Superhero alter-egos aren’t limited to comic books and movies. For a real-life example look to Reading, Pa., where Matt Jackson is the Clark Kent to the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor’s Superman.
The Crazy Hot Dog Vendor has been a staple at Reading Fightin Phils games since 2004, executing a schtick that’s simple but effective. Decked out in a bow tie, red and white-striped shirt, thick-framed glasses, khakis and what may be a wig, he mounts his trusty ostrich Rodrigo -- who, lacking sentience, is not a real ostrich -- gallops onto the field and furiously flings franks to fans.
This nightly ritual takes place in the middle of the second inning at FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Fightin Phils (Double-A Phillies affiliate). Following his on-field routine, the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor mingles with the fans for several innings, signing autographs and posing for pictures. The Fightin Phils have given away an inordinate amount of Crazy Hot Dog Vendor merchandise over the years, from soap dispensers to grilling aprons to pillowcases to the inevitable bobble arm. A large statue of the man and his ostrich greets fans as they enter the team store.
The Crazy Hot Dog Vendor is, in short, a bona fide Reading celebrity and one of the best-known ballpark characters in all of Minor League Baseball. Jackson, a former Reading front office employee, brings him to life.
As for this superhero origin story? Back in 2003, a ballpark performer with an ostrich costume was booked to appear in Reading. Due to a scheduling snafu he failed to appear, so the team decided that going forward their ostrich-centric performers would be in-house and that Jackson was the man for the job.
“We got this new guy, Matt Jackson, and he’ll literally do anything. I think we’re just gonna use him,” said Jackson, explaining the rationale that went into this decision.
The Crazy Hot Dog Vendor debuted the following season and as Jackson honed the act he found that it resonated with Reading’s hot dog-loving fan base (the team sells franks from local Berks Packing, cooked on a flattop grill).
When this writer first visited Reading, in 2010, it was for a theme night dedicated to the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor. More than 100 members of the team’s Kid’s Club, many of them wearing their own version of the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor’s uniform and some riding their own ostriches, took part in a pregame question-and-answer session with the man itself. During the game, the players wore Crazy Hot Dog Vendor uniforms.
Fifteen years later, that level of enthusiasm remains. The Crazy Hot Dog Vendor lives his life in the spotlight, while Matt Jackson goes through his days in relative anonymity.
“As soon as I get out of the costume, I walk right by [the fans],” he said. “They have no idea.”