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Cardinal, archbishop make World Series wager

Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) – Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York have placed a friendly wager on the outcome of the 2009 World Series.

The two longtime friends spoke the evening of Oct. 27 to settle the terms of the bet. If the Phillies win, Archbishop Dolan will ship a dozen bagels to the City of Brotherly Love; if the Yankees prevail, Cardinal Rigali will send a box of Tastykakes to the Big Apple.

“Cardinal Rigali is one of my closest and dearest friends; for several years he even served as my archbishop so I feel a particular loyalty to him. I know he has exquisite taste in most matters. I just wish he had better taste in baseball teams,” Archbishop Dolan said in a statement.

Archbishop Dolan was ordained a priest of the St. Louis Archdiocese in 1976, and from 1994 to 2003 then-Archbishop Rigali was head of the archdiocese. The New York archbishop also was an auxiliary bishop in St. Louis, 2001-02.

“I have great esteem for Archbishop Dolan. He is a gifted spiritual leader who has been a true friend for many years,” Cardinal Rigali said in a statement. “That is why I am so sorry he will be disappointed when the Phillies successfully defend their world championship. We have the cream cheese ready for the bagels that I know will be arriving shortly after the repeat in the City of Brotherly and Sisterly Love.”

Oddsmakers say the Yankees are favored to win their 27th World Series title, but the reigning champions, the Phillies, prevailed over the Yankees 6-1 in the first game of this series. The Yankees evened the series Thursday night with a 3-1 victory behind starting pitcher A. J. Burnett.

The two teams resume play Saturday and Sunday nights in Philadelphia.

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