MLB: What Would You Wager on the Philadelphia Phillies To Win the World Series?
According to many baseball prognosticators, the Philadelphia Phillies have the best starting rotation in the history of mankind, making the team preseason odds-on favorites to win the 2011 World Series.
Wagering on the World Series is as American as hot dogs and apple pie. The mother of all World Series bets came in 1919, when gamblers led by Arnold Rothstein paid such Chicago White Sox players as Chick Gandil, Swede Risberg, Eddie Cicotte and ("Say it ain't so") "Shoeless" Joe Jackson to throw the Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
However, when it comes to the time-honored tradition of friendly wagers, it's rarely money that is on the line.
In fact, over the years, politicians, clergymen, media members and other fans of rival World Series teams have wagered everything from ten tons of fruit from the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market, San Diego fish tacos, Dunkin' Donuts coffee and pastrami sandwiches from New York's 2nd Avenue Deli to a jersey autographed by Michael Jordan, rare white lion cubs and naming rights to a roller coaster.
So maybe it's time to ante up some goodies on Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels (pictured) to be leading a Philadelphia victory parade in November.
Or maybe not. As the old saying goes, "A fool and his money are easily parted." Or as W.C. Fields more aptly put it, "It is morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money."
2010 World Series: San Francisco Giants Vs. Texas Rangers
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San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Robert Cluck of Arlington, Texas placed a friendly wager under which the mayor of the losing city would travel to the winning city and don the winning team's jersey for a "day of support for local youth and community service initiatives." The losing mayor would also have to pay for and bring a selection of local foods and treats.
Although it appeared early on that Cluck would win out after Texas took Game 1, it was Newsom who claimed his prize after the Giants took the next four games.
Newsom was on a post-season roll, having already won bets with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed following San Francisco's NLDS victory over the Braves (the Giants flag flew above Atlanta City Hall for a day) and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter after San Francisco's NLCS victory over the Phillies (Nutter wore a Giants' cap during a full day of activities).
These might have been the least adventurous of the 2010 World Series friendly wagers. Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) received pecan pies from Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) and a giant Hershey bar from Rep. Arlen Specter (D-PA) to settle their bets after the Giants won the World Series. Pelosi would have had to supply Barton with San Francisco-produced Ghirardelli Chocolates had Texas prevailed.
In a wager between Six Flags parks, Shouka, the killer whale featured in a show at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom near San Francisco, would have been renamed "Ranger" for a day had the Rangers won. Instead, the Texas Giant roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas was temporarily renamed the "San Francisco" Giant.
News anchors on local CBS station in Fort Worth lost their friendly bet to the local San Francisco CBS station and on-air had to wear beards to match Giants closer Brian Wilson (pictured) and sing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco."
Dallas Area Rapid Transit executive director Gary Thomas lost his friendly bet with Bay Area Rapid Transit director James Fang, which entailed Thomas flying to San Francisco to serenade passengers during their morning commute with "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" while dressed in a Giants uniform.
2009 World Series: New York Yankees Vs. Philadelphia Phillies
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New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg rode the bat of MVP Hideki Matsui (pictured) to win a friendly wager against Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
The Yankees' six-game victory over Philadelphia saw Nutter travel to New York to join Bloomberg in a volunteer service project with students to paint open spaces at the Albert Einstein School in the Bronx while wearing a Yankees jersey. He then had to cater lunch from a local eatery for all the volunteers.
Meanwhile, the Archbishops of New York and Philadelphia had their own friendly wager, the result of which saw Philadelphia's Cardinal Justin Rigali send a box of Tastykake pastries to New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Had Dolan lost, it would have cost him a dozen New York bagels.
Philadelphia city solicitor Shelley Smith lost a wager to New York City corporate counsel Michael Cardozo and spent an afternoon working at the New York Cares Coat Drive Center in lower Manhattan. Smith and other Philadelphia lawyers also visited the New York University School of Law and received Yankee jerseys.
