Players, coaches, front office staff and ownership from the 2020 World Series championship squad are the first sports team since the pandemic started 15 months ago to make the traditional visit
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, where 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.” Twenty players from the 2020 team 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 pitcher Dustin May, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.