WASHINGTON — Even a White Sox fan like President Obama had to admit that the Yankees are the best.
Obama welcomed the world champion Bronx Bombers to the White House this afternoon, saying that “nothing beats that Yankee tradition.”
“It’s nine years since your last title, which must have felt like an eternity. … Some teams would love a spell like that, like the [Chicago] Cubs,” joked Obama.
Obama, a Chicago White Sox fan, shook hands with the players during their East Room appearance — even ribbing CC Sabathia by telling him, “Good to see you, big man.”
The players and manager Joe Girardi later posed with Obama holding the World Series trophy.
Obama was given a signed No. 27 jersey at the end of the 30-minute ceremony.
The meeting took place on a scheduled off-day before the Yankees visit the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, coming off their six-game West Coast swing against the Oakland A’s and Anaheim Angels.
Obama said it has often been painful to watch Mariano Rivera and the Yankees win titles.
“For a White Sox fan like me, its painful to watch Mariano’s cutter. … Although, I do remember 2005, so don’t get too comfortable,” said Obama, referring to the White Sox’s World Series title five years ago.
Obama added that “nothing beats that Yankee tradition” as the large crowd gathered in the room applauded.
“Last season, this team continued that legacy,” he said, as George Steinbrenner’s children Hal, Jennifer and Jessica looked on.
The Boss, who is in poor health, and his other son, Hank, were not at the event.
Before the ceremony, Derek Jeter said he was thrilled at the prospect of meeting Obama after shaking hands with President Clinton and Bush following previous World Series titles.
“I think everyone enjoys trips to the White House, because not everyone has the opportunity to do it,” Jeter told Yankees.com. “If you have that opportunity, I think it’s something that people remember.”
During the event, Obama praised Jeter, saying the shortstop “epitomizes the best of the Yankees tradition.”
The Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games last November to win the World Series.
Before their visit to the East Room, the Yankees visited wounded soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
