Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced the doubling of their “friendly wager” on the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox American League Championship Series.  The best-of-seven series is tied at two games each and continues this afternoon at Fenway Park before returning to Yankee Stadium for Game 6 and possibly a Game 7.

“We have seen some great baseball over the last week, a true ‘Fall Classic,’” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “We have also seen some ugliness on the field that no one wants to see repeated.  Mayor Menino and I hope that the extra-curricular activities are behind us and are looking forward to watching baseball the way it was meant to be played.  I know that when the series returns to the Bronx tomorrow, no New Yorker will do anything to take away from our great victory as we advance to the World Series and send the Red Sox home for the winter.”

In the unlikely event that the Yankees lose the series, Mayor Bloomberg will send twice as many New York City delicacies to Boston:

• 2 quarts of Manhattan clam chowder from Lundy Brothers in Sheepshead Bay;
  
• 2 large pizzas from Denino’s in Port Richmond;
  
• 2 dozen dumplings from Joe’s Shanghai in Chinatown;
  
• 2 dozen bagels from Slim’s in Bayside;
  
• 2 orders of Bistec Encebollado (steak with onions) from Jimmy’s Bronx Café.
  
• 2 dozen “Baby Ruth” bars

“It is time to end the sideshow and put the spotlight back where it belongs - on the baseball diamond,” said Mayor Menino.  “Mayor Bloomberg and I trust that these storied rivals will compete fiercely, and that they will set good examples for fans of all ages.   And when the Sox vanquish the Yankees, I will relish receiving Mayor Bloomberg's tokens of this ‘shuttle series.’”

Mayor Menino has agreed to double his wager of a Legal Seafoods clambake of lobsters, steamers, linguica and “REAL” clam chowder from four to eight servings.