CNN
—
President Joe Biden welcomed the Atlanta Braves to the White House Monday and celebrated their 2021 World Series win with an event in the East Room.
The Braves defeated the Houston Astros in six games to secure the Major League Baseball championship last November. It was the Braves’ first title since 1995.
The president said during the White House event the team “never gave up” and “never gave up” and was “one of the greatest turning points in history — their first title in 26 years.”
“But none of it was easy. People counted you out,” Biden said, adding, “Damn, I know something about getting counted.”
Terry McGuirk, the Braves chairman, told the audience that “this group never quits.”
McGuirk also paid tribute to legendary Braves player and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, who died in January 2021.
“We still believe we had a special angel watching over us with our recently deceased friend Hank Aaron pulling the strings from above. There’s no question that Hank was a part of what we did and he would have been with us every step of the way if he had been here,” McGuirk said.
Traditionally, the President was gifted a Braves jersey with “BIDEN 46” written on the back.
Atlanta Braves players, owners, executives and employees — along with state and local elected leaders — were in attendance at the event, the White House said. Notably, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who now oversees the White House Office of Public Engagement, was in attendance.
Biden welcomed the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2020 World Series champions, to the White House in July 2021. Their reception marked the return of the traditional championship visit to the White House after it was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Travel to the White House by professional sports teams is a long-standing tradition, and league champions often have the opportunity to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue after their win.
