Kansas City and San Francisco make friendly wagers over the World Series

Top officials of the San Francisco Zoo will stand in front of their lion exhibit with signs that say, “The Royals won and we’re swallowing our pride,” if the Royals win their World Series showdown with the Giants.

If it should go the other way, Kansas City Zoo director Randy Wisthoff and his top staff will stand in front of the sea lion pool with signs that say, “We’re not lion: The Giants beat us fair and square.”

It’s one of a handful of friendly wagers between the two cities that are charged with pride in their teams.

The cities’ leading public research universities also have stakes in the series. Leo E. Morton, chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has a bet with Sam Hawgood, chancellor of the San Francisco campus of the University of California.

If the Giants win, Morton will send Hawgood a rack of Kansas City barbecue ribs and a CD of “The Gates BBQ Suite” by Bobby Watson, head of the jazz studies program at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance.

If the Royals win, Hawgood will send Morton a sample of Napa Valley wines and cheeses from Sonoma as well as a gift basket celebrating the upcoming opening of the UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay.

Mid-Continent Public Library Director Steve Potter has a deal with the San Francisco Public Library, the Sacramento Pubic Library and the Marin County Free Library. If the Giants win, Potter will send monetary donations to those libraries’ foundations or reading funds.

If the Royals win, those libraries will send money to Mid-Continent’s Summer Reading Endowment.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James and San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee have a wager that involves public service as well as barbecue and sourdough bread. If the Giants win, James will go to San Francisco to serve meals to the homeless. He will also sing with the Glide Ensemble and Change Band.

If the Royals win, Lee will come to Kansas City and read to local students as part of the Turn the Page KC reading initiative. Lee has also agreed to wear a Kansas City bow tie — a James signature look — for an entire day at the next U.S. Conference of Mayors gathering.

This story was originally published October 21, 2014 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Kansas City and San Francisco make friendly wagers over the World Series."