Chicago, Cleveland mayors donate to youth baseball in honor of World Series

CHICAGO (FOX 32 Chicago) - The archbishops of Chicago and Cleveland bet on the World Series -- but the mayors did not.

However, both Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson have agreed to donate $1,000 each to youth baseball organizations in each other's cities.

Jackson's donation will benefit the Chicago Parks Foundation's "Playball" initiative. That group helps kids in Englewood, Humboldt Park and other neighborhoods learn how to play baseball.

Emanuel's donation will benefit "The Historic League Park," which serves as a baseball field and as the home of the Baseball Heritage Museum. For Mayor Emanuel, that is his Playball initiative run through the Chicago Parks Foundation, supporting youth baseball in Englewood, Humboldt Park and other neighborhoods.

"The recently concluded World Series was more than just a great show for the sport, it was a great show of sportsmanship," Mayor Emanuel said in a press release.

“Mayor Emanuel and I have agreed to give back to each other’s city in the same way our cities have been uplifted by the two best teams in professional baseball,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson in a press release.