D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay Have Flag Wager Over Nationals-Cardinals Series Win

WASHINGTON -- District of Columbia voting rights advocates have a small stake in the Nationals beating the St. Louis Cardinals in the current National League division series. If the Nationals win, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay will fly D.C.'s "Taxation Without Representation" flag over his city hall.

If the Cardinals win, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray will fly the St. Louis "Three Rivers" flag over the John A. Wilson Building on Pennsylvania Avenue, the seat of the D.C. government.

"The Cardinals entered the playoffs as a wild-card team last year," Slay said in a statement released by Gray's office Tuesday morning. "And that led to the organization's 11th World Series victory. We're no stranger to postseason play in St. Louis. So, we're thrilled to show the upstarts how to do it right. I look forward to our City's flag flying proudly over the John A. Wilson Building when our boys wrap this thing up."

Gray said in the statement: "The Nationals' storybook season and our first Major League Baseball postseason play in nearly 80 years mark a momentous time for the District of Columbia, and I'm proud to be playing a great and historic team from wonderful sports city like St. Louis. I look forward to the citizens of the City of St. Louis getting a lesson not only on the baseball diamond when the Nats take the series, but also in the uniquely unjust situation in which the District's 618,000-plus residents find ourselves -- denied voting representation in Congress and ultimate authority over our own budget and affairs -- when our flag flies over Market Street in downtown St. Louis!"

The Nationals lost to the Cardinals in St. Louis on Monday night after a win on Sunday. The tied National League division series resumes Wednesday at Nationals Park.