An afternoon sitting behind home plate isn’t complete without a snack or three from the stadium concession stand. Even in baseball’s early days, mid-inning munchies were the norm, and while some snacks like tripe and onions have faded from popularity, these 15 ballpark eats are too classic to disappear.
Hot dogs are a baseball stadium staple, but they first became popular at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. The “dachshund sausages” were served with bread, making them easy to eat, and within the same year hot dogs became available at baseball games. Legend has it that Chris Von de Ahe, a German immigrant and owner of the St. Louis Browns baseball team, introduced the sausages into the stands in St. Louis. As for the name, hot dog historians are split on where it came from. One story credits New York Journal sports cartoonist Tad Dorgan, who drew a scene of stadium vendors selling the snack in 1901. Unsure of how to spell dachshund, Dorgan simply wrote “hot dog” as the caption. Another tale says the name comes from college towns in the 1890s, where “dog wagons” peddled hot dogs to students.
2. NACHOS
Kara via Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0
Nachos didn’t appear in ballpark concession stands until 1976, where Frank Liberto sold them at a Texas Rangers game. “The Father of Nachos” revolutionized baseball game snacks by creating a cheese sauce that could be served quickly from a pump and on the cheap. Liberto’s condensed cheese formula only required water and leftover juice from jalapeño toppings; this mixture doubled the amount of cheese and profits. Liberto initially had a hard time getting his cheese-covered chips into stadiums since concession operators feared nachos would be too successful and detract from other snack foods. Their fears were valid—the first year of offering nachos at Arlington Stadium brought in $800,000, compared to $85,000 in popcorn sales.
Baseball is considered a family-friendly sport, but that wasn’t the case during the late 19th century. During the summer of 1883, St. Louis Browns owner Chris Von der Ahe created his own league called the American Association, which offered cheap baseball games with readily available beer. Edward Achorn, author of The Summer of Beer and Whiskey, says Von der Ahe’s Sunday games helped many immigrants and baseball newcomers enjoy the sport. But the ample beer made crowds a little rowdy. “Fans would drink heavily. They would scream at the umpires. They would go out onto the field after games if they were upset and try to attack him.”
4. PRETZELS
In true American fashion, any portable, handheld snack shouldbe integrated into baseball culture, and large, sturdy pretzels were an obvious addition. Philadelphia lays claim to the first American soft pretzels, and considering the city’s hundreds of baseball clubs in the sport’s early days, it was inevitable that the street carts who sold these baked snacks to passersby would eventually end up selling them in the stadiums as well.
Peanuts are perhaps the mostclassicbaseball snack, and the reasoning dates back to the Civil War. During the early 1800s, peanuts were grown for livestock or oil, and considered a food only eaten by the poor. But during the long years of war, soldiers packed boiled peanuts as a cheap snack—theytasted better than hardtack and provided ample protein. After the war, street vendors peddled boiled peanuts, and roasted peanuts soon became a popular sporting game snack.
6. CRACKER JACK
John Shappell via Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Hot dogs weren’t the only baseball eats to star at the 1893 World’s Fair—Cracker Jack became popular there, too. The simple snack made from popcorn, peanuts, and molasses has become such a cultural icon that it can’t be replaced with similar brands. In 2004, Yankee Stadium made a failed attempt to replace Cracker Jack with Crunch 'N Munch. The switch only lasted a month.
Sugary "fairy floss" (as it was first called at the 1904 World’s Fair) is a simple arena treat at baseball games, circuses, and carnivals. But in 2015, vendors at the Texas Rangers Globe Life Park stadium decided to mess with a good thing, and tried to merge two staple snacks: cotton candy and hot dogs. Their “Sweet Spot Cotton Candy Dog” creation is a hot dog topped with cotton candy-infused mustard and a clump of the airy sweet. Some reviewers said the $10 concoction was "surprisingly delicious."
