WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden mentioned Monday the Atlanta Braves will likely be “without end referred to as the upset kings of October” for his or her unbelievable 2021 World Collection win, as he welcomed the staff to the White Home for a victory celebration.
Biden referred to as the collection an “unstoppable, joyful run.” The staff obtained its White Home victory go to in with simply over per week left earlier than the 2022 common season wraps up and playoffs start once more. The Braves are 1½ video games out first place within the Nationwide League East. Chief govt officer Terry McGuirk mentioned he hoped they’d be again to the White Home quickly.
In August 2021, the Braves have been a large number, taking part in barely at .500. However then they began successful. And so they saved doing it, clinching the World Collection in six video games over the Houston Astros.
Biden referred to as their come-from-behind win one in every of “historical past’s biggest turnarounds.”
“This staff has actually been a part of American historical past for over 150 years,” Biden mentioned. “However none of it got here straightforward … folks counting you out. Heck, I do know one thing about being counted out.”
Gamers lined up on risers behind Biden, grinning and waving to the gang, however the participant most mentioned was one who hasn’t been on the staff in practically 50 years and who died final yr: Corridor of Famer Hank Aaron.
Hammerin’ Hank was the house run king for 33 years, dethroning Babe Ruth with a homer to heart area on April 8, 1974. He was one of the well-known gamers for Atlanta and in baseball historical past, a vocal and clear-eyed chronicler of the numerous hardships thrown his approach — from the poverty and segregation of his Alabama youth to the racist threats he confronted throughout his pursuit of one in every of America’s most hallowed information. He died in January 2021 at age 86.
“This staff is outlined by the braveness of Hank Aaron,” Biden mentioned.
McGuirk mentioned Aaron, who held front-office positions with the staff and was one in every of Main League Baseball’s few Black executives, was watching over them.
“He’d have been there each step of the way in which with us if he was right here,” McGuirk mentioned.
The president usually honors skilled and school sports activities champions with a White Home ceremony, sometimes a nonpartisan affair wherein the commander in chief pays tribute to the champs’ prowess, poses for photographs and comes away with a staff jersey.
These visits have been extremely charged within the earlier administration. Many athletes took problem with President Donald Trump’s insurance policies on policing, immigration and extra.
Beneath Biden, the custom seems to be again. He has hosted the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks and Tremendous Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the White Home. Biden on Monday joked about First Woman Jill Biden’s Philadelphia allegiances.
“Like each Philly fan, she’s satisfied she is aware of extra about every little thing in sports activities than anyone else,” he mentioned. He added that he could not be too good to the Atlanta staff as a result of it had simply crushed the Phillies the earlier evening in further innings.