Top 10 Minor League Ballpark Foods

SI Staff | Jul 20, 2010

Top 10 Minor League Ballpark Foods

West Michigan Whitecaps

To call the Fifth Third Burger a hamburger would be an injustice to this colossus of calorie. The pride and joy of the Western Michigan Whitecaps' is a fully loaded 4 pound behemoth that features 5 1/3 pound burgers, chili, and chips with salsa packed into a 1 pound hamburger bun. If the 4,889 calories seem a bit much, you'll be happy to know that it also contains 209% of the Vitamin C a person needs in a day. The $20 price tag is actually a bargain, considering the fact that the Fifth Third Burger can easily feed a family of four, and the Whitecaps concessions staff will happily cut it up you.

Gateway Grizzlies

What's in a name? Well, when you call a menu item, "Baseball's Best Burger," it needs to deliver. The Gateway Grizzlies deliver patrons at GCS Ballpark a thick hamburger topped with 2 slices of bacon and sharp cheddar cheese, and sandwich it between two sides of a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed donut. At only $4.50, this wild combination of flavors consistently sells between 100-200 burgers a night.

Toledo Mud Hens

The Toledo Mud Hens have a secret weapon when it comes to their stellar food service: wheels. Carts can be found throughout the ball park offering a variety of different confections, like this trifecta (sold separately) of Hummus and Pita, classic Gyro sandwich, and a fried bologna sandwich. Each costs just $5.

Sacramento River Cats

Chef Ryan Curry infuses a "balanced mix of tequila, cilantro and lime to keep the flavor high and the health factor higher." A mix of shredded cabbage, fire roasted tomato salsa, and julienned radish "all add levels of flavor." The chef then cools the salsa with a cilantro and lime aioli "for a nice contrast." The chef doesn't just attribute the success of the Salmon Tacos to the flavor, adding, "with an increased level of gluten free awareness, the salmon taco has become one of our stars."

Memphis Redbirds

Courtesy of Allison Rhoades

The signature food item at AutoZone Park has been, and according to Redbird's brass, will continue to be BBQ Nachos. BBQ Nachos have helped the Red Birds secure many awards and readers' polls including Best Concessions 2007, 2008, 2009 in Memphis Sport Magazine, and Best of Memphis in the Commercial Appeal. Redbirds reps say they may be the only ball park in the country that sells more BBQ Nachos than hot dogs.

Rochester Red Wings

Spicy Popcorn chicken consists of pieces of chicken cut into small, irregular shaped chunks that are heavily breaded to give the pieces an irregular shape that resemble kernels of popped corn. These delicious little morsels are designed to keep you munching throughout the game just like a bag of popcorn, except they pack a bit more punch than your standard movie theater fare. The Red Wings offer a variety of sauces, the two most popular being Buffalo Wing Sauce and Blue Cheese sauce.

Chattanooga Lookouts

Nothing quite exemplifies the South's penchant for tasty fried food like good ole-fashioned funnel cake. According to Lookouts rep Greg Dorris, At AT&T Field, home of the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, "life can't get any better than indulging oneself with this fried dough and powdered sugar concoction."

Northwest Arkansas Naturals

This hybrid dinner/dessert combines two staples of ballpark food: funnel cakes, and hot dogs. Funnel dogs incorporate the juiciness of a warm dog with the sweet taste of funnel cake lightly coated with powdered sugar. Funnel Dogs cost $3.50 and are available at every game.

Charleston Riverdogs

The Homewrecker Hot Dog is as scary as it sounds: It is a half-pound all-beef dog that is served in a "build your own dog" concession stand. The Riverdogs offer a total of 25 signature toppings that may be added to complete the experience. The Home Wrecker has been featured on Man vs. Food with Adam Richman and is priced at $5.50.

Reno Aces

A grilled triple stack of Pullman bread, loaded with smoked brisket, pulled pork, coleslaw, bbq meatball, pickle and cherry peppers.