President Donald Trump recruited Baseball Hall of Fame member Mariano Rivera to help celebrate Baseball Opening Day with a group of Little League players at the White House on Thursday.
Trump said that the return of sports was “something tremendously psychological for our country” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Mariano made a surprise appearance at the Trump virus briefing in the late afternoon. The president said the two would go outside to see “some cute young Little League players out there with a great future ahead of them. They’re already practicing in the front yard of the White House.”
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Mariano, the former New York Yankees relief pitcher and Trump supporter, watched as the president announced that he would cancel Florida’s portion of the Republican National Convention next month due to the coronavirus.
Trump praised Rivera’s work with the children and his records as a closer to the president’s favorite team. He has previously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rivera.
Rivera’s old team was in Washington to open the shortened major league season Thursday night against the defending National Champions. Dr. Anthony Fauci was ready to launch the ceremonial launch.
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Trump, for his part, said he had been invited to launch the opening pitch on August 15 at Yankee Stadium.
The president praised Major League Baseball for moving forward.
“I think Major League Baseball is setting an example by playing in empty stadiums. And so are other sports, “Trump said, mentioning soccer and golf, among others.” We want to return to normality. The key is to return to normality. “
