José Andrés Understands the Unifying Power of the Nationals’ World Series Win

For a brief, beautiful moment Wednesday night, after the Washington Nationals set off a euphoric delirium at bars and restaurants across D.C. with their World Series-clinching win in Houston, the city’s most famous chef was just another face in the crowd.

As fans took to the streets to jump and cheer, José Andrés was right there with them.

During one interview in NBC4’s coverage of the pandemonium, the Spanish chef and restaurateur best known for his humanitarian work with World Central Kitchen can be seen in the background pumping his fist and wagging his finger at the camera. When reporter Cory Smith grabbed Andrés for an interview, he eloquently captured the power of sports and the joy in the air for Washington’s first World Series celebration in 95 years.

“Yes this is sports, but this is so much more than that,” Andrés told Smith. “It’s everybody as one. It doesn’t matter where you come from, who you are, what accent you speak, what color of your skin. We become one, and that’s what we need to believe in. This city is great. We need to keep making it, if anything, better every day.”

After the New York Times bungled an opportunity to describe the galvanizing effect that baseball has had on everyone in the city, not just the nexus of power surrounding the political machine, Andrés joined Bud Light guy as representatives for the very real people that live, work, eat, and drink here.

Andrés has continuously used his platform to stand up for immigrants and decry the nationalist, racist rhetoric used by President Donald Trump.

After throwing out the ceremonial first pitch in Game 5 of the World Series at Nationals Park — a game that Trump attended and an event where he got soundly booed — the famous chef tweeted out a thank you that spoke to the significance of giving immigrants a place to shine. That includes himself and many players on the field, like Dominican outfielder Juan Soto, the 21-year-old who hit a team-high five homers in the playoffs.

Now it’s party time. Paella for everybody.

• That Bud Light Guy at the World Series Is the Hero D.C. Deserves Right Now [EDC]
• The Salt Line Is the Unofficial Restaurant of the Nationals’ World Series Squad [EDC]