Thou art wrapped warmly and worthy of wait.
Rough swings do shake the aspiring bats of May,
And summer’s delights become victims of fate.
Dodger Dogs will never be the same.
Farmer John hot dogs are no longer being served at Dodger Stadium. They have been replaced. This will not end well.
When the Dodgers decided to limit making grilled hot dogs, boiling them instead at all but two locations in the stadium, Dodger fans did not respond kindly.
It took three innings of waiting in line for a grilled hot dog. Fans did it. They were in no mood to settle for a boiled Dodger Dog and it took years for fans to relent and accept the Dodgers were not changing their minds on this.
It didn’t take long for fans to realize that Dodger Dogs in 2021 are not the same. After being away from Dodger Stadium for more than a year, fans were welcomed back without a familiar friend waiting for them at the concession stands.
Farmer John was out.
The backlash was swift. It is being received as well as the Pedro Martinez trade. It is a bigger loss than when Jackie Robinson retired. It is sadder than Sandy Koufax’s last start. It leaves a void bigger than Vin Scully's voice calling Dodger games.
Dodger fans have fond memories of Dodger Dogs.
None of them are warranted. Dodger Dogs are the most overrated hot dog in baseball. The Fenway Frank is in the running for the worst hot dog in baseball. But there are none that come close.
However, baseball stadiums have offered some interesting and creative hot dogs over the years. Here are some of worst:
The Everything Dog (Braves)
This hot dog is a foot long and has popcorn on it. Popcorn. It has cheese, jalapenos and tortilla chips too. But popcorn?
Cracker Jack and Mac Dog (Pirates)
Everything in the song Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and then some, is on this hot dog. In addition to Cracker Jack, it has mac and cheese, fried pickle jalapenos, and caramel sauce. I don’t care if I ever get one.
Most Valuable Tamale (Rangers)
This is a hot dog stuffed in a tamale. Why does Texas hate hot dogs and tamales? Why ruin two delicious foods with one monstrosity?
Chicken Enchilada Dog (Diamondbacks)
It wasn’t enough that the Rangers ruined tamales. The Diamondbacks attacked enchiladas with the same energy. Black olives, sour cream and pico de gallo have no business being on a hot dog.
Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs (Rockies)
No one wants to know what’s in a hot dog. It is the most disgusting parts of pigs and cows. But the Rockies decided to make hot dogs with reindeer, bear, rattlesnake and pheasant. TMI. Hot dogs are meant to be enjoyed without this much detail.
Cincinnati Cheese Coney Dog (Astros)
Talk about an identity crisis. Houston serves its fans food from another bad baseball city. Astros fans can choose a Georgia Dog and a New York Dog too. Houston sounds like it’s such a horrible city, Astro fans need to vicariously live in other places through their hot dogs.
Sunrise Dog (Royals)
This is brunch in a bun. It has eggs, bacon, cheese and sausage gravy. Sounds great for a PTA meeting, not a baseball game.
Halo Dog (Angels)
It has bacon, charro beans, Jack cheese and pico de gallo and might be the only thing the Angels do better than the Dodgers.
The Dodger Dog is fondly embraced by Dodger fans. But it is by no means the best hot dog in baseball. They are simple, nonthreatening, warm and friendly. They are everything Los Angeles isn’t. Maybe that’s why Dodger Dogs are so well-liked. They filled fans with feelings that are hard to find in some parts of L.A.
Let’s hope the new Dodger Dogs stir up those same feelings and don't jinx a team that just won its first World Series in 32 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment