A Day with the Chicago Dogs

For Father's Day, I went to a Chicago Dogs game. It seemed fitting since my father, who passed away last year, was a lifelong baseball fan. Despite a loss, it was a fun-filled day.

Starting play in 2018, the Dogs quickly gained popularity, capturing the attention of Chicago sports fans. With so many sports and entertainment options in the area, gaining traction for a startup wasn't easy, but the Dogs gained a looyal fanbase right away and have grown it ever since.

A member of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball, the Dogs play in the beautiful, 6,300-seat Impact Field. Located adjacent to an expressway and just east of Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the stadium offers interesting views as the backdrop. There is plenty of parking and it is inexpensive. There are alos many excellent restaurant choices in Rosemont for post-game victory meals.

As always, I arrived early, wanting to soak in as much of the experience as possible. On Sundays, the Dogs allow fans on the field to play catch. I used that time to talk to players and manager Jeff Isom, in his first season with the Dogs.

I caught up with Coach Stu Cliburn, a longtime favorite of mine, who I interviewed a few times when he was a Minnesota Twins coach. Fun fact: Stu and his twin Stan both played for the California Angels, but at different times. Stu was a pitcher, while Stan was a catcher.

There’s a fun rivalry between mascots Squeeze and Ketchup, anthropomorphic condiment bottles. Squeeze usually gets the better of it because Chicagoans look with disdain at ketchup on dogs. For a special Father's Day treat, Squeeze was accompanied by Papa Squeeze.

As the onfield time ended, I made my way to the Stadium Club, a beautiful skybox section. Featuring a few tables with a variety of food options, including a dessert table and a bar, the Stadium Club is a great place to watch the game.

I think the dessert table was the most popular feature. Cookies, brownies, mini-sundaes, pudding, cheesecake and more were quickly gobbled up, but just as quickly the dessert supply was replenished, sometimes with new options. You couldn't go wrong with any choice and I chose plenty of the items (strictly for reporting purposes, of course).

I alternated between my outdoor seat and a window seat in the Stadium Club. Ordinarily, I would have stayed outside, but it was unusually hot. Either way, I was surrounded by excited fans. Unlike at some ballparks, the fans inside were just as focused and rabid as fans outside.

Onfield games were led by in-game host Hannah Arbitman, who did a great job revving up the fans. The mascots interacted with fans all afternoon. Ketchup would often get playfully booed because everyone knows ketchup does not belong on a Chicago dog.

The Dogs jumped to a quick 2–0 lead, but ultimately lost 11–3 to area-rival Kane County. Currently in fourth place, the Dogs are 16–18, but there's a lot of baseball left to be played. The regular season ends Sept. 2, but the hope is for another appearance in the playoffs.

After the final out was made, I meandered around Impact Field one last time, not wanting to leave. It was such a fun day. The energy at Impact Field was incredible. Players, fans, and staffers all seemed happy to be there. This is the beauty of baseball.

“Every day is Fan Appreciation Day,” according to the Dogs. They certainly live up to that motto.