Gov. Parris N. Glendening challenged his Republican counterpart in New York yesterday to put up or clam up over the outcome of the Orioles-Yankee series.
New York Gov. George E. Pataki did both.
Glendening, he of the baseball ties, wagered a bushel of Maryland blue crabs that the Orioles will win the best-of-seven series against the Yankees for the American League championship.
Pataki wasted no time in agreeing to the bet, backing it with the promise of a bushel of Long Island hard-shell clams -- "steam-ehs" in New York parlance -- that the Yanks will prevail.
"I'm looking forward to receiving a bushel of hard-shell clams from Governor Pataki," said Glendening, who made the wager during a pre-game interview on a New York radio station.
"We know it will be a tough, challenging series, and we are confident that our Orioles will be successful and earn their rightful place in the World Series," he said.
Pataki, of course, expressed his confidence in the Bronx Bombers.
"I have no doubt that the Yankees' perfect combination of seasoned veterans and brilliant young talent will send Dave Johnson's Orioles to an early tee time on the golf course," Pataki said.
Since Sept. 21, Glendening has been wearing ties with a baseball theme.
He vowed then to return to his predictable red ones with the diagonal stripes only after the O's won the World Series or the season ended -- whichever came first.
Glendening spokesman Ray Feldmann suggested that the governor's neckwear pledge has something to do with the Orioles' success.
"Think about it: Since then, they won eight out of the next 13 games," Feldmann said.
"They clinched a wild-card berth and defeated Cleveland, three games to one, to win a slot in the American League championship against the New York Yankees," he said. "All that since the 21st of September -- and look where we are now."
Pub Date: 10/10/96
