Minor League Baseball

A New Jersey-based fan named Rev Ciancio visited 77 different ballparks this season. At each one, he would get a hot dog with mustard, eat it after “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and grade it. Here are his top 10: 10. Joliet Slammers (National Association of Professional Baseball): A “rock solid” offering. 9. Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Triple-A PHI): “Exactly what a ballpark hot dog is supposed to taste like.” 8. Sussex County Miners (National Association of Professional Baseball): “They’re the only team that I’ve been to that has a ripper, where they’re actually deep-frying the hot dog.” 7. Albuquerque Isotopes (Triple-A COL): “It’s almost foul to highlight how good the hot dog was because there’s so much good there.” 6. Boston Red Sox: “This is one of the Major League stadiums where the lore of the hot dog holds true.” 5. Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A SF): “It was just a well-rounded hot dog. Like there was magic and you don’t know why.” 4. Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A NYM): “It’s part of their culture to have a good hot dog.” 3. Chicago Cubs: “I feel like Chicago teams have a right and a duty to produce good hot dogs.” 2. Chicago Dogs (American Association): The poppyseed bun was an “ingredient difference maker.” 1. Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A Phillies): “When you eat a hot dog at Reading, it’s as though every single hot dog was individually cooked. One person took one hot dog and made sure it was perfect.” Read about Ray here: atmlb.com/4sjmoGx