, “He would do anything to win, but you’re doing the same thing. It’s amazing.”
Referencing two-way Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani, the president said, “He’s amazing. He’s amazing. Everybody loves him. Last year, Shohei did what was previously unthinkable. Nobody thought it was possible. He collected his third straight unanimous league MVP with a franchise-record 55 home runs. And if you would have told me you can be the best pitcher and the best hitter at the same time, you know, Babe Ruth was pretty close to that.”
Trump called Los Angeles’ Dave Roberts “a helluva manager.”
Roberts said during the ceremony, “We did something that hasn’t been done in … years, going back-to-back (as) World Series champions. And we are going for a three-peat.”
Earlier in the day, Roberts and players Will Klein and Miguel Rojas were among a Dodgers contingent that visited lawmakers at the Capitol.
The Dodgers completed a series in Philadelphia on Wednesday, and they open a set in New York against the Mets on Friday. Los Angeles owns the best record in the major leagues, 65-38 (.631), and leads the National League West by 11 games.
