Mayor Rawlings-Blake Makes Friendly ALCS Wager with Kansas City Mayor Sly James

City leaders face-off as Orioles, Royals begin American League Championship Series

BALTIMORE, Md. (October 10, 2014)—Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake offered a wager to Mayor Sly James of Kansas City, Missouri, as the two cities' Major League Baseball teams prepare to face off in the first match of the American League Championship Series (ALCS).

"Our Orioles will take the ALCS," projected Mayor Rawlings-Blake. "This gritty, resilient team—in true Baltimore City fashion—has time and time again refused to give up. The Kansas City Royals are a strong team, and they can beat you in a number of ways, but never underestimate the Orioles because 'We Wont Stop!'"

When the Baltimore Orioles win the ALCS series—as they will—Mayor Rawlings-Blake challenged Mayor James to do all of the following:

• Record a video, dressed in full Baltimore Orioles gear, to congratulate the team and the residents of Baltimore City; the video will be released on Mayor James' YouTube channel, all of Mayor James' social media platforms, and on Kansas City's website, kcmo.gov
• Light the City Hall of Kansas City in orange until the World Series begins
• Rename Kansas City's Baltimore Avenue to "Baltimore Orioles Avenue" until the World Series begins
• Donate indoor fitness balls and jump ropes to Baltimore City Recreation and Parks in an effort to promote physical fitness among youth at our community centers
• Send Mayor Rawlings-Blake a President's Tray from Kansas City's famous Gates Bar-B-Q

If the Kansas City Royals are so lucky to win the series, Mayor James has challenged Mayor Rawlings-Blake to do the following:

• Rename the city's blue crab cakes to "Royal blue crab cakes" until the World Series ends and send some to his office
• Travel to Kansas City and read to local students as part of Turn the Page, Kansas City's third grade reading initiative
• Post an online video of her singing John Long's parody version of recording artist Lorde's hot single "Royals"

Additionally, in order to show the city's support for the Baltimore Orioles, Mayor Rawlings-Blake has renamed Mt. Royal Avenue to "Orioles Way." This year marks the Baltimore Orioles' first ALCS appearance since 1997.

To view Mayor Rawlings-Blake's ALCS challenge to Mayor James, visit youtu.be/_0Q1THvgzU0.