Workers from the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market lost their bet and delivered ten tons of fruit and vegetables to the Food Bank for New York City while wearing Yankees' jerseys. In the spirit of team play, workers from Food Bank for New York donated ten tons of their food to Philabundance (but did not have to wear Phillies' jerseys).
2008 World Series: Tampa Bay Rays Vs. Philadelphia Phillies
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St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio made good on their bet with Philadelphia Mayor Nutter when MVP Cole Hamels and the Phillies took out the Rays in five games.
Nutter's "Florida Beach Picnic" included coconut shrimp from St. Petersburg's Cha Cha Coconuts at The Pier, stone crab claws from Clearwater’s Frenchy’s restaurant, Cuban sandwiches from Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City and commemorative championship label Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino Cortez Cigars from the J.C. Newman Cigar Co.
Nutter had wagered Philadelphia cheesesteaks,Tastykakes, an order of mac and cheese from Delilah’s Southern Café, Philly soft pretzels and a statue of Rocky Balboa.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey received from Florida Sens. Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson a box of citrus, Cuban pastries, Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish and copies of the Columbia Restaurant Spanish Cookbook.
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2007 World Series: Boston Red Sox Vs. Colorado Rockies
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Rabbi Steven Rubenstein of Temple B’Nai Abraham in Boston got the best of his cousin, Rabbi Bernard Gerson of Denver, after the Red Sox, led by MVP Mike Lowell, David Ortiz (pictured) and Josh Beckett, swept the Rockies.
The wager: Gerson paid for a community dinner at Boston's First Baptist Church, which featured a Fenway Park menu of hot dogs, apple pie and Cracker Jacks.
2006 World Series: St. Louis Cardinals Vs. Detroit Tigers
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The Cardinals needed just five games to defeat the Tigers.
That meant Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt was able to watch Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm put on an Albert Pujols' jersey, read a chapter from Three Nights in August (a book about Cardinals' manager Tony LaRussa) and eat a meal of Missouri-branded steak with Missouri wine.
As part of the wager, it was recorded for posterity with a photo posted on Granholm's Web site.
Had Blunt lost, he would have had to wear a Tigers' jersey, hold a sign that read "[Detroit manager] Jim Leyland is my Tiger" and eat a pizza from Lil' Caesars.
2005 World Series: Chicago White Sox Vs. Houston Astros
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When the White Sox swept the Astros, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley earned from Houston Mayor Bill White two round-trip tickets to Houston to attend the Art Car Parade, a two-night stay at the Hilton hotel, theater tickets and meals at top Houston restaurants.
Had the Astros won, Daley would have forfeited such goodies as a Chicago Bulls jersey autographed by Michael Jordan, a Fender Stratocaster guitar autographed by blues legend Buddy Guy, a hand-tailored suit from Oxxford Clothing and a bevy of Chicago food.
Daley cleaned up during that post-season. After Chicago's ALDS victory over the Boston Red Sox he earned from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino a lobster dinner for four at Legal Seafoods, Dunkin' Donuts donuts and coffee, Sam Adams Colonial Ale and Boston cream pie.
And from Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle following Chicago's ALCS win against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Daley received Sunkist California oranges, merchandise from Disneyland’s 50th anniversary and a script autographed by cast members of the TV show The OC.
2004 World Series: Boston Red Sox Vs. St. Louis Cardinals
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Led by MVP Manny Ramirez, the Red Sox first World Series championship since 1918 brought a friendly wager treasure trove to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino from St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.
Slay's package included Anheuser-Busch products, St. Louis delicacy Toasted Ravioli, Bissinger Chocolate, plus everything he won in his previous wagers in the post-season, including: sweet treats from Mayor James Hahn of Los Angeles and three dozen hot tamales from Mayor Bill White of Houston.
Had he lost, Menino was ready to part with a portrait of Ted Williams from Crump, McCole Gallery in South Boston, dinner at Legal Seafoods, ten lbs. of Pearl Country Club frankfurters, a case of Sam Adams Boston Lager, 11 lbs. of Dunkin' Donuts coffee and 11 Boston Kreme Donuts.
