Let’s be frank

Nothing goes better with baseball pennant races than a hot dog. Getting the dog fresh off the grill, slipping it between a toasted bun and topping it with your favorite condiments makes for a treat almost as good as baseball itself.

And, as tastes have evolved, so too have hot dogs. They no longer belong in the mystery meat section of the local grocery store. With all-beef franks (Ball Park just introduced an angus beef variety), turkey dogs and traditional pork-filled wieners all lining the shelves, they're becoming more upscale.

But where do they come from? What makes a good dog? And, most importantly, how do most folks prefer to top their dogs? Here's everything you need to know about hot dogs just as the pennant races heat up.

History

It is unclear who invented the first hot dog or how long it's been around. Frankfurt, Germany, claims the hot dog was created in the city in 1852, though some believe that Johann Georghehner, a butcher from Coburg, Germany, created the first frank in the 1600s. Some claim the frankfurter was invented in Vienna, while others say franks trace their roots all the way back to the 1400s.

How it got its name

The phrase "hot dog" appeared in magazines in the 1890s, but it is believed the term was popularized by German immigrants, who brought not only sausages but dachshund dogs. It's thought to be a joke comparing the long, thin dogs to the similarly shaped food.

Where did the bun come from?

There are several contrasting theories here, as well. One is that they were first sold on push carts in New York City in the 1860s; another is that the practice started when a German immigrant opened the first Coney Island hot dog stand in 1871; still, there's another belief that immigrants were mimicking a practice common in Germany for years.

Hot dogs and baseball

Hot dogs became common at baseball stadiums in the 1890s. It is believed this tradition was started by German immigrant Chris Von de Ahe, who owned the St. Louis Browns.

Hot dog lingo

Hot dogs are known as ball parks, dachshunds, franks, frankfurters, footlongs, mini sausages, red hots, weenies and wieners.