Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2000

Release #408-00

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Contact:

Sunny Mindel / Curt Ritter: 212-788-2958
Derrick Johnson: 212-931-7878 (Major League Baseball)

MAYOR GIULIANI AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LAUNCH SUBWAY SERIES WITH PROCLAMATION FOR "PLEDGE YOUR ALLEGIANCE" WEEK

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Major League Baseball (MLB) Executive Vice President Tim Brosnan today launched "Pledge Your Allegiance" week in recognition of New York City's first Subway Series in 44 years.

Beginning Friday, October 20, Mayor Giuliani and MLB are encouraging fans to pledge their support for either the New York Mets or the New York Yankees by wearing their favorite team's garb to work, school and at home during the course of the World Series. The Mayor also announced that the City would host a Subway Series Pep Rally tomorrow evening at 4:30 PM in Bryant Park in honor of the two teams.

"As we prepare for the first Subway Series in 44 years, sports fans around New York City are declaring allegiances to their favorite home team," said Mayor Giuliani. "Today, I am calling on all New Yorkers, Mets and Yankees fans alike, to pledge their allegiance, and show their support for their favorite team by wearing their team's garb for the remainder of the World Series. It is often said that the Mayor of New York City wears many hats, while this may be true, I can assure you that for the duration of this World Series I'll be wearing a Yankees hat."

The "Pledge Your Allegiance" initiative will be supported locally by official media partners WFAN, WABC, Z100, MEGA 97.9, Radio Disney, The Daily News, The New York Post, and El Diario. Radio stations will reward fans on-air for showing their support with World Series tickets and merchandise awarded by spotters patrolling New York City. MLB Productions also produced a 30-second "Pledge Your Allegiance" Subway Series spot spoofing election season that will air nationally on FOX and in-stadium during the Series.

Over the course of the week, fans will see New York City transformed, as Major League Baseball teams with the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and official sponsors Mastercard, Fleet, Gatorade, Anheuser-Busch and Pepsi to brand city buses, subway train interiors and stations with nearly 5,000 print advertisements for the Subway Series. Four specially designated "4" and "7" subway trains will also be "wrapped" with Subway Series marks.

"Major League Baseball is excited to join Mayor Giuliani and our business partners to kick off the Subway Series with the Pledge of Allegiance campaign for what we expect will be one of the all-time greatest World Series for the fans of New York and baseball fans everywhere," said Mr. Brosnan. "The tremendous buzz in New York is a reflection of the renaissance baseball is enjoying throughout the country - we set a single season attendance record this year and merchandise sales are on the upswing."

In addition, world-renowned contemporary artist Peter Max has been named the official artist of the 2000 World Series. Mr. Max will create official art and other collectibles, including limited edition graphics, canvases, posters, T-shirts and more. He will also put his personal touch on World Series 2000 painted baseballs, bats and helmets.

 

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