The Atlanta Braves’ 2021 World Series team was invited to the White House on Monday, and President Joe Biden contrasted their comeback triumph to his own in the 2020 presidential election.
Early in the season, the Braves were written off and finished with a losing record through the All-Star break.
The Houston Astros were defeated in the World Series, although they rallied to go to the playoffs.
You qualified for the postseason and defeated the Braves, Brewers, and Dodgers. As he recalled their season, Biden referred to them as the “upset kings of October” after defeating the Astros to win it all.
“One of the biggest turns around in history.” 1st championship in 26 years.
But none of it was simple.
They counted you out, they said. Heck, I’ve experienced being excluded before.
And I am aware that in Georgia you turn up when it matters.
The fact that Biden defeated Trump in the state was a crucial factor in his electoral success. Despite a determined effort by the then-president and his friends to have the outcome overturned, the state recognized his victory.
It allowed Biden to win a state that had been uncontested by a Democratic presidential candidate for thirty years.
Biden received a jersey from the Braves with his name and the number 46 embroidered on the back.
White House parties are often held in honor of major league or college championship teams.
But under President Donald Trump, they turned into highly contentious events, and athletes, or whole teams, chose to stay out.
The Philadelphia Eagles and the North Carolina Tar Heels were among the teams who received invitations to Trump’s White House, but they turned them down.
Not even other teams were invited.
Under Biden, the custom of team visits has been revived.