Mookie Betts celebrated his second World Series title in October, and this weekend marks the first event honoring their victory against President Donald Trump.
Betts earned the Boston Red Sox championship in 2018.
Nevertheless, he opted not to attend the team's celebration at the White House in 2019.
This year, things are different.
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Los Angeles Dodgers Shortstop Mookie Betts celebrates after winning the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. (Wendel Cruz/Imaging Image)
“This isn't about myself. I don't want to focus on me. This is about the Dodgers, because these guys stood by me,” Betts mentioned. Via LA Times.
Betts expressed regret over not attending in 2019. Manager Alex Cora and pitcher David Price also chose to abstain, stating they felt sidetracked.
“Regardless of what I express, regardless of my actions, individuals will perceive it as political, but that’s certainly not my intention. This is about what the Dodgers accomplished last year,” he stated.
Cora recently acknowledged that she skipped the meeting with Trump to prioritize her homeland, Puerto Rico. When the Red Sox attended the White House in May 2019, Puerto Rico was still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, and Cora was dissatisfied with the federal response.
Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts reacts after hitting an RBI double in the fourth inning of the NLCS against the New York Mets on October 17, 2024. (Daniel Shirey/MLB photos via Getty Images)
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The other Dodgers were inquired about their travel decisions, but Betts' choice came purely from the heart.
“What is it? It comes with the territory that is black in America in this context. “No matter what choice I make, someone will be upset. Someone will share their view. But this is also not about me. This isn't about politics. It concerns the Dodgers. It concerns these men, my allegiance to this clubhouse.
The Dodgers triumphed over Trump’s hometown team, the New York Yankees, in five games last year.
Los Angeles Dodgers Freddie Freeman, left. Shohei Ohtani, center; and Mookie Betts will be featured at the World Series ring ceremony on March 28, 2025, ahead of his match against the Detroit Tigers in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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The Philadelphia Eagles visited the White House later this month, following the Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers, who went earlier this year.
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