Written by Kyle Melnick at USAToday.com
When the Kansas City Royals drafted Alex Gordon in 2005, the outfielder could only dream of visiting the White House for a World Series celebration.
Ten years later, Gordon and the Royals won the elusive title that ended the franchise’s 30-year drought. On Thursday, he and the Royals were honored by President Barack Obama during their visit to the White House.
Gordon’s surreal emotions livened when the East Room erupted with a “Let’s go Royals” chant as the players stepped onto the stage behind Obama. The moment truly set in for the 32-year-old when Obama said his name during the ceremony.
In the gathering that lasted about 12 minutes, Obama commended the Royals’ 2015 title run, which included eight comeback victories in the postseason as Kansas City defeated the New York Mets in the World Series. Obama described this past year’s Royals team as one of the “grittiest, most complete teams we’ve seen in a long time.”
“It’s a pretty special day,” Gordon said after the ceremony. “To see where we are now to be in the White House and have the chance to meet the president, it’s been quite the journey. It’s been pretty amazing to share it with this group of people.”
Press Secretary Josh Earnest, a Kansas City native, got one question into his morning press briefing before Royals manager Ned Yost, catcher Salvador Perez and first baseman Eric Hosmer interrupted him. They gave Earnest a Royals jersey with his last name on the back, a Royals mug and an autographed World Series ball.
After Obama and Royals players filed into the East Room and the crowd, many of whom were wearing Royals hats and jerseys, quieted down from their team chants, Obama acknowledged the “long road” Royals fans had suffered without success, which included 21 losing seasons since their previous championship.
His compliments came with criticism, though. As he applauded the team’s top players by their nicknames, such as ‘Gordo,’ ‘Hoz’ and ‘Moose.’ He suggested the team could be more creative with its nicknames.
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