8. BARBECUE
Kevin Harber via Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Not every stadium offers burnt ends and pulled pork, but many stadiums in well-known barbecue cities such as Kansas City and Memphis offer up grilled and seasoned plates. And while some former athletes launch businesses or franchises far from the dugout, former Orioles player and two-time World Series champion Boog Powellstarted his own barbecue joint inside Camden Yards.
In the early days of baseball, many players chewed tobacco in the dugout and on the field. But in 1968, baseball legend Reggie Jackson began chewing sunflower seeds, and though he wasn't the first player to do so, his popularity helped make theroasted achenes a top choice amongst fans. Many players and fans who enjoy spitting during the game made the switch from tobacco to sunflower seeds, though this ballpark snack comes with its own safety hazards. In 1995, the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society declared “Sunflower Seed Finger” a new ailment caused by athletes reaching into their pockets with three fingers to grab seeds, stressing the pinky finger.
10. POPCORN
Popcorn is aclassic snack that isn’t going away anytime soon. At the 2015 All-Star Game, fans chowed down on an estimated 1,026,000 pounds of popcorn. And as a bonus, a stadium popcorn bucket can also act as a built-in mitt—game-goers have been known to catchfoul balls in their buckets of popcorn (or their beer).
Corn dogs are a deep-fried twist on the classic ballpark hot dog. But if you’re looking to take it a step further, head to the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field where you can buy a $25 corn dog called The D-Bat Dog. This jumbo, batter-covered frank is 18 inches long (three times the size of a traditional corn dog), packs a whopping 832 calories without any toppings, and has the added novelty of resembling a baseball bat.
12. ICE CREAM
Kevin Harber via Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
It's one of the better novelty items you can buy at the ballpark,and vendors have been dishing out soft serve in tiny novelty team helmets since around the early '70s. The Chicago White Sox stadium featured three-pound ice cream sundaes in oversized helmets in 2014, though the team’s marketing department encouraged fans to split the frosty treats.
Whether deep-fried or deep-brined, pickles have become a popular stadium snack. Beyond taking an inning or two to finish, pickles can help athletes (or overly exerted fans) recover from muscle cramps. But brined cucumbers also have another use—lending their name to baseball teams. The recently created Portland Pickles are a college summer league that received its name from an online poll.
14. COCA-COLA
Julie, Dave & Family via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0
Soda pairs perfectly with a hot dog or popcorn, and Coca-Cola even credits some of its success to baseball stadiums. During the late 1890s, Coca-Cola was only available from a soda fountain. Benjamin Thomas and Joseph Whitehead, two thirsty, frustrated fans, complained that they couldn’t enjoy a cold pop at baseball games, and they began bottling their own to take along. Realizing the potential, Thomas and Whitehead approached Coca-Cola and were granted rights to bottle and sell the cola nationwide. Now, not only is Coke a major concession stand seller, its logo and name are highly visible advertisements at stadiums across the country.
Mike Mozart via Flickr // CC BY 2.0
Like sunflower seeds, bubblegum is a baseball snack that started in the dugout before becoming popular in the stands. One of the most popular brands, Big League Chew, was started by Portland Mavericks pitchers Rob Nelson and Jim Bouton whoboth thought chewing tobacco was an unhealthy habit. Together, the pitchers spent two years trying to get the shredded chewing gum off the ground. The idea eventually caught on, and even tobacco-chewing players were urged to switch to gum by girlfriends and wives. Since there’s a lot of standing around and waiting in baseball, having a slightly healthier chew habit wasn’t such a bad idea.
All photos via iStock unless labeled otherwise.
FAQs
What is the most popular food item sold at a baseball game? ›
A hot dog is practically the mascot for baseball stadium food and pairs especially well with a cool beer in the hot summer sun (for the baseball fans of age, of course). Many different stadiums offer creative spins on the classic hot dog, with toppings such as chili, chips, or even a fried egg.
What is the easiest ballpark to hit a homerun in? ›What is the easiest MLB stadium to hit a home run in? Fenway Park's short dimensions ultimately help batters, but it's not the most home-run-heavy stadium in the league. That honor goes to Coors Field.
What ballpark gives up the most home runs? ›That honor goes to Coors Field. Even though it is the league's largest ballpark, the altitude in Denver helps sluggers get extra distance on their fly balls. So far in 2022, Coors Field ranks first in ESPN's MLB Park Factors for home runs, meaning it helps batters homer more than any other ballpark.
What kind of food do you eat at a baseball game? ›- Peanuts. A baseball staple, but just keep the serving size down to one cup. ...
- Frozen Yogurt. ...
- Hot dogs. ...
- Soft pretzels. ...
- Nachos. ...
- Cotton Candy.
- Chicken fingers.
- Cracker Jack. ...
- Soft-serve in anything other than a commemorative plastic helmet. ...
- Cheeseburger. ...
- Nachos. ...
- Hamburger. ...
- Cotton candy. ...
- Sunflower seeds. You're too close to your fellow fans to spit the shells out in a satisfying way, so all you're left with is a hassle.
- Miami Marlins. 8 of 30.
- Toronto Blue Jays. 7 of 30. ...
- Arizona Diamondbacks. 6 of 30. ...
- New York Yankees. 5 of 30. ...
- Boston Red Sox. 4 of 30. ...
- Detroit Tigers. 3 of 30. ...
- Atlanta Braves. 2 of 30. ...
- Chicago White Sox. 1 of 30. ...
Jason Kelce goes crazy with the Phanatic, chugs beer after
In 1987, Joey Meyer of the Triple-A Denver Zephyrs launched a moonshot into the second deck of Mile High Stadium. City of Denver engineer Jerry Tennyson was able to verify the distance of the home run at 582 feet.
Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field is currently the smallest baseball stadium with a capacity of only 25,000 since 2019. The ballpark is located in St. Petersburg, Florida and is home to the Tampa Bay Rays. The ballpark opened in 1990 and technically could hold 42,735 people.
Playing for a minor league team called the Minnesota Millers back in 1900, Andy Oyler hit the shortest home run in the history of the entire world. The home run traveled only 24 inches—that's right, two feet! On a rainy day in Minnesota, Oyler made solid contact and took off to first base.
What is the hardest Park to hit a homerun in? ›That honor goes to Coors Field. Even though it is the league's largest ballpark, the altitude in Denver helps sluggers get extra distance on their fly balls. So far in 2022, Coors Field ranks first in ESPN's MLB Park Factors for home runs, meaning it helps batters homer more than any other ballpark.
Why is Gabp so hitter friendly? ›
Why are the dimensions so friendly to hitters? Much of that was borne out of necessity but not entirely. Unlike predecessor Riverfront Stadium, which had a stadium acreage of 48, GABP has an acreage of 29. It was built on a smaller footprint between Riverfront and the arena currently known as Heritage Bank Center.
Where do most home runs go? ›More home runs are hit to left field because there are more right-handed batters. However, righties hit a greater percentage of home runs to left field than lefties hit to right field. Lefties tend to drive the ball to the opposite field more often for home runs.
What snacks can you bring for baseball game? ›Most ballparks allow you to bring in outside food in single-serving portions: The Nationals policy, for example, states: “All food items must be contained in single-serving bags within a soft-sided container or cooler that does not exceed 16″x16″x8″.” So wraps, sandwiches or small bags of popcorn? Yes!
What ballpark has the best hot dogs? ›The Dodger Dog ranks at the top of the list and is sold at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, home to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Who threw the first perfect game ever? ›The first major league perfect game was thrown in 1880 by Lee Richmond. Only five days later, John Ward threw the second one.
What is the most often stolen base? ›Second base is the base most often stolen, as it is farthest from home plate and thus a longer throw from the catcher is required to prevent it. Third base is more difficult to steal, but this is still commonly done.
Which MLB stadium has the cheapest food? ›1. Oriole Park at Camden Yards. You can take the whole family out to the ballgame and spend less than $20 on food and drinks at the home of the Baltimore Orioles, the best MLB stadium and the cheapest professional sports stadium when it comes to food, with $1.50 hot dogs.
