A baseball fan's dream: I raced as a Clippers hot dog
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Frankly, it doesn't get better than this. Photos and videos: Courtesy of Brandon Neese
I'm a lifelong baseball fan, but for me, the sport's biggest stars don't come out till after the sixth inning.
Why it matters: The Clippers' three racing hot dogs are almost as beloved as the team itself.
- They've got their own T-shirts, bobbleheads, trading cards and fiercely loyal fans, including me.
So when the team recently approved a request to run the race myself, I was ready to relish every second.
Context: I've been a Rickey Relish fan ever since his brief call up to the major leagues in 2017.
- The underdog, wearing a no-frills costume, upset Cleveland's Onion and Mustard dogs, and I was hooked.
What they're saying: For the Clippers' promo team, stepping into a hot dog costume is like briefly becoming a rock star, assistant marketing director Patrick Kenney says.
- On big nights, the roar from 10,000 fans is an "energy you can't re-r," he told me ahead of my July 19 race.
Behind the scenes: As I waited in a concealed area under the right-field stands for my moment, the nerves started kicking in.
- I ran a couple practice dashes to get in the zone, and got acquainted with my opponents, Kelly Ketchup and Mickey Mustard.
Then the race music started. We cracked the doors. The heat and blinding summer sun hit us — and we were off.
My take:
🏃♀️ It goes fast. The race was only 30 seconds, but it was quite the adrenaline rush.
🥴 It looks easy, but it's not. The costumes are hot, bulky and awkward, and it's hard to see.
- I have serious respect for the promo team members usually behind the buns.
🏆 I won! It was surreal. I honestly think my journalism career has peaked.
The intrigue: If you were wondering, the race isn't scripted, per se, but is intentionally theatrical and involves some planning. Kenney compared it to professional wrestling.
1 fun thing: After I was out of costume and back in the stands, a woman pointed out my Rickey T-shirt and congratulated me on the win.
- I smiled. "Well, it's a funny story, actually.…"
- When I told her about my experience, she was excited and starstruck.
Yes, but: Regrettably, she informed me she's a Mustard fan. I'll let it slide.
What's next: The Clippers host the MudHens at home all weekend.
- For those keeping score: Rickey was the 2025 champ and the dogs are in a three-way tie so far this season.
