Jonny Gomes signed to play in Japan in 2016, but he is still upset that he wasn’t invited to the White House for his role in the Kansas City Royals’ 2015 World Series championship.
Gomes was acquired by Kansas City on August 31 of 2015, but didn’t play for the Royals for any of Kansas City’s three playoff series. However, he said that he isn’t happy that he wasn’t invited to see President Barack Obama and company, and has made his feelings known publicly.
“I’m not trying to throw an egg on anyone’s face,” Gomes said. “But a lot of people are asking me, ‘Hey, are you going to wear that American flag jacket? Is Obama going to ask you to make that speech again?’ It would be pretty cool. This is probably going to be Obama’s last championship team before he leaves office.”
Gomes felt strongly about his decision to be left out of the ceremony.
“I’ve been sent down. I’ve been non-tendered, whatever,” Gomes said. “But this is probably the worst news of my professional baseball career.”
Following Gomes’ gripes, the Royals and other teams have responded to the former major-league outfielder’s career by saying that teams are limited by who they bring to the White House ceremony.
An official with the Giants, who visited the White House after World Series triumphs in 2010, ’12 and ’14, said that the administration “really limits you on how many people can be invited.”
The Red Sox, however, invited every player who had been with the club at least one day in ’13, and even brought newcomer Edward Mujica, who had spent the previous season with the Cardinals, the Sox’s World Series opponent, a club official said.
The Giants, after each of their three titles, brought their current players to Washington the following season; Mike Morse was the only former player to attend, a club official said, and that occurred last year only because his new team, the Marlins, had a day off.
Though Gomes didn’t play much of a role in Kansas City’s win, he still has patriotic ties. Regardless, the Royals have limited spots in the ceremony, and they should probably use those spots on people who actually contributed to the World Series victory.
