Obama to honor Yanks at White House on Monday
Yankees Manager Joe Girardi shakes hands with Yogi Berra with White Ford at his side as he is introduced to the crowd during the 2009 World Series Ring Ceremony. (April 13, 2010) Credit: Photo by Kathy Kmonicek
OAKLAND, Calif. - By now, it's old hat for Derek Jeter but a thrill nonetheless.
The Yankees announced Monday that their visit to the White House as a guest of President Barack Obama for winning the World Series would take place next Monday.
Monday is a day off before the Yankees start a three-game series against the Orioles.
"Been there a few times but you consider it an honor anytime you get recognized by the president," Jeter said before last night's game against the Athletics. "I consider it an honor; I think everyone does."
The two most used words in an informal sampling of players and coaches regarding the upcoming visit were "excited" and "honor."
"I'm excited," said manager Joe Girardi, who participated in three such ceremonies as a player. "Anytime you have a chance to spend an afternoon with the leader of your country, it's an honor."
Jeter, along with teammates Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, will be meeting their third president, having previously been hosted at the White House by Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Jeter, who met Obama last season in St. Louis when the president made the rounds of the American League clubhouse before the All-Star Game, said being able to meet three presidents is a part of his career he very much appreciates.
"You're fortunate," Jeter said. "It's a privilege to get the opportunity to meet just one president, not everyone gets that opportunity. To get the opportunity to get to meet multiple ones, that's something that not too many people can say and that not too many people have had the opportunity to do. So that's something . . . I cherish those experiences."
For a group of players, this will be their second White House visit in a little more than a year.
No, they didn't crash the Phillies' Rose Garden celebration last year.
Turns out on the Yankees' day off in Baltimore on April 7, about 20 Yankees went on a tour of the White House. Memorable, Joba Chamberlain said, but not comparable to being an actual guest of the president.
"It will be cool because this is an invite from the president and not a lot of people can say that," Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain said what stood out last year from the tour was the magnitude of where they were.
"It's just what goes on in there," he said. "It's a residence, it's a place of business, it's a museum. It's just incredible."
Details on Monday's visit have not been released yet but, like most championship team visits to the White House, it is likely to take place in the Rose Garden.
Jeter recalled, though he didn't remember the specific year, seeing the Oval Office.
Girardi also remembered seeing the Oval Office and the history it represents.
"You think about all the decisions that have been made from there," he said.
Girardi paused, shook his head at the day-to-day decisions a president makes, then added, "I don't even want to know what comes across his desk.''
