Hot Dogs steam Burgers in foodie showdown

Hot dogs vs. hamburgers is an age-old American debate.

Last Tuesday, two teams tried to settle it in Minor League Baseball's version of a cookoff when Double-A Reading and Hartford donned alternate identities in yummy fashion at Dunkin' Park.

For one night, the Reading Hot Dogs faced off against the Hartford Steamed Burgers, with the Phillies affiliate coming out as top dogs, 9-4.

The delicious contest, which featured No. 13 Rockies prospect Hunter Goodman's 25th homer as Hartford was trying to ketchup, was exciting enough as is. But the real draw was the colorful uniforms that relished each city's identity.

THE GREATEST FOOD FIGHT OF ALL TIME

🍔vs.🌭 pic.twitter.com/18bUck5iGK

— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) August 1, 2023

So how exactly do the Reading Fightin' Phils and Hartford Yard Goats steak, er, stake their claims to two of America's most famous foods?

If you haven't heard of a steamed cheeseburger before, it's a Connecticut staple. Instead of grilling the patty, you can cook it in a thin layer of water -- like a hot dog -- or let it cook by the steam alone, which makes for a juicier burger.

Hartford launched the Steamed Burger campaign in 2018, and it's been one of the team's most popular nights of the season ever since. It also helped inspire this year's debut of another food-themed identity, the Hartford Bouncing Pickles.

Yeah, those are hot dogs vs. hamburgers racing around the field. Obviously. pic.twitter.com/gi45VoDyGA

— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) August 1, 2023

Reading has also leaned into the food theme, landing on the Hot Dogs since the team claims -- based on inventory data -- to sell the most hot dogs per game in the Minors. The uniforms have become so popular since their 2021 debut that the Fightins wear them for every Sunday home game and many Tuesdays as well.

Plus, the team is well known for its "Crazy Hot Dog Vendor," who runs around the field after the second inning, dressed like he's riding an ostrich, chucking hot dogs into the crowd. You have to see it to believe it.

The Crazy hot dog vendor!! pic.twitter.com/5RJHUSRS8G

— Reading Fightin Phils (@ReadingFightins) June 22, 2016

This "food showdown" came about last year when Reading asked Hartford to bring its Steamed Burger jerseys on the road. Hartford usually dons the jerseys once per year, but this opportunity was too good to pass up. The Hot Dogs cooked the Steamed Burgers, 6-3, in 2022 before sending the series to Hartford.

With the Yard Goats and Fightin' Phils meeting upward of 24 times per year, you can expect more Hot Dogs vs. Steamed Burgers showdowns in future seasons.

"The fans really embraced it," Hartford GM Mike Abramson said. "With Minor League Baseball in general, people want to come out, they want to eat good food and have drinks and be with their friends and family. But it's really fun to give them a little something else to grab onto and chuckle at. Kids can take home a jersey."