
David Berg was a pioneer that introduced the "hot dog" at a professional baseball stadium. That happened in 1901, it was the Chicago White Stockings first season as a major league team, and their second season in Chicago playing ball at South Side Park located at 38th Place and South Princeton Avenue, in Chicago.
When Vienna Beef set up shop in 1893, one of the few great sausage companies around was David Berg & Company. In 1992, almost a hundred years later, David Berg joined the family of Vienna Beef products. Vienna Beef carried on the David Berg taste and tradition by honoring their unique spice blend. David Berg's treasured Chicago sausage products are now made by Vienna Beef.
Fun Hot Dog Facts:
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
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Chicago White Stockings first playing ball at South Side Park. |



- In 1978, David Berg made a six-foot, 681-pound premium beef hot dog in a 100-pound poppy seed bun covered with two gallons of mustard.
- The average hot dog is consumed in 6 bites.
- More hot dogs are believed to be sold at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport than any other location in the world.
I grew up in Chicago being born in 1948 so I had my share of hotdogs there and I always remember each hotdog stand that I ate at served Vienna products. I had heard of David Berg hotdogs but not sure if I ever had one. Sonic makes a Chicago Dog and they have the fixings right but a poor choice for their hotdog since they use Oscar Mayer. Just not the same taste at all. Shake Shack franchises serve Vienna hotdogs but they grill them and offered on fixings when I just went there except for ketchup. Grilled hot dog tastes like what my mother would cook on the patio barbeque grill, not what you would get at a hotdog stand in Chicago. So Shake Shack falls short. Good tasting hotdog but not Chicago style at all.
ReplyDeleteDavid Berg hot dogs were served in many Hot Dog Joints. They were tastier than Vienna. Vienna bought the name and recipe and produced David Burg dogs for a short time.
DeleteI agree. I grew up inn Skokie and spent 48 years in Chicago and the suburbs. I remember a little snap too. I didn't know they were bought out or gone in 1992. I'm in Texas now and there is a Wrigleyville in S.A. The owner is a Chicago transplant. They have Vienna. Their polish are great. Miss those David Bergs.
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