What is stadium food? ›Hot dogs, nachos, peanuts and crackerjacks… these are the iconic foods most associated with America's many football and baseball stadiums. These treats make game day fun, even for people who don't know a foul ball from a field goal.
What MLB stadium has the most expensive food? ›- Washington Nationals (Nationals Park): $7.25.
- New York Mets (Citi Field): $7.
- San Francisco (Giants Oracle Park): $6.75.
- Milwaukee Brewers (American Family Field): $6.75.
- Los Angeles Dodgers (Dodger Stadium): $6.75.
- San Diego Padres (Petco Park): $6.75.
On April 23, 1964, Ken Johnson of the Houston Colt . 45s became the first pitcher to throw a nine-inning no-hitter and lose. In fact, he is still the only individual to throw an official (nine-inning) no-hitter and lose.
What is the fastest pitch thrown? ›
Fastest pitch ever thrown
As a result, Aroldis Chapman is credited with throwing the fastest pitch in MLB history. On Sept. 24, 2010, Chapman made MLB history. Then a rookie relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, the fireballer unleashed a fastball clocked at 105.1 mph by PITCH/fx.
Stanton belted the first 500-foot homer in Statcast™ history by extending way up the Coors Field bleachers in the left-center power gap. It took a Stanton-ian combination of a 115.8-mph exit velocity and a very low 18-degree launch angle for Stanton to reach that part of the park.
What is the shortest fence in MLB? ›Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox
The park has the shortest distance of any field in baseball to left field (310 feet) or right field (302 feet).
Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros)
With the deepest center field of any park in baseball—one that features a flagpole and hill that are in play—you'd think that Minute Maid Park in Houston would be more of a pitcher's park than a hitter's park.
Once the cowhide covers have been stapled on, someone has to hand-stitch them with red thread. In total, 108 hand-stitched double stitches are used to cover the baseball.
What is the fastest MLB game ever played? ›According to the all-knowing Google, the 1910 matchup between the Atlanta Crackers and Mobile Sea Gulls is the first choice that pops up when you search fastest baseball game ever. It was 32 minutes long.
Has there ever been a 4 home run game? ›Lou Gehrig, Yankees, June 3, 1932
Gehrig was the first AL player and the first in the modern era to hit four homers in a single contest during the Yankees' 20-13 win over the Athletics at Shibe Park.
Wrigley Field (Cubs)
While many stadiums of that era are known for short distances to the corners (Crosley Field and Forbes Field are among the exceptions), Wrigley's foul poles are 355 feet from the plate. Today, that's the longest distance down the line of any field in baseball, farther even than Coors Field.
Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers)
Even though the center field wall was brought in 20 feet, center field at Comerica is still the longest distance home plate to outfield wall in the Majors.
1 – Dodgers Stadium
Dodgers Stadium is located in Los Angeles, California. It is the home of the MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers and has a capacity of 56,000, making it the largest baseball stadium in the United States. In its 57-year history, Dodgers Stadium has witnessed twelve no-hitters, two of which were perfect games.
Is PNC Park turf or grass? ›
The irregularly shaped, natural grass playing field measures 325 feet down the left foul line and 389 feet through the left field power alley. The park reaches its greatest distance of 410 feet at a nook located just left of center field.
What is a pitcher friendly park? ›A rate higher than 1.000 favors the hitter. Below 1.000 favors the pitcher.
Who hit the first home run? ›Roscoe Barnes was his name, hitting dingers was sort of his game. Charles Roscoe Barnes was already a veteran ballplayer by May 2, 1876. From 1871-'76, he starred in the National Association of Professional Ball Players -- the first pro league for the sport.
Has anyone hit a homerun cycle? ›Tyrone Horne of the Arkansas Travelers was the first to do so in a 1998 game at San Antonio. Coincidentally, the Travelers were a Cardinals affiliate at that time. No MLB player has ever hit for the home run cycle, although 18 players have hit four home runs in a single major league game.
