This Classic Brand Was The First-Ever Official Hot Dog Of Major League Baseball - Tasting Table

"In 2017, for the first time ever, Major League Baseball (MLB) paired with Nathan's Famous hot dogs to name them the official hot dog of baseball. It was a two-year deal that allowed Nathan's to use the official MLB logo in its advertising. While they remained the official hot dogs of both New York City ball clubs, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Cincinnati Reds, and the St. Louis Cardinals, the deal also included Nathan's promoting MLB's Play Ball initiative, a program designed to encourage more kids to get into baseball."

"Baseball and hot dogs just go together - they became the snack of choice at stadiums sometime around the turn of the 19th century, and fans eat over 19 million hot dogs at games every season. The idea of the hot dog is so intertwined with baseball that teams pair with brands like Vienna Beef or Hebrew National to provide hot dogs at specific stadiums, and many even feature a signature dog like the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Frank or the famous Dodger Dog in Los Angeles."

"At the stadium level, Nathan's didn't become the only brand of hot dogs available at games. In fact, every stadium has its own deal with a specific brand, and across MLB there are well over a dozen brands including Bar-S, Hoffy, and Ball Park Franks. These partnerships can change frequently, too. The Reds used to sell Kahn's hot dogs, for instance, but switched to Ball Park Franks."

Hot dogs have been integral to baseball since the turn of the 19th century, with fans consuming over 19 million annually at games. Many teams feature signature hot dogs from brands like Vienna Beef and Hebrew National. In 2017, Nathan's Famous achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first and only official hot dog of Major League Baseball through a two-year partnership deal. This agreement allowed Nathan's to use the MLB logo in advertising while promoting the Play Ball initiative to encourage youth participation in baseball. However, individual stadiums maintain their own brand partnerships, with over a dozen brands available across MLB including Bar-S, Hoffy, and Ball Park Franks. These stadium-level deals frequently change, and hot dog prices vary considerably across different venues.

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