There are two lines for Dodger Dog vendors: steamed or grilled. Usually, the people selling grilled dogs are near the back wall of the stadium so that the smoke doesn’t bother the baseball fans. The grilled Dogs are considered the “classic” version. Until 2021, they were known as “Farmer John Dodger Dogs”. Beginning with the 2021 MLB season, the famous “Dodger Dog” will be brought to Dodger Stadium by Papa Cantellas of Vernon, California.
The success of the Dodger Dog has spawned a small chain of restaurants in the Southern California area. One such restaurant named Dodger Dogs can be found in Universal City, California. The Dodger Dog also comes in a version called the Super Dodger Dog, which is made of beef instead of pork. Dodger Dogs may have been called “Dodger Dogs” for the first time in 1958, when the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Dodger Dog wieners are also sold to the public in Southern California supermarkets under the Farmer John brand. The Dodgers started serving a Mexican-themed “Doyer Dog” in 2011. It is made with chili, salsa, jalapeños, and other toppings instead of the usual ketchup and mustard on a hot dog.
The Oklahoma City Dodgers play their home games at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Dodger Dog is also served there. There is a food stand called the “Dog Pound” that sells hot dogs from stadiums across the country, like the Fenway Frank, the Cincinnati Cheese Coney, the Milwaukee Brat, and the Red Hot Chicago Dog. The Dodger Dog was not served at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers’ spring training park, during the first day of the team’s training. For 2010 Spring Training, this was changed, and the Dodger Dog was now either steamed or cooked on a hot dog roller.
During his 29 years (1962–1991) as the food concessions manager at Dodger Stadium, Thomas Arthur came up with the “Dodger Dog.” The 10-inch dog was first sold as a “Foot Long,” but Thomas Arthur decided that telling the truth in ads was the best way to go. He asked Walter O’Malley, who owned most of the Dodgers, if the hot dog could be called the “Dodger Dog.” Dodger fans ate it so often that actor Vincent Price wrote about how tasty it was in his cookbook, Treasury of Great Recipes. The 10-inch wiener was first made by the Morrell Meat Company, but Farmer John, who is one of the Dodgers’ main sponsors, quickly took over the market for hot dogs. Farmer John was purchased by Hormel in 2004. Farmer John was purchased from Hormel by Smithfield Foods in 2017. There was no new deal between Smithfield and the Dodgers in 2021, so the name Farmer John was taken off the product.
The famed Dodger Dog has been a star player at Dodgers Stadium for decades. This ballpark staple is as synonymous with the LA baseball experience as the Crack of the Bat and Seventh Inning Stretch. But diehard fans have long debated – are classic Dodger Dogs actually all beef franks as many assume? This inside look breaks down the ingredients history and popularity of the Dodger Dog.
Introducing the Dodgers Dog
The original Dodger Dog is a 10-inch long steamed hot dog made by Farmer John, served in a steamed bun branded with the Dodgers logo Farmer John has been the official Dodger Dog supplier for over 50 years. These pork franks are sold by vendors throughout the stadium and are a fixture of the Dodger menu
Unraveling the Mystery Meat
Here’s the big reveal – despite the name, traditional Dodger Dogs are not all beef. These iconic hot dogs are actually made from pork. Many fans assume they are ingesting an all-beef product, but pork has always been the star player.
Farmer John uses a mix of pork shoulder and trimmings along with lots of fat to produce the classic Dodger Dog. This pork blend contributes the signature juicy, robust flavor.
Healthier Beef Options Emerge
In recent years, Farmer John has expanded the Dodger Dog lineup to introduce new all-beef Dodger Dogs. This was likely in response to growing consumer demand for beef over pork dogs.
The pork original still reigns supreme, but fans looking for an all-beef substitute can now opt for the LA Extreme Beef Dodger Dog or other beef iterations. Vegetarian toppings and sauces are also now offered as alternative options.
By the Numbers: Dodger Dog Consumption
The Dodger Dog’s beefy-porky flavor has made it a fan favorite – Dodger Stadium sells over 2 million per season! They are cream of the crop when it comes to ballpark hot dogs.
On average, each Dodger game goes through about 50,000 buns as fans consume Dodger Dogs and other toppings-loaded hot dogs. That’s a lot of mustard, relish and onions!
Why Fans Love Dodger Dogs
Part of the mass appeal of Dodger Dogs is their accessibility. Unlike a lot of overpriced stadium fare, these hot dogs are relatively affordable at around $6-7. Given their size, that’s a bargain for fans.
The nostalgic factor is also huge. Generations of LA natives have grown up enjoying steamed Dodger Dogs at the ballpark. They are a comforting taste of childhood tradition.
And of course, people just love their flavor! The pork and steam combo create a mouthwatering juicy hot dog that’s hard to resist.
The Takeaway: An LA Icon
The quintessential Dodger Dog retains its crown as a flavorful pork and not beef frank. But the introduction of all-beef and plant-based versions reflects evolving consumer preferences. Regardless ofingredients, this LA staple remains a hometown hero.
Next time you bite into a Dodger Dog, you can impress your friends with insider knowledge that it’s likely a carefully crafted pork wiener. Unless of course you opt for the beefy imposter! Either way, this ballpark treat is an LA institution here to stay.
Dodger Dog: Farmer John no longer supplier of iconic ballpark treat
FAQ
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