Has anyone ever hit a home run out of the stadium? ›He joins 5 players who have hit a HR out of the legendary park in games. At the 2021 T-Mobile Home Run Derby, the question on everyone's mind was whether some of the game's top sluggers would rewrite Statcast distance records in the mile-high air of Coors Field. The answer was a resounding, “Yes.”
What is stadium food? ›Hot dogs, nachos, peanuts and crackerjacks… these are the iconic foods most associated with America's many football and baseball stadiums. These treats make game day fun, even for people who don't know a foul ball from a field goal.
Do they sell Cracker Jacks at baseball games? ›Cracker Jack has long been associated with baseball, first launching in 1896 at Chicago World's Fair. Despite being sold in stores across the country, a large portion of its sales comes from sports venues, solidifying its place as a baseball game staple.
What ballpark has the best nachos? ›Progressive Field boasts local pride, housing branches of Cleveland's favorite restaurants, from ice cream at Sweet Moses to grilled cheese sandwiches from Melt. But the ballpark can add another honor to its lineup: the best stadium food in the country, thanks to the nachos at Momocho in Section 149.
Which MLB stadium has the cheapest food? ›1. Oriole Park at Camden Yards. You can take the whole family out to the ballgame and spend less than $20 on food and drinks at the home of the Baltimore Orioles, the best MLB stadium and the cheapest professional sports stadium when it comes to food, with $1.50 hot dogs.
What ballpark has the best hot dogs? ›The Dodger Dog ranks at the top of the list and is sold at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, home to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What foods do they sell at football games? ›
- Hot Dog. Step up your hot dog game and turn it into a BLT. ...
- Chili Dog. Hot dog! ...
- Funnel Cake. The game just got a whole lot sweeter. ...
- French Fries. ...
- Chicken Tenders. ...
- Burger. ...
- Popcorn. ...
- Churros.
- Mac And Cheese Brisket Cone (AT&T Stadium) ...
- Battle Red Tacos (NRG Stadium) ...
- Black And Gold Po'Boy Sandwich (Mercedes-Benz Superdome) ...
- Fried Peanut Butter And Jelly (Bills Stadium) ...
- Dessert Nachos (Ford Field) ...
- Brat-In-A-Blanket (Lambeau Field)
...
Here are the nationwide results:
- Mozzarella Sticks.
- Boneless Wings.
- Chips & Salsa.
- Caesar Salad.
- Pepperoni Pizza.
- Fried Pickles.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Philly Cheesesteak.
Classic Yankee Stadium Food Choices
Nathans: The world-famous hot dog stand is at the venue. You can also get gluten-free hot dogs too. You can find many Nathan's around the stadium, but you will immediately see this in the Great Hall as you walk into the park.
- Washington Nationals (Nationals Park): $7.25.
- New York Mets (Citi Field): $7.
- San Francisco (Giants Oracle Park): $6.75.
- Milwaukee Brewers (American Family Field): $6.75.
- Los Angeles Dodgers (Dodger Stadium): $6.75.
- San Diego Padres (Petco Park): $6.75.
- Traditional Food Options: Helmet Nachos, pretzels, bratwurst, beer, soda, popcorn, and D-Bat Hotdogs with jalapenos.
- Big Dawgs: Specialty hot dogs out in section 105.
Peanuts were also found at ballparks. It first began, however, when Harry Stevens decided to sell some advertising space on their scorecards to a peanut company. Instead of paying for the advertising with money, the company paid in peanuts and then these peanuts were sold in the ballpark.
What is Jill cracker? ›Cracker Jack is announcing the launch of Cracker Jill, a campaign which celebrates the women who have broken down and continue to break down barriers in sports.
Why do baseball players eat peanuts? ›In baseball, the tension builds slowly. Eating peanuts is part of a nervous habit—it gives you something to do with your hands.” Even though peanuts are an inseparable treat in nowadays ballparks, the selling of the legumes did not start in the ballpark itself.