Friday evening, the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in the first game of the World Series. In the best-of-seven series, the ultimate victor must win four games. But there\u2019s another friendly wager taking place beyond the ballpark.<\/p>\n
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson have announced a challenge that could leave the losing mayor wearing the opposing city\u2019s team jersey around town.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a communal benefit, though, beyond sheer bragging rights.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re challenging our cities to turn all this baseball enthusiasm into something good for our neighbors,\u201d Welch said in a social media announcement.<\/p>\n
Both mayors are encouraging their cities to raise money for community organizations, with the mayor whose city raises less agreeing to wear the opposing team\u2019s jersey and publicly congratulate the winning city.<\/p>\n
For St. Pete, the beneficiary is St. Pete Free Clinic, one of Pinellas County\u2019s largest providers of food assistance. The organization helps thousands of residents access nutritious food and healthcare. Milwaukee is supporting seven local homeless shelters through United Way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a win-win in a lot of ways,\u201d Welch told the Catalyst.<\/p>\n
The two mayors share similar priorities, particularly when it comes to housing and addressing the everyday needs of residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cMayor Welch and myself are both part of the United States Conference of Mayors,\u201d Johnson told the Catalyst. \u201cWe decided to connect and put our staff together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson said the challenge was about more than baseball or the prospect of wearing an opposing team\u2019s jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was most important to me and Mayor Welch is how we can make an impact off the field,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cNot just wearing opposing jerseys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both mayors have emphasized housing as a priority, with Johnson declaring 2026 Milwaukee\u2019s year of housing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I\u2019ve tried to tell people since I\u2019ve been mayor: People are people, no matter where you are,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cAll of us face the same challenges. It\u2019s just a matter of scale.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed to the natural disasters St. Petersburg has faced and the significant rainfall Milwaukee has experienced this year \u2013 which caused many basements to flood \u2013 as examples of similar struggles.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can be a thousand miles away, but we face the same sort of challenges,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a good synergy between his approach and mine,\u201d Welch noted.<\/p>\n
The mayors have also pledged to exchange gifts showcasing their respective cities. Welch\u2019s collection includes contributions from St. Pete businesses, artists and cultural organizations, including Kahwa Coffee, the Dal\u00ed Museum, Green Bench Brewing Company and the St. Pete Youth Farm.<\/p>\n
Johnson is no stranger to St. Petersburg. A big WWE fan, he has visited the city and relished its unique characteristics.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy family really enjoyed being down in St. Petersburg,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cMy wife and I spent so much time walking on the beach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Welch, in turn, has been a fan of Milwaukee craftsmanship long before the Rays faced the Brewers. He owns a Milwaukee-made, blacked-out Harley-Davidson Road King Special motorcycle, a longtime dream he fulfilled after taking office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids got a puppy, and I got a Harley,\u201d Welch said.<\/p>\n
If the Brewers win, Welch will ride his motorcycle around St. Pete wearing a Brewers jersey. Conversely, if the Rays win, Johnson will wear a Rays jersey, walk along the Milwaukee RiverWalk and light up a Milwaukee bridge in Rays colors.<\/p>\n
Johnson, however, isn\u2019t particularly worried about having to fulfill his end of the bargain.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very confident we will not have to follow through,\u201d he said, while suggesting Welch might have gotten the better end of the deal: \u201cHe\u2019s a fan of Milwaukee already with his love of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, so Welch has gotten off easy,\u201d Johnson joked.<\/p>\n
The World Series marks a moment of celebration for St. Petersburg after the city repaired Tropicana Field and brought the Rays back home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to the game on Monday. It\u2019s an exciting time. The Trop will be rocking. It was a good game last night. The Brewers are the real deal, but I\u2019m hoping we win this thing in the fifth game,\u201d Welch said.<\/p>\n
The mayor has emphasized the stadium\u2019s importance as both a home for baseball and an economic driver for the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t imagine where we would be if we didn\u2019t make the decision to fix the Trop,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The World Series gives both teams a chance to make history. Neither franchise has won a championship, adding more stakes and excitement to a matchup that has brought two cities together for a charitable cause.<\/p>\n
Regardless of which team takes home the trophy, the mayors say their communities have an opportunity to come out ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the field, the stakes are high, but between mayors, it\u2019s a friendly wager,\u201d Johnson said in the city\u2019s announcement. \u201cBy incorporating a charitable element, everyone in both cities is a winner during this World Series.\u201d<\/p>\n