{"id":19227,"date":"2019-05-09T14:22:54","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T22:22:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/associatednews.info\/content\/with-some-players-bowing-out-trump-hosts-red-sox-at-the-white-house\/"},"modified":"2019-05-09T14:22:54","modified_gmt":"2019-05-09T22:22:54","slug":"with-some-players-bowing-out-trump-hosts-red-sox-at-the-white-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.info\/content\/with-some-players-bowing-out-trump-hosts-red-sox-at-the-white-house\/","title":{"rendered":"With Some Players Bowing Out, Trump Hosts Red Sox At The White House"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Tovia Smith<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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\n President Trump holds up a Red Sox team jersey that was presented to him by outfielder J.D. Martinez Thursday at the White House.<\/p>\n

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais\/AP<\/p>\n

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais\/AP<\/p>\n

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President Trump honored the 2018 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox at a White House ceremony Thursday, lauding the team as a “shining example of excellence” in “an American sporting tradition that goes back many generations.” <\/p>\n

But the tradition of an apolitical While House celebration has become something of a thing of the past, with the invitation from Trump becoming more of a loaded loyalty test, forcing players to pick sides. Roughly a third of the team skipped the event in protest.<\/p>\n

The day began with many mocking<\/a> the White House for its online gaffe welcoming the “Boston Red Socks.” <\/p>\n

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“I need you to go to a store there in Boston and buy a package of red socks. Yes, that’s right, red ones. Well the Sox aren’t going to make it to the White House so I thought the President could welcome some actual red socks.” https:\/\/t.co\/lrIdi7Dj35<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John Litzler (@JohnLitzler) May 9, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n

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But the Sox are having their own awkward moment, as those who attended the White House celebration, and those who passed, are divided almost perfectly along racial lines. Every white player went, while almost every person of color who wears a Sox uniform opted out, including Mookie Betts<\/a>, Jackie Bradley Jr<\/a>., Xander Bogaerts<\/a> and David Price<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Manager Alex Cora says it was the Trump administration’s position on hurricane relief to his native Puerto Rico that was keeping him away, according to the English online version<\/a> of the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo D\u00eda.<\/em><\/p>\n

“<\/strong>I’ve used my voice on many occasions so that Puerto Ricans are not forgotten,” Cora told the paper. “And my absence [from the White House] is no different. As such, at this moment, I don’t feel comfortable celebrating in the White House.”<\/p>\n

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\n President Trump poses with the 2018 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox at the White House on Thursday.<\/p>\n

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Jim Watson\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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The Red Sox players are hardly the first to stay home to protest the Trump administration. But it comes as the ball club has been making great efforts to live down its reputation as a racist organization, a legacy that owner John Henry has said has “haunted” the team. Last year, the team successfully fought<\/a> to change the name of Yawkey Street alongside Fenway Park to distance the team from its late former owner Tom Yawkey, who was known as much for his historically racist ball club as he was for his great philanthropy. <\/p>\n