Peanut Jim was a Cincinnati fixture, with true Midwestern, all American values: hard working with a sense of belief, tradition, and tremendous pride. History tells that Peanut Jim was raised on his father’s peanut farm in Union, South Carolina. With a traveling and entrepreneurial spirit Peanut Jim visited Cincinnati in 1932, spent 75 cents on a roaster, and launched that notable hand-roasted peanut vending business.
Once past Peanut Jim, I was hit with that famous hot dog aroma, complete with yellow mustard and sometimes sauerkraut. Yes, ballpark franks have a very distinct smell that ingrains itself in your sensory brain forever. I can smell them even as I write this now.
When you got that whiff you had to find the nearest hot dog vendor walking the stands to make your traditional purchase.
I was a baseball kid. I was at the game. I had my glove and was in full uniform, but I knew there was nothing better than ballpark food. My friends and I consumed more than one hot dog each, washed that down with a cold Coke and still had room for popcorn, peanuts and probably another dog. Thank you, Dad!
Oh yeah, besides the gastronomic celebration there was a baseball game.