The Red Sox victory also netted Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy a steak lunch for Kennedy's entire staff at a Mike Shannon's restaurant in St. Louis from Missouri Sen. Kit Bond.
2003 World Series: New York Yankees Vs. Florida Marllns
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The Marlins took out the Yankees in six games, bringing joy to South Florida and a winning friendly wager for Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz.
His stash from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg included: cheese cake from Junior's of Brooklyn, pastrami sandwiches from the 2nd Avenue Deli in Manhattan, Peking duck from Peking House in Queens, lobsters from Filippo’s in Staten Island and roast pork from El Molino Rojo in The Bronx.
Behind MVP Josh Beckett, the Marlins saved Diaz the expense of having to send to Bloomberg booty that would have included stone crabs and Key Lime pie from Monty's in Coconut Grove, Cuban sandwiches from Versailles in Little Havana, Churrasco steaks from Nicaraguan Restaurant Los Ranchos and an assortment of rums and spirits from Bacardi.
2002 World Series: San Francisco Giants Vs. Anaheim Angels
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This intrastate battle went seven games in favor of MVP Troy Glaus and the Angels, giving Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly bragging rights over San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.
Daly had already earned via the Angels' ALCS win over the Minnesota Twins local beer, tea and Pillsbury flour from Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak as well as a gondola ride due to the Angels' ALDS win over the Oakland A's, courtesy of Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown.
San Francisco's Brown initially did not participate in post-season friendly wagers, saying he had been praying for the success of the Giants and was purposely avoiding wagering because it was "against the Lord's wishes."
Daly may have convinced Brown to change his mind when he said, "Well, we have Angels on our side."
After losing the wager, San Francisco sent a local family on an all-expenses-paid trip to Anaheim.
In addition, Brown, who was famous for his love of hats, had to wear for a day at City Hall a Gene Autry-style cowboy hat in honor of the Angels former owner.
1998 World Series: New York Yankees Vs. San Diego Padres
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New York Gov. George Pataki's wager included Coney Island hot dogs and a New York pizza pie.
California Gov. Pete Wilson countered with San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium's popular fish tacos and a pizza from world-famous chef Wolfgang Puck.
The fish tacos and Puck pizza headed to New York after Scott Brosius' three-run homer in the eighth inning sealed the Yankees' four-game sweep over the Padres.
1993 World Series: Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Philadelphia Phillies
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Perhaps one of the strangest friendly wagers in World Series history.
Pete Hoskins, president/CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo, put up some of the Zoo's extremely rare, yet-to-be-born white lion cubs against a pair of Tasmanian devils in a bet with the Toronto Metro Zoo.
Joe Carter's three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth of Game 6 enabled Toronto to claim its prize.
According to reports, the three cubs were sent to the Toronto Zoo the following summer.
1992 World Series: Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Atlanta Braves
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This may have been the first World Series friendly wager that was literally made out of this world.
Among the astronauts in orbit during a ten-day mission aboard the space shuttle Columbia was Canadian native Steve MacLean.
The mission coincided with the Blue Jays becoming the first non-U.S.-based team to reach the World Series. MacLean wore a Blue Jays cap and among what reports said were several friendly wagers was that the U.S.-born astronauts on board would have to don the cap should Toronto win.
With no TV on the shuttle, McLean learned from ground controllers that Dave Winfield's extra-base hit in the 11th inning of Game 6 gave the Blue Jays a World Series title.
1986 World Series: New York Mets Vs. Boston Red Sox
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Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn was one strike away from winning his friendly wager with New York Mayor Edward Koch when fate, and Bill Buckner, stepped in.
A ground ball hit by Mookie Wilson (pictured) went through first baseman Buckner's legs, and the error in the bottom of the 10th inning enabled the Mets to win Game 6.
When the Mets captured the Series in Game 7, Flynn sent Koch victory crocks of Boston baked beans and New England clam chowder. He also agreed to fly a New York Mets flag above Boston City Hall for a week.
Barry Janoff can be contacted at editor@NYSportsJournalism.com or http://www.NYSportsJournalism.com
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