The Houston Astros World Series win over the Philadelphia Phillies in early November was a celebration for the city of Houston and a taste of sweet victory for METRO.

Ahead of the championship, METRO and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) leaders agreed to a friendly wager on the outcome of the big game. 

An Astros loss would mean SEPTA would send TastyKakes, an iconic Philadelphia snack, and Phillies jerseys for METRO Board Chair Sanjay Ramabhadran and President & CEO Tom Lambert to wear at the Authority's next Board meeting. 

Both sides were passionate about their hometown teams. A bit of competitive banter between transit agencies even made it to social media! In the end, however, it was SEPTA that had to pay up.

Both sides were passionate about their hometown teams. A bit of competitive banter between transit agencies even made it to social media! 

At SEPTA’s November Board meeting, agency leaders begrudgingly wore Astros jerseys provided by METRO. SEPTA Chair Pasquale Deon Sr. donned an Astros team jersey emblazoned with the words "Space City" across his chest. At the same time, General Manager & CEO Leslie Richards sported an Astros alternate navy-blue getup. METRO also shipped Texas pecan baskets to our friends in the City of Brotherly Love, but the nutty confections did little to ease the sting of the loss.

"Please understand how painful this is to me, but a bet is a bet. It would have been sweeter being on the other side of this bet, but here we are," said Richards. "I've always been a Phillies fan, and after a couple of tough years with COVID, I'm really proud of how they got this city excited again."

A few days later, in a demonstration of true sportsmanship, SEPTA went one step further, sending dozens of boxes of TastyKake snacks to METRO.

A few days later, in a demonstration of true sportsmanship, SEPTA went one step further, sending dozens of boxes of TastyKake snacks to METRO.

METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert thanked SEPTA for being good sports, adding that the real winners are the nation's transit workers who ensure people can get to essential destinations every day.

"I want to thank our friends at SEPTA for a very fun bit of wagering during the World Series. But we look forward to doing it again."

Watch Video: Philly fans pay up after losing World Series Wager.