12 Old-Fashioned Ballpark Foods You’ve Got To Try at Least Once — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

If you’re a fan of baseball, then you know that the ballpark experience isn’t complete without some delicious snacks. From hot dogs to nachos, there’s something for everyone. But if you’re looking for something a little more unique, why not try some of the old-fashioned ballpark foods? From classic favorites like Cracker Jacks to more unusual treats like pickle-on-a-stick, there’s something for everyone. In this article, we’ll take a look at 12 old-fashioned ballpark foods you’ve got to try at least once. So grab your peanuts and cracker jacks and get ready for a delicious adventure!

12 Old-Fashioned Ballpark Foods You’ve Got To Try at Least Once

When you think of ballpark food, you probably think of hot dogs, popcorn, and peanuts. But there are so many more delicious and unique foods to try at the ballpark. From classic favorites to new twists on old classics, here are 12 old-fashioned ballpark foods you’ve got to try at least once.

1. Cracker Jacks

This classic snack has been around since the late 1800s and is still a favorite at ballparks today. Cracker Jacks are a mix of popcorn, peanuts, and molasses-flavored syrup. It’s a sweet and salty treat that’s sure to please.

2. Soft Pretzels

Soft pretzels are a classic ballpark snack. They’re usually served with a side of mustard for dipping. Soft pretzels are a great snack to share with friends and family.

3. Nachos

Nachos are a great way to get your cheese fix at the ballpark. They’re usually served with jalapenos, sour cream, and salsa. Nachos are a great snack to share with friends and family.

4. Hot Dogs

Hot dogs are a classic ballpark food. They’re usually served with ketchup, mustard, and relish. Hot dogs are a great snack to share with friends and family.

5. Popcorn

Popcorn is a classic ballpark snack. It’s usually served with butter and salt. Popcorn is a great snack to share with friends and family.

6. Peanuts

Peanuts are a classic ballpark snack. They’re usually served with salt. Peanuts are a great snack to share with friends and family.

7. French Fries

French fries are a classic ballpark snack. They’re usually served with ketchup. French fries are a great snack to share with friends and family.

8. Pizza

Pizza is a great way to get your cheese fix at the ballpark. It’s usually served with pepperoni, sausage, and other toppings. Pizza is a great snack to share with friends and family.

9. Ice Cream

Ice cream is a great way to cool off at the ballpark. It’s usually served in a cone or a cup. Ice cream is a great snack to share with friends and family.

10. Cotton Candy

Cotton candy is a classic ballpark snack. It’s usually served in a cone or a cup. Cotton candy is a great snack to share with friends and family.

11. Funnel Cakes

Funnel cakes are a classic ballpark snack. They’re usually served with powdered sugar and a side of ice cream. Funnel cakes are a great snack to share with friends and family.

12. Churros

Churros are a great way to get your sweet fix at the ballpark. They’re usually served with cinnamon sugar and a side of chocolate sauce. Churros are a great snack to share with friends and family.

So the next time you’re at the ballpark, don’t just stick to the basics. Try one of these old-fashioned ballpark foods and you won’t be disappointed!

Baseball is a taste of nostalgia. Fans of the game will always remember that first game ever and who brought them to it. They will still hear the sound of stadium cheers after the final strikeout. And there’s no mistaking the smell of cooking hot dogs, buttered popcorn, or any of the old-fashioned iconic foods and drinks you can only get at the ballpark.

While we aren’t claiming that baseball stadium food is healthy, there is a place in a healthy diet for joyful eating, and that is what reliving nostalgic foods is all about. As the playoffs get underway, here’s your chance to reminisce about all the treats you could be enjoying. From shelled peanuts and popcorn, to ice cream in plastic hats and ice-cold beer, here are 12 stadium foods and sips that you’ll want to catch. After all, they are very much part of the fabric of the national pastime and as American as baseball itself.

Peanuts and Cracker Jack[
Shutterstock

“Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack…” The iconic baseball song, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, says it best: peanuts and baseball are great teammates. The legendary song is still played at baseball stadiums around the country and fans still sing along with a bag of peanuts and a box of sweet-and-salty Cracker Jack. These are timeless baseball snacks.

malt cup
u/caseyl / Reddit

If you grew up in Minnesota and went to the stadium to see the Minnesota Twins play, you probably fondly remember enjoying a Kemps Malt Cup—a chocolate malt ice cream cup with a wooden spoon. Kemps was associated with local stud Joe Mauer who played many years with the Twins. You can buy the malt cups in grocery stores in the Midwest, but sadly not at Target Field, the Twins stadium, any longer.

soft pretzel game
Soft Pretzel Takes / Twitter

Yes, big salted pretzels are uber popular this time of year at Oktoberfest festivals. But the favored German snack has also been a summer favorite of baseball fans forever. And still are. A salty soft pretzel and cold beer—a ground rule double.

kid eating hot dog
YouTube

It’s believed that the first hot dogs were first sold at ball games in 1893 at Brown Stockings games (now the St. Louis Cardinals). Ballpark hot dogs are a true flavor of the team and have home-field advantage—Fenway Park in Boston, the oldest ballpark in the MLB, is where you’ll find Fenway Franks—and condiments like relish. In Los Angeles, they are called Dodgers Dogs and at Yankee Stadium, Nathan’s hot dogs are the regional favorite, and sauerkraut is relished, not relish.

stadium beer
Red Sox / Facebook

“Get your beer here!” is something you’ll hear at every ballpark. Even if you aren’t a fan of a cold, frothy brew, there’s something alluring about throwing back a beer while enjoying a baseball game. All stadiums serve popular brands, like Bud Lite and Coors Light, and most stadiums also give a shout-out to the local breweries, like Sam Adams at Fenway. But don’t get too fancy, a Bud Lite just hits different in a big plastic cup at a stadium.

ice cream helment
Craig Mittelstaedt / Twitter

A swirl of ice cream on a warm summer night is always a hit, but soft-serve in a mini plastic helmet with the team logo stamped is the clutch hit. Kids love this novelty ice cream treat as much as their parents. What’s not to love—soft serve ice cream and a keepsake helmet with your favorite team?

stadium popcorn
Shutterstock

A big carton of popcorn is perfect for sharing and munching—by the fistfuls—especially when the bases are loaded and the game is on the line. Not unlike watching an adventure film in a movie theatre (only much better if you love baseball). Drama and popcorn, perfect partners.

Gilroy's Garlic Fries
Sarah Barshop / Twitter

These garlicky, homespun fries are a giant hit at AT &T Park San Francisco with loyal fans and visiting team fans, too. Here’s a recipe.

Brats:Polish sausage
Shutterstock

Milwaukee is king in bratwursts and the brats brewed in beer at Miller Park are legendary. There’s even a sausage race between costumed brats and polish sausage at the games

cotton candy
Shutterstock

Even better than the circus, cotton candy at a baseball game is the sweet spot for baseball’s youngest fans and has been for decades—every kid deserves a cotton candy and baseball game experience.

RELATED: 28 Tailgate Food Ideas So Good, You’ll Skip the Game

philly cheesesteaks
philliesphood / Twitter

Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia might be new, but the cheesesteaks have a history as rich as Philadelphia and are more popular than hot dogs here.

eating cubano sandwich
Shutterstock

Tampa Bay has a great rich history with Cuba, and the popularity of the roasted pork Cuban sandwich sold at Tropicana Field is a good example. Cuba and the U.S. of course have a long shared history and love of baseball and this sandwich is a much-loved reminder.