1990 Reds recall White House visit after WS

The Reds collected their fifth World Series title with a four-game sweep of the A’s in 1990. On Oct. 30 of that year, the team continued its victory lap with a trip to the White House.

Ten days following the completion of their historic wire-to-wire run, 20 Reds players joined manager Lou Piniella, coaches and executives in Washington, D.C., to be personally congratulated by President George H.W. Bush. Visiting the Commander in Chief’s home has been a longstanding tradition by championship teams across many sports, and the 1990 Reds are the last Cincinnati team to have the opportunity.

Thirty-one years later, members of that Reds squad still remember the White House trip.

“You’re just coming down from the World Series because it’s such an emotional thing, and we were kind of a surprise to everyone when you look at 1990 and beating the Oakland A’s,” outfielder Paul O’Neill said. “Then all the sudden you realize you’re being invited by the organization to go to the White House. The White House has always been a picture or something that you looked at, but to actually visit the president there, I couldn’t believe it.”

After his first title with the Reds, O’Neill became somewhat of a temporary White House resident in the ‘90s thanks to his four championships with the Yankees over the next 10 years. But for many of his teammates, like second baseman Ron Oester, that was the first and last time they were given the royal welcome at the White House.

“I was in awe. I couldn’t believe they were letting us there,” Oester said. “We flew out, took a tour as a team, then gathered around outside and President Bush gave a little talk. He mentioned a few players by name like [Jose] Rijo and the Nasty Boys. The tour was the icing on the cake. It was like a mansion with unbelievable security. It was great. Something I’ll never forget.”

While addressing the team that day, President Bush praised the skipper Piniella, acknowledged some of the major contributors from the World Series and labeled the Reds’ bullpen as one of baseball’s all-time best.

President Bush also offered one of the day’s most memorable soundbites when speaking about outfielder Eric Davis.

“When I talked to Mr. Gorbachev about offensive weapons, I’m going to tell him No. 44’s bat is not negotiable,” Bush said.

All members of the team received a commemorative tie featuring the presidential seal. Both O’Neill and Oester still have theirs, but have never worn them. Oester’s is still in the same packaging it was in back in 1990.

As for other keepsakes, O’Neill and Oester are unaware if any of their teammates “borrowed” additional mementos while walking around the White House. They kept their hands clean and didn’t risk taking an extra souvenir home.

“I didn’t know what to do -- I was afraid to do anything,” Oester said. “Walk straight, stay in line. I was afraid to speak. I remember not knowing what to wear. But I don’t think President Bush cared, he was a neat guy. He just seemed like a normal guy who happened to run the country.”

That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. As both O’Neill and Oester attested, the 1990 Reds had some “characters” on the roster. But to their knowledge, everyone was well behaved and just soaked in the incredible and surreal experience after participating in over a week’s worth of more traditional World Series celebrations.

“At that time in your life and career, you’re still young and the president is the president,” O’Neill said. “And the White House is always something you’re gated off from. So to be able to walk in there as a team and meet President Bush, who was an ex-baseball player, I remember being in awe. Just walking around, going out on the lawn and the president talking to us as people … it was an amazing experience.”