Standout Vendors

[Haphazard1323]

After seeing a piece on ESPN about Dodger Stadium's famous Peanut Vendor, Roger Owens...I was just curious if anyone knows of any other unique vendors in other ballparks. Any vendors that have gimmicks (Owens tosses his bags of nuts behind the back and always hits his target no matter how far), or just catch phrases, etc.?

[cong]

I was at a Yankee Oriole game in Camden yards in 92. We sat in the center field bleachers. They had a beer vendor there who opened cans of beer with a portable duel can opener. Took the top right off th can for quick pouring.

The guy sold more beer than any 2 other vendors combined because everyone liked to watch him use his toy.

I have pictures that I am going to have to look for now

[tmorss9]

There's a hot dog vendor at Comerica Park who sings opera. Long story short, he started doing it when the 3 tenors went to Tiger Stadium and it has stuck with him. It's actually, quite annoying if you're there for a peaceful game experience, but alot of the casual patrons like it. He's actaully a pretty nice guy, too, for what thats worth.

[sschirmer]

There's a beer vendor, Tim, at GABP. He's been with the Reds for about 15 years, since Riverfront days. He does the tremendously loud COOOOOOOOLD BEEEEEEEEEEEEER HEEEEEEEEEEEEERE! Always gets applause, and can easily be heard from the bleachers when he's behind home plate. Gotta love that guy!

[BeatEmBucs]

At PNC the best known beer vendor is a guy known as "TC" who has an unmistakeable 3 note whistle (don't know how he does it) if you ever watcha Bucs game on TV I'm sure you'll hear it. The guy also gets on the jumbotron frequently with his dance moves. Undoubtably a showman, he isn't as heralded as some of those other vendors.

[laxplayer81217]

the conehead at rochester red wings games is quite interesting

[theAmazingMet]

There is a beer vendor at Shea Stadium, don't know his name but he works in the Mezzanine Level who has a funny catchphrase.
" You want it so Here it is! BEER! BEER! Here it is!"

[moviegeekjan]

The Peanut Guy for the Mariners (he's at both Safeco and in Peoria when the M's are doing Spring Training). He engages in friendly banter, but is most famous for his tricky behind the back passes of peanuts to distant customers, hitting his mark with amazing accuracy.

[sschirmer]

Originally Posted by moviegeekjan

The Peanut Guy for the Mariners (he's at both Safeco and in Peoria when the M's are doing Spring Training). He engages in friendly banter, but is most famous for his tricky behind the back passes of peanuts to distant customers, hitting his mark with amazing accuracy.

Tiger Stadium used to have a peanut guy who would throw your bag of peanuts to you from another section, then come get the money when he got over by you. He was a damn good aim too.

[the_perfect_pitch]

hey everyone. for those interested, "The Perfect Pitch" is the amazing and moving,
true-life story of Roger Owens, the Famous Peanut Man at Dodger Stadium.
you can buy it at borders, Dodger Stadium, on amazon, and many other online book stores.

by the way, a producer for ESPN loved the book so much, that she decided to interview Roger for about 2 hours at the stadium. that's why we were able to have Roger on ESPN in aug for their sports center show.

for more information, you can go to www.rogerowenspeanutman.com

Daniel

[ElCaminoSS]

I go to tons dodger games a year and have bought peanuts from him many times (in which he loves to to give you his card). But has anyone noticed his horrible wig.

About 20 years ago there was a hot dog guy at Municipal Stadium whose catch-phrase was 'eenie meanie who wants a weenie?'

There's a beer guy at Jacobs Field who is popular with casual fans but is annoying as hell.

[CuriousBoston]

Originally Posted by ElCaminoSS

I go to tons dodger games a year and have bought peanuts from him many times (in which he loves to to give you his card). But has anyone noticed his horrible wig.

Sign him before Georgie does! Was there ever a pitcher named Peanuts? Or a pitcher that warmed up singing opera?

[Gamingboy]

I remember seeing somewhere (ESPN? CNN? I can't remember) about how there's a usher at Turner Field who will tell you the importance of any number in Baseball history.

For example, say "61" and he'll talk about how it was the number of home runs Roger Maris hit in 1961, 1961 was the year that HOFer Kirby Puckett was born, it was the year that Ty Cobb died, etc.

