The Chicago Cubs snapped a 108-year championship drought by winning the 2016 World Series in a thrilling seven games. But they barely had to wait before getting to visit the White House, the privilege of sports champions throughout the year.
Cubs White House visit live stream: Start time and how to watch Monday’s ceremony online
World Series winners visit President Obama in Washington D.C.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Cubs will visit the White House on Monday, to be televised by C-SPAN. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. ET, and will be streamed live via the White House, as well as NBC Chicago.
Most MLB championship visits to the White House happen during the next season, but the seeds were planted for an earlier visit back in November. President Barack Obama is a noted Chicago sports fan, though his baseball team is the White Sox. But he extended the invitation to the Cubs to visit while he is still around.
The Cubs took him up on the offer, and will be in Washington D.C. four days before Donald Trump’s inauguration.
That the Cubs didn’t wait is a bit of a surprise, especially since team co-owner Todd Ricketts was tabbed to be a part of Trump’s cabinet, as deputy commerce secretary.
Team chairman Tom Ricketts, Todd’s brother, said last week, per ESPN, “Once you get invited, you go. I don’t care where you live or who you voted for, it’s an honor to just be involved.”
The early White House visit is uncommon but not unprecedented. Recently, the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 and 2011, as well as the 2007 Red Sox, all made the trek to Washington D.C. before their next spring training.
Cubs White House visit info
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: C-SPAN
Online: WhiteHouse.gov and NBC Chicago
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