With the draft for the season behind us and the Collegiate summer league in full swing, now might be the perfect time to start planning a baseball-themed house party.
If you’re a passionate baseball fan and want to throw a house party to celebrate, then you could, of course, just put the game on the TV and enjoy it.
But that’s not really a proper party, now is it? If you’re to entice friends over and coax out a lively atmosphere from the assembled squad, then you’re going to have to go further…
Aside from showing the matches in the crispest quality and covering the spread – both in terms of the party food and gaming options – you’ll also want to think about post-match entertainment, party games, and more.
We’re here to help with that; here are 6 tips for throwing a baseball-themed party, all in time for the MLB Summer League.
Food: It’s All About The Hot Dogs
First things first, let’s talk about food. When it comes to baseball, there is one food you must serve; hotdogs. Indeed, at pretty much every baseball match, you’ll find vendors at the end of every aisle offering delicious hotdogs. The Hotdog.org reveal that since “over 26 million hot dogs and sausages consumed during an average baseball season, it’s safe to assume hot dogs are an important part of the baseball experience.”
So, how do you make stadium-quality hot dogs at home? First things first; don’t be fooled into thinking you can buy the nastiest meat, drench it in mustard and ketchup, and call it party-worthy.
As Mel’s Hot Dogs in Tampa tells Zest, it’s all about using “the best-quality ingredients possible, including the condiments”, as it all adds up to a better hot dog.
It’s not only about the ingredients; a surprising amount of care needs to be taken in the cooking process, too. Mel goes on to caution about overcooking your hotdog; “a [traditional American] hot dog is a fully cooked item, so all you want to do is heat it up.”
So, how do you heat one up without overcooking the sausage and drying it out? Simply submerge it in hot (but never ever boiling water) for a few minutes; “If you boil it, you boil all the flavor out,” Mel tells Zest.
The Guardian, in their article on “How To Cook The Perfect Hotdog”, concur that baseball fans like their hotdogs poached and that “slow poaching is the best bet for a juicy hot dog, followed by a quick blast on a smoking hot grill for flavour”.
Of course, this is only true for traditional American hotdogs. If you’re using an English sausage, such as a Cumberland or Lincolnshire, you’ll want to grill from raw to completion.
Also important is to always steam your buns to give them a pillowy yet chewy texture. Just be sure not to steam the buns for too long, as this can make them mushy or sticky. The Hotdog.org says “Steaming hot dog buns with a steamer is the most straightforward option when you’re serving a crowd.”
Finally, when it comes to toppings, it’s all about preference, with each Major League baseball team having their own signature hotdog largely defined by their condiment choice. We’re fans of the Cincinnati Cheese Coney Dog served at the Cincinnati Reds’ Great American Ballpark and the Cubano Dog from Kansas City Royals, in particular.
Refreshments: Beers & Baseball Inspired Cocktails
As Imbibe Magazine points out, “for about as long as baseball has been one of America’s favorite pastimes, beer has been the drink of choice for ballgame refreshment.”
Whilst we know that the combination of beer and baseball is a classic pairing, let’s face it, after that obligatory second hotdog and a few cans, one can start feeling awfully full. The solution? Enter baseball cocktails.
Baseball cocktails have been gaining popularity in concession stands year on year and are ideal for replicating at home due to their simplicity. As Liquor.com point out, though “there is no generally accepted, classic “Baseball Cocktail’’’’…‘’there is one classic with which to toast the baseball season: the ‘’Cooperstown Cocktail”’’.
The Cooperstown includes gin, equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, orange bitters and mint, so it won’t cost you a fortune to put together. It tastes great, too!
Another cocktail to mix up in the seventh inning is the aptly named ‘Take Me Out To the Ball Game’, which is based on the unofficial anthem baseball of the same name. This recipe is via Barina Craft via Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey:
“Rub a lemon wedge around the rim of a glass. Turn upside down and gently twist into a plate of crushed up Cracker Jacks candy coated popcorn and peanuts to coat the rim. Combine the Wild Turkey, Frangelico, Amaretto, lemon juice and pinch of salt in a cocktail shaker. Mix and strain into the already rimmed drinking glass and top off with soda water.”
And for those of you who don’t know it, here’s the chorus of the anthem to sing while you drink it:
Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don’t care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don’t win, it’s a shame.
For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,
At the old ball game.
It’s a good idea to keep beers and other refreshments in an icebox so your guests can grab them whenever they want without the need to interrupt the game.
Create A Concession Stand For Snacks
No baseball party is complete without a traditional walk-up concession stand. Have a go at building your own concession stand out of wooden pallets and then load it with snacks, giving guests the ultimate big game experience from the comfort of home!
You’ll of course want peanuts and Cracker Jacks, as the song so succinctly calls for. Baby Ruth Candy bars are essential, too; this classic American chocolate bar features a soft and fudgy chocolate-flavoured, nougat centre, which then is topped with a layer of caramel and loaded with peanuts all encased in a rich milk chocolate. Yep, it’s as good as it sounds!
If you want to go the extra mile and really impress your guests, make your own Baby Ruth Candy Bars; Top Secret Recipes have a copycat recipe for this classic chocolate bar here.
Baseball Party Games
Plan some baseball inspired games to keep your guests entertained. The Spruce suggest ‘Strike Out’ where you “Hang a ring, such as a hula hoop or old tire, from a tree branch. Draw a line on the ground a few feet away from the ring. Players should stand behind the line and attempt to pitch three baseballs through the ring. Each ball that goes through is considered a strike. Any players who get all three strikes win a prize.”
Baseball trivia games are always a winner, too. Did you know that Babe Ruth’s first home run was hit against the New York Yankees? Or, that Derek Jeter was nicknamed ‘Mr. November’? Better brush up on your baseball if you didn’t!
Some casual sports activities will also be well received by your sporty friends. Why not set up a few bases in the backyard and play a friendly game of baseball? Or, for something less strenuous, gather everyone together for a fun round of wiffle ball. To make the hosting super streamlined, consider getting a batting tee so everyone can try their hand at hitting. It’s always important to make sure everyone has a chance to participate, even if they’re not the best player on the team!
Wind Things Down With Baseball Inspired Movies
Speaking of baseball trivia, here’s a fun fact; Since Right Off the Bat in 1915, there have been some 200 baseball films produced.
When all the fun and games are over, the baseball cocktails drunk and the hotdogs demolished, it’s time to wind things down with a baseball movie or two. This is also the time that the concession stand you made really comes into its own.
While they say there’s no crying in baseball, some of these top baseball movies will have you balling:
- Bull Durham (1988)
- 42 (2013)
- A League of Their Own (1992)
- The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
- Field of Dreams (1989)
- Eight Men Out (1988)
- Moneyball (2011)
- The Natural (1984)
- The Sandlot (1993)
- Fever Pitch’ (2005) – not the football one of the same name with Colin Firth
- ‘For Love of the Game’ (1999)
- ’61*’ (2001)
- ‘Rookie of the Year’ (1993)
- ‘Sugar’ (2008)
Don’t Forget The Decor
Hey, we’re going all out, aren’t we? So, make sure your house is looking the part to really bring home the baseball party theme. Hang some festive red, white and blue fabric bunting and cover tables with white linens and baseball inspired runners. No, we don’t mean pictures of Hall of Fame outfielder Rickey Henderson and other actual baseball runners – we mean make your tablecloth look like a baseball like this. Wow!