LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers, not without some controversy, joined President Donald Trump at the White House Monday to celebrate the team's 2024 World Series championship.
All Dodger players except Freddie Freeman, who is recovering from an ankle sprain, participated, as did manager Dave Roberts and coaches. The visitors included shortstop Mookie Betts — who skipped a White House visit in 2018 when his Boston Red Sox title team visited during Trump's first term.
The Dodger visit was criticized in some circles, with some saying the team should have declined the invite over the president's policies, particularly in regard to immigration. But Dodger President Stan Kasten told the Los Angeles Times that the visit "was something we discussed with all the players, all of whom wanted to go."
For his part, Betts said his choice to go was not political, but because he wanted to be there for the team. "No matter what I say or what I do, people are gonna take it as political," Betts said over the weekend. "But that's definitely not what it is. This is about what the Dodgers were able to accomplish last year."
During Monday's ceremony, Trump recognized some Dodgers in particular, including Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw. Trump congratulated Ohtani for winning the National League MVP award and becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season.
"He looks like a movie star," Trump said. "An accomplishment unparalleled."
Trump asked if Ohtani was that good, and Roberts responded, "He's only getting better."
Trump called Roberts "one of the greatest managers ever to wear the Dodger blue."
The president called Kershaw the "heart and soul" of the pitching staff.
"Unbelievable," Trump said. "I'm glad to meet him."
Reflecting on the team's championship season, Trump went down the line shaking hands with each player he called out, beginning with Roberts, then Ohtani, Kershaw, Betts and several others.
Kershaw, sidelined during the playoffs with a foot injury, spoke on behalf of the team.
"This organization exemplifies what it means to come together as one for a greater purpose than themselves," Kershaw said. "The selflessness and humility that each one of these players and staff have shown over the last year is truly an inspiration."
Kershaw then presented Trump with a No. 47 Dodgers jersey as a gift, and the two posed for photos holding it together.
Trump also said he hopes the team gets another championship invite to the White House next year.
"I hope you're going to be back here next year. I don't want to give you too much because we want to have a little suspense next year," Trump said.
Betts called it a "regret" he didn't join the Red Sox for their 2018 visit, which also was skipped by Boston manager Alex Cora, who was born in Puerto Rico, and pitcher David Price, who, like Betts, is Black.
Betts said he felt his absence distracted from that team's accomplishment and made the news cycle about him, something he felt in hindsight was "selfish," the Times reported.
"This is not about me; I don't want anything to be about me," Betts said ahead of Monday's visit. "This is about the Dodgers. Because these boys were there for me," going on to refer to support from his teammates after going hitless in his first six at-bats of last season's National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres, extending his postseason hitless streak to 22 at-bats dating back to 2022.
When the Dodgers last visited the White House as World Series champions on July 2, 2021, Joe Biden was president.
The visit coincided with the team's three-game series against the Washington Nationals, which begins Monday.
A petition on Change.org urging the Dodgers to cancel their visit created March 25 had drawn 1,957 verified signatures as of Monday morning.
The starter of the petition, identified on the site only as Walker D, described himself as a "passionate fan" of the team and said the White House visit is "a matter of concern."
"Our team, beloved by many Latino fans and people of color, is being invited to break bread with an administration that we feel attacks our principles and values," Walker D wrote. "This administration's stance on immigration, civil rights, and racial discourse has been at odds with the experiences and views of many fans.
"According to Pew Research Center, Latinos account for about 48% of baseball fans in Los Angeles. A significant percentage of this population — a community deeply interwoven with our favorite team's success — feels persecuted and targeted by recent policies and rhetoric from the administration," the statement continued.
"In the spirit of solidarity, and to voice our support for the values that We as Dodger's fanbase hold dear, we ask that the Los Angeles Dodgers reconsider their acceptance of this White House visit. Let us uphold the values of inclusivity and respect that our team represents -- on and off the field."
A Dodgers spokesman told City News Service that the organization had no comment on people who have written or said the team should not visit the White House.
"Remember, everyone in here grew up wanting to be a world champion and all the things that come with it, and it comes with a Champagne toast, silliness in the locker room, a parade, rings, an invitation to the White House," Kasten said.
"It's what they all come to associate with being world champions. Everyone wanted to go, and so we did."
