Dodger Dog facts for kids
The Dodger Dog
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| Course | Lunch or snack |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Los Angeles |
| Created by | Thomas Arthur |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | |
| Ingredients generally used | |
| Variations | Doyer Dog |
The Dodger Dog is a famous hot dog. It gets its name from the Major League Baseball team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. This special hot dog is 10 inches long. It's a pork sausage served in a warm, steamed bun.
You can buy Dodger Dogs at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. These hot dogs are super popular! In 2011, about 2 million Dodger Dogs were sold. This made them the top-selling hot dog in all of Major League Baseball.
When you buy a Dodger Dog, you can choose how it's cooked. There are two main ways: steamed or grilled. The grilled hot dogs are often found near the back of the stadium. This helps keep the smoke away from the fans. Many people think the grilled version is the "classic" Dodger Dog. For many years, they were called "Farmer John Dodger Dogs." But since 2021, a new company, Papa Cantella's, makes them.
Discovering the Dodger Dog: A Stadium Favorite
The Dodger Dog is so popular that it has inspired its own restaurants. You can find a Dodger Dogs restaurant in Universal City, California. There's also a "Super Dodger Dog" version. This one is made from 100% beef, not pork.
People believe the name "Dodger Dog" started in 1958. This was when the Dodgers baseball team moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn. You can even buy Dodger Dog sausages in supermarkets in Southern California. They used to be sold under the Farmer John brand.
In 2011, the Dodgers introduced a new kind of hot dog. It's called the "Doyer Dog." This version has a Mexican twist. It comes with chili, salsa, and jalapeños. These toppings replace the usual ketchup and mustard.
Dodger Dogs are also served at other baseball parks. For example, you can find them at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. This is the home field for the Oklahoma City Dodgers. That team is a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. This ballpark even has a special area called the "Dog Pound." It sells hot dogs from different stadiums across the country.
Who Created the Famous Dodger Dog?
The "Dodger Dog" was created by Thomas Arthur. He worked as the food concessions manager at Dodger Stadium for 29 years. This was from 1962 to 1991.
The hot dog was originally called a "Foot Long." But Thomas Arthur wanted to be honest about its size. He decided to call it the "Dodger Dog" instead. He asked Walter O'Malley, who owned the Dodgers, for permission. The hot dog became a huge favorite for Dodger fans. Even the famous actor Vincent Price wrote about how delicious it was in his cookbook!
The 10-inch hot dog was first made by the Morrell Meat Company. But soon, Farmer John took over. Farmer John was a main sponsor of the Dodgers. Later, Farmer John was bought by Hormel in 2004. Then, in 2017, Smithfield Foods bought Farmer John from Hormel. In 2021, Smithfield and the Dodgers couldn't agree on a new contract. Because of this, the name Farmer John was removed from the Dodger Dog.
Dodger Dogs in Pop Culture
- In an episode of The X-Files, a character named Agent Mulder joked about Dodger Dogs. He said they gave him "swamp gas."
- In the movie Hancock, Jason Bateman's character, Ray, compares Hancock to a Dodger Dog. He says, "It's something people don't think they're gonna like, but then they try it, and they love it!"
- In an episode of Entourage, Johnny Drama complains about being late. He says it will make him miss getting a Dodger Dog.
- On The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, comedian Joey Diaz said he didn't like Dodger Dogs. He compared them to airplane oatmeal.
- In an episode of Star Trek: Voyager, the character Rain Robinson mentions Dodger Dogs. This happens when Lieutenant Tuvok brings them for breakfast.
