Six Tips To Becoming A Ballpark Hot Dog Connoisseur

Whether you're headed to Suplizio Field for JUCO a Grand Junction Rockies game or over the mountains to Coors Field for some big league action chances are, while you're at the game, you'll probably have a hot dog. But just how many hot dogs do Americans eat while watching our favorite pastime?

According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, baseball fans will consume 20-30 million hot dogs at ballparks over the course of the 2013 season. In other words, we'll eat enough hot dogs to round the bases over 28,000 times.

So how long have hot dogs been a baseball tradition?  Some say, the sausages became popular at baseball parks as early as 1893. This tradition is believed to have been started by a St. Louis bar owner, Chris Von de Ahe, a German immigrant who also owned the St. Louis Browns major league baseball team.

Here are some tips from the Hot Dog Council to help you become a true hot dog connoisseur.

• Don't put hot dog toppings between the hot dog and the bun. Always "dress the dog," not the bun.

• Condiments should be applied in the following order: wet condiments like mustard and chili are applied first, followed by chunky condiments like relish, onions and sauerkraut, followed by shredded cheese, followed by spices, like celery salt or pepper.
• Don't use ketchup on your hot dog after the age of 18. Mustard, relish, onions, cheese and chili are acceptable.

• Eat hot dogs on buns with your hands. Utensils should not touch hot dogs or buns.

• Don't take more than five bites to finish a hot dog. For foot-long wiener, seven bites are acceptable.

• Use paper plates to serve hot dogs. Every day dishes are acceptable; china is a no-no.