Yankees-Red Sox MLB Playoffs Spark New York Vs. Massachusetts Clam Chowder Challenge

Loser To ‘Clam Up’ After MLB Playoff Series

While the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox battle it out in the MLB Division Series, a challenge has been placed between New York and Massachusetts politicians, with the bet being clam chowder.

Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony D’Esposito has agreed to a wager a bowl of chowder with Massachusetts State Representative Bradford Hill over the Yankees-Red Sox winner.

If the Yankees win, Hill will have to have a bowl of Manhattan chowder, while if the series goes to the Red Sox, D’Esposito has to down a bowl of New England clam chowder. The loser must also wear the opposing team’s ballcap while eating the chowder.

Chowder will also be donated to a regional food pantry.

D’Esposito has put up Long Island’s famous Peter’s Clam Bar and Hill is representing The Clam Box, located in Ipswich, which is known as the “Home of the Ipswich Fried Clam.”

The chowder battles between New Yorkers and New Englanders are almost as “heated” as that of the Yankees and Red Sox. People from New York like their red tomato-based Manhattan chowder while in New England it’s white.

The New England states have actually debated legislation over the years to outlaw tomato use in chowder, which is the signature ingredient for New York’s Manhattan Clam Chowder. Peter’s Clam Bar, a 75-year old clam house, is widely regarded as Long Island’s best Manhattan Clam Chowder. The Clam Box, a critically acclaimed clam restaurant, is a nationally recognized approximately 30 miles north of Boston.

“New York never backs down and I am always pumped to see our teams fighting for the win. We are the home of 27 World Series Championships and where the Great Bambino, Babe Ruth, played his best baseball. I can’t wait to see Red Sox Fans eating our-famous red Manhattan Clam Chowder, after we march past Boston to the ALCS and ultimately the world series – in Yankees style,” said Anthony D’Esposito, Councilman, Town of Hempstead.

“The Boston Red Sox are going to take this series, so we in Boston stand behind our team and are ready to take it to the Yankees. The Red Sox are going to bring back the World Series to its rightful home here in Boston. New England Clam Chowder is the best and the original, that’s a truth that we all know, and so the City of Boston looks forward to whooping New York twice by this series end,” said Massachusetts Representative Bradford Hill.