[runningshoes]

One of my favorites was The Earl of Bud, a beer vendor at Buffalo Sabres games. They would play Tequila for him while he did a funcky dance. The crowd loved it. I was told he did it at Bills and Bisons games as well. I never saw him at Rich Stadium, but the place is probably too big to get the crowds attention.

[Brian McKenna]

Originally Posted by cong

I was at a Yankee Oriole game in Camden yards in 92. We sat in the center field bleachers. They had a beer vendor there who opened cans of beer with a portable duel can opener. Took the top right off th can for quick pouring.

The guy sold more beer than any 2 other vendors combined because everyone liked to watch him use his toy.

I have pictures that I am going to have to look for now

that guy had a patent on that gizmo

the orioles for years have had a vendor who is a vp or something with the babe ruth museum - he is a descendant of the bambino

[KennyK]

In the 80's there was a coke vendor who always worked harder than all the rest, at the Maryland football games-- running up and down the steps with three trays of cokes while the others had one. (He wore a white headband with a huge red dot in the center of it) When it was cold he would switch to hot chocolate in the second half.He still does the Maryland Football and Basketball games.

At one basketball game I went to buy a coke from him, but he wouldn't sell it to me. He said, "Man, you don't want this, it's my last one and it's all watered down from the melted ice."

He now sells beer at Orioles home games, and Nationals Home games. This vendor has several inventions. One for opening beer cans, and one for bottles.

It's the same guy that made such an impression on cong in 1992!

[bluezebra]

There's vendor at Stater Bros. Stadium (formerly Mavericks Stadium) in Adelanto, CA, home of the High Desert Mavericks (Advanced A, California League). known as the "Mav Hatter". He wears outrageous hats, mainly a top hat, loaded with various types of buttons. He used to jump up on the third base dugout and dance between innings, but age and bad legs have caught up with him.

Bob

[redbuck]

Originally Posted by sschirmer

There's a beer vendor, Tim, at GABP. He's been with the Reds for about 15 years, since Riverfront days. He does the tremendously loud COOOOOOOOLD BEEEEEEEEEEEEER HEEEEEEEEEEEEERE! Always gets applause, and can easily be heard from the bleachers when he's behind home plate. Gotta love that guy!

Can be heard on the radio too.

haven't read all the other posts, but Cleveland's "Singing beerman" leads sections in renditions of "Roll out the barrell".

[west coast orange and black]

haphazard: ...any other unique vendors in other ballparks .... gimmicks .... catchphrases

heard at giants games: "get yer dodger sunflower seeds here! chew 'em up an' spit 'em out!"

also, there is one particular vendor who can be heard bellowing form 3 sections away.
man, that dude is LOUD!

[2Chance]

I wasn't there for this, but...

from Detroit Tigers -- Lists and More-- by Pattison & Raglin (2002)
Our Favorite Tiger Stadium Employees
Herbie "Love Bug" Redmond. While the grounds crew tending the infield went stolidly about their work during the Tigers' win-starved years of the 1970s, Redmond shook his hips and waved his cap as part of his crowd-pleasing routine.

Then there's the Coca-Cola vendor whose name is not known. He most often plied his trade in the left field corner of the lower deck. He would have a running call and response pitch:

Vendor: "Beep beep beep."
Fans: "Ice cold Coke."
Vendor: "Beep beep beep."
Fans: "Ice cold Coke."
Vendor: "Ice cold Coke."
Fans: "Beep beep beep."

[sfgunit707]

Old guy at Sacramento Rivercats games does some sort of Irish Jig... fans go crazy and the scoreboard flashes, "CRAZY IRISH USHER"... the people love that guy (second loudest ovation only to the strikeout of the "Beer Batter"). Gotta love minor league ball.

[CaliforniaCajun]

Who's the famous beer vendor at Minnesota Twins games?

[2Chance]

Somewhere around 20-25 years ago, I was driving home from work listening to the last game of Cincinnati Reds' spring training. Marty and Joe were chuckling and saying, "Let's see if you can hear this."

The vendor was going up the aisle, sounding weary:
"Hot dogs, hot dogs....hot dawwwwgs....(then suddenly very excited) VEAL PARMESAN!!"

[Lafferty Daniel]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

Who's the famous beer vendor at Minnesota Twins games?

Wally the Beerman. He's a local legend.