Sports
San Francisco Giants Honored at the White House
The World Series champs met President Barack Obama Monday, their second visit in three years.
By Bay City News Service
The San Francisco Giants were honored by President Barack Obama at the White House Monday for their World Series win in 2012.
Obama congratulated the Giants for earning a second trip to the White House so soon after the team's 2010 World Series victory. "They're making this a habit," he said.
The Giants swept the Detroit Tigers in four games in 2012 after facing elimination six times as they came back from a 2-0 deficit in the National League Division Series and a 3-1 hole in the National League Championship Series.
"It's no wonder that San Francisco fans still refer to their games as torture," Obama said.
The president also noted the Giants' work in the community, citing their Junior Giants youth baseball program and the team being the first sports franchise to release an "It Gets Better" video to support LGBT youth.
"They represent their city proudly and do a great job at it," he said.
Mayor Ed Lee, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Giants legend Willie Mays were among those who attended the ceremony.
Obama also announced today that the team plans to install an edible garden behind the centerfield fence at AT&T Park next season, but joked that "it's OK to have a hot dog every once in a while" at a game.
Team president and CEO Larry Baer said it was "really an honor" to be back at the White House and said, "We want to make this a regular occurrence."
Baer pointed out that the Giants weren't the only ones celebrating a second victory this past fall, referencing the president's re-election in November, which occurred just days after the team's World Series win.
Manager Bruce Bochy and catcher Buster Posey, who won the NL Most Valuable Player award last season, presented Obama with a signed bat and ball from the team.
The Giants made the visit to the White House in advance of a three-game series in Philadelphia starting Tuesday.
San Francisco has struggled this year in its bid to defend its title. The Giants are in last place in the NL West with a record of 46-58.
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