Washington - Opening day for Major League Baseball brings to millions a host of familiar sights, sounds and smells: the vibrant green of the outfield, the crack of a bat and, yes, the enticing aroma of hot dogs.
When the umpire calls out "Play ball!" for the first time next week, he may as well also call out "Get your hot dog!" for the opening day of baseball season is also the opening day of hot dog season. These two American pastimes have been together since the turn of the century and the hand in glove relationship continues to score big.
In fact, it is estimated that baseball fans will eat "in the ballpark" of 26 million hot dogs this season, enough to circle the bases 36,000 times. This means that nearly four of every ten fans will eat a hot dog at a major league stadium. That's hitting .379. Not bad considering last year's batting champion -- San Diego's Tony Gwynn -- hit .372.
Yet with the expansion of menu items at ballparks, one might expect the hot dog's prevalence to wane. In a survey of major league ballparks conducted by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council this year, 86 percent of respondents identified hot dogs as their most popular menu item. Other sausages, including Italian, Polish and bratwurst, came in a close second.
Although hot dogs continue to be All Star MVPs, the way fans enjoy them varies from city to city. For example, at Chicago's Wrigley Field, where it is rumored that a city ordinance exists against eating hot dogs with ketchup, the traditional Chicago Dog, featuring diced tomatoes, dill pickles, relish and hot peppers on a poppy seed bun is the dog of choice. Other preferences include Philadelphia's taste for hot dogs in potato rolls and San Francisco's love affair with sour dough buns.
Who will eat the most hot dogs this year? Dodger Stadium, leading the way with its ever popular Dodger Dog, will sell more than 2.2 million hot dogs this year, followed closely by the Indians' Jacobs Field at just over 2 million. By contrast, Milwaukee County Stadium, home of the Brewers, will stand as the only stadium to sell more variety sausages than hot dogs this year.
Any way you top it, millions of Americans this year will be enjoying this great American pastime while cheering for their local baseball heroes. "Batter up! Hot dog on deck!"
This survey was conducted by mail to 30 major league ballparks between January-March 1998. Fourteen ballparks provided annual consumption data. Estimated 1998 hot dog consumption was calculated using 1997 attendance figures at those ballparks to determine the per person consumption average. This was then applied to an estimated attendance figure for 1998.
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council is a project of the AMI Foundation and is funded by contributions from hot dog and sausage manufacturers and those who supply them with equipment, ingredients and services. Established in 1994, the Council conducts scientific research to benefit hot dog and sausage manufacturers. The Council also serves as an information resource to consumers and media on questions related to quality, safety, nutrition and preparation of hot dogs and sausages.
The AMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, education and information that benefit the meat and poultry industry. Originally created in 1944, the AMI Foundation today solicits grants from government, industry and other organizations to fund a broad range of food safety, worker safety, nutrition and consumer information projects.
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