Obama welcomes World Series champion Red Sox

Carolyn Kaster / AP

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David “Big Papi” Ortiz takes a selfie with President Barack Obama, holding a Boston Red Sox jersey presented to the president on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 1, 2014, during a ceremony where the president honored the 2013 World Series baseball champion Boston Red Sox. From left are, principal owner John W. Henry, Executive VP and GM Ben Cherington, pitcher Junichi Tazawa, Ortiz, the president, and pitcher Koji Uehara. Top left is infielder Xander Bogaerts.

Associated Press

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 | 10:15 a.m.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has welcomed the World Series champion Red Sox to the White House, praising their triumph on the field last fall while hailing them as a symbol of their city's determined response to the bombing at last year's Boston Marathon.

Obama said Tuesday he's grateful for the role the team played in helping heal the city after the terror attack. He said sometimes sports seems trivial, but it can bring people together like almost nothing else. Red Sox slugger David Ortiz at one point took a selfie of himself and the president as a keepsake.

Flanked by the players and team officials, Obama noted the Red Sox have the winningest championship record in baseball over the past decade. Last year's title was the team's third in a decade.