World champion Red Sox visit White House

By Boston.com Staff | March 2, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Bush greeted the World Series champions Boston Red Sox at a ceremony at the White House this afternoon.

He welcomed those in attendance, including Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, saying, "Welcome to Red Sox Nation." Sen. John Kerry, who ran against Bush in the presidential election, was also in attendance.

"Some people said it would be a cold day when the Red Sox made it here," Bush said. The temperature in Washington was 36 degrees Fahrenheit.

The president added that the World Series victory "took a lot of guts and took a lot of hair," an obvious reference to player Johnny Damon's long locks and full beard.

Star pitcher Curt Schilling presented the 43rd president with a Sox jersey bearing the number 43 and team captain Jason Varitek gave Vice President Dick Cheney a jersey with the number 2.

Slugger Manny Ramirez and pitcher Bronson Arroyo were unable to attend. Ramirez was excused from the trip because his grandmother is sick and Arroyo did not attend because his wife is ill.

Bush said that when the team won "they cheered in New England and they cheered in Iraq."

After the ceremony the Sox were planning on visiting wounded veterans at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

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