Live updates from the Red Sox’ visit to the White House
The White House started the day by misspelling the team's name on its website and YouTube live stream.
The 2018 World Series champion Red Sox are visiting the White House on Thursday.
Here’s the latest:
- Trump said he plans to give the team a private tour of the Lincoln Bedroom.
- The team presented Trump with a No. 18 Red Sox jersey. No. 45 is retired for pitcher Pedro Martinez.
- Pitcher Chris Sale and designated hitter J.D. Martinez were the two players to speak. Both thanked Trump for hosting the team.
- Martinez: “I just want to say thank you, Mr. President, for this once in a lifetime opportunity to be honored today here at the White House. I know celebrating a Red Sox victory is tough for you, given that you’re a Yankee fan and all, but we really want to say thank you for your hospitality today.”
- Trump: “Each Red Sox player is a shining example of excellence living out an American sporting tradition that goes back many generations.”
- Trump recounted the Red Sox’ five-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, mentioning highlights like Nathan Eovaldi’s six innings in Game 3, Chris Sale’s pep talk in Game 4, and World Series MVP Steve Pearce’s three home runs. He did not mention any of the players not in attendance.
- Trump: “Over the course of the 2018 season, the Red Sox were, frankly, they were unstoppable. I watched.”
- Trump said the team visited the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center earlier in the day.
https://twitter.com/joonlee/status/1126574870479896576
- Noted Red Sox fan and former White House Press Secretary and White House Communications Director Sean Spicer is in attendance.
- The White House’s wind ensemble welcomed the team with a familiar tune:
https://twitter.com/joonlee/status/1126572524647669761
- American flag shorts and ‘personal’ decisions: Here’s what the Red Sox clubhouse was like in Baltimore Wednesday, according to the Washington Post: Reporter David Nakamura says Red Sox PR eventually told him to stop asking about the White House, but not before getting comments from Heath Hembree, David Price, and others on the visit.
I spent Wednesday interviewing Red Sox players ahead of their game against the Orioles in Baltimore. After the game, a Red Sox media official banned me from the clubhouse as other reporters entered and said there would be no more questions about the team’s White House visit. https://t.co/rVlW3YmhZl
— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) May 9, 2019
- The White House’s official website kicked off Thursday’s ceremonial visit by spelling the Red Sox’ name wrong:
https://twitter.com/notdred/status/1126468201636880385
Read more on Boston.com:
- Manager Alex Cora says there’s no clubhouse divide over the White House visit
- Sports Q with Chad Finn: Should the Red Sox go to the White House?
- Here’s the list of Red Sox expected (and not) at the White House
- Jemele Hill: Red Sox players visiting White House ‘owe’ explanation to teammates skipping trip
- David Ortiz shared his thoughts on Alex Cora and the Red Sox White House visit
- The racial divide in the Red Sox’ visit to Trump’s White House is impossible to ignore
