Oct 26, 2009 1:46 pm US/Eastern
NY, Pa. Senators Wager Cheesesteaks, Cheesecakes
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Senator Kristen Gillibrand
U.S. House of Representatives
Will it be cheesesteaks or cheesecakes?
The U.S. senators representing the states of Pennsylvania and New York are betting local delicacies in a friendly wager over the World Series.
If the Yankees win, Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand will get a supply of Philadelphia cheesesteaks.
If the Philadelphia Phillies win, Sens. Arlen Specter and Robert Casey will get some cheesecakes from Junior's.
There are higher stakes to another food bet. If the Yankees lose, New York City's Hunts Point Terminal Market will donate a truckload of local produce to a Philadelphia food bank. If the Phillies lose, the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market will send food to a New York City food bank.
Both teams begin their World Series showdown on Wednesday night in New York.
Meanwhile, Yankees gear is flying off the shelves, providing a boost to the local economy.
"I'm very excited. It's going to be a tough series. I think they're gonna go six, but I think the Yankees are gonna do it," said fan John Aloi.
The highly anticipated matchup set the stage for a big boost to the local economy.
Modell's Sporting Goods in Times Square gambled with racks and shelves of pre-ordered products, and remained open all night. For them, the risk paid off, from the t-shirts to the toy bats.
Analysts estimate that every Yankees post season home game generates about $12 million for local businesses, which includes money spent on transportation, dining and retail merchandising.
"I have season tickets, so I'm always there. And I came in just for a hat on Monday, and I got a lot more than that," said fan David Paul.
It's a welcomed trickle down effect for the cottage industry that continues to thrive on the success of the most expensive team in baseball.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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