For nearly 50 years, Jerome Scott has been a silent hero of Cleveland baseball, one hot dog at a time. He started selling hotdogs in 1978 at the old Municipal Stadium – two years after he arrived in Cleveland from Alabama. On that first night, the cost of a hot dog was $1. Today, Scott, now 65, sells hotdogs during Guardians games at Progressive Field for $8 a pop.
“Last year I had the record for the most hot dogs sold in one night,” Scott said. “It was Dollar Dog Night, and I sold 2,800. People certainly love hot dogs.”
Some say Scott doesn’t just sell ball park concessions, he embodies a half-century of the American spirit – resilient, hardworking – and he is deeply connected to the Clevelanders who fill the stands. He says he loves interacting with different people.
“The fans here love baseball. They love when we win,” Scott said. “Even when we lose, they just keep coming back again and again. That’s special.”
Scott’s mother brought him and his siblings from Alabama to Cleveland when he was 16 years old. He attended East High, where he ran track and played softball, excelling at both.
Scott responded to a newspaper ad to become a vendor at what was then Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1978, when he was 18 years old. He had never been to a professional baseball game at that point but had watched plenty of ball games on TV.
I was looking for a job and I loved baseball. I went through the interview process, had to take a few tests,” Scott recalled. “There are a lot of rules that we have to follow, but I learned the process pretty quickly.”
Since then, Scott has watched thousands of games in person.
Pre-game rituals
On a game day in June, Scott arrived at Progressive Field at 3 p.m., as vendors are offered a complimentary buffet spread prior to the start of the game. Although the game began at 6:45 p.m. sharp, Scott’s work day began before the sun rose at 4:45 a.m., as a McDonald’s employee at the restaurant in Clark-Fulton. He walks to work each morning, as he lives less than 10 minutes away.
Scott is responsible for changing the coffee filters, picking up litter in the parking lot and greeting customers with his trademark smile. He holds a multitude of jobs, including working for the Cleveland Browns, selling hot dogs and beer during football season.
At Guardians games, vendors have the option of coming dressed in uniform or changing into uniform once they arrive. Scott chooses the former, to give himself more time. He then socializes with a few of his co-workers before the first sales of the day occur.
Hundreds of fans were already filling into the stadium on June 8, designated as Pride Night at Progressive Field, racing to the concession stands before the first pitch. Scott’s hot dog carrier can hold up to 50 hot dogs at a time, but he usually only puts 25 in each time he stocks a load, to ensure they stay fresh. Once his carrier is ready to go, he makes his way out of the kitchen and down to the third base line, which is where he normally sells hot dogs during home games.
Game time
Scott can sell anywhere from 300 to 400 hot dogs per game – he’s fast. He notes that many fans prefer his steamed hot dogs over the stadium’s grilled hot dogs because they are less greasy.
“Kenny Lofton was one of my favorite players to watch because he was so fast,” Scott said. “I’m fast too. Some people at the stadium called me Kenny because they thought we looked alike.”
Scott begins selling hot dogs prior to the official start time. He descends the stairs and begins to bellow “Hot Dogs!” Fans from left and right flag him down as he puts his carrier down to begin assembling the fan-favorite snack.
When the national anthem plays over the speakers, Scott stops working, takes off his hat and puts it over his heart. The crowd lets out a roar as the anthem ends, and he springs back into action, making his way to the next aisle.
With the stadium no longer accepting cash, Scott is able to navigate the crowd slightly faster, as patrons tap his mobile card reader. After he completes his serving, he quickly walks back up the stairs. Waiting for him at the top of the stairs are two of his biggest fans.
Connecting with fans
Susan and Mark Carlisle attended the June 8 game to celebrate Pride Night and to reunite with their favorite vendor.
Susan Carlisle immediately goes in for a hug as the couple greets Scott. They have a brief yet charming conversation that feels like a reunion of sorts, and Susan hands him a card with a tip inside to thank him for being so kind to them over the years.
More than 20 years ago, Susan started bringing her two sons to baseball games, both of whom, like Susan, played the sport. All three of them played third base in their day, so Susan would purchase third base line tickets so that her sons could learn by watching some of the best athletes in the world. That’s where she first met Scott.
“He would ask you your name, ask which condiment you wanted, and then he would write your name with the squeeze bottle on your hot dog and it was the coolest thing,” Susan said. “I’m a huge baseball fan, I’ve been to a lot of ballparks. I’ve never seen anyone do that. He’s such a special man.”
“I just want him to know that we really appreciate him,” Susan said. “He’s an inspiration to all of us.”
Susan Carlisles
After that initial encounter, the Carlisles continued to seek Scott out when they attended games, for his warm personality and top tier customer service. To this day, they only purchase hot dogs from Scott.
“It’s just sort of a bond that’s been built there,” Mark Carlisle said. He’s part of our “experience from going to the Guardians game and getting our hot dogs from him.”
The Carisles recognize Scott for his outstanding work ethic. He was the oldest vendor they would see, and the hardest-working, they said. For the past seven years, they have maintained a tradition of bringing him a thank you card.
“I just want him to know that we really appreciate him,” Susan said. “He’s an inspiration to all of us.”
Remembering 2016
When Scott runs out of hot dogs, he darts to the kitchen to refill his carrier. Scott continues to move at a quick pace, taking no longer than 3 minutes to restock before heading back to the crowd.
Thankfully, the current stadium allows for Scott to move up and down the stairs at a rapid pace. A shift from the days of the old Municipal Stadium.
“In the old stadium, you had to be careful on the stairs, especially at the top of the stadium,” Scott said. “When it rained, it would get very slippery. Thankfully, I never fell, but I saw a few other vendors who did.”
One of his favorite and most memorable times working at Progressive Field was during the teams’ 2016 World Series run. It was a time Scott will never forget.
“That was something, 2016 was a really good year for Cleveland sports,” Scott said. “The energy in the stadium was probably the most electric I’ve ever seen in all my years working there.”
The final inning
The sport has changed tremendously over the years, Scott noted. He referenced the advances in technology, such as the challenge system, which allows teams to request a video review of calls they may disagree with. And, he notes, even the hot dogs have changed over the years.
“The product has changed over time. Before it was just pork and chicken hot dogs. Now they have beef options,” Scott said.
As far as retirement, Scott doesn’t have an exact idea of how much longer he plans to sell hot dogs at the games. He enjoys the physicality of the job, as it keeps his body moving.
“Everyone always asks me when I’m going to retire,” Scott said. “I’m able to continue to do this because I take care of my body by going to the doctor, maintaining a healthy diet and resting. I think I’ll give it another five to six years before I call it quits.”
Although his hot dog selling days may be numbered, he plans to continue working. He hopes to stay close to the action of the third base line.
“I will probably try to get another job here at Progressive Field. I’m not sure exactly what yet,” Scott added.
He has been employee of the month three times. However, there is one more goal he would like to accomplish before ending this chapter.
“It has always been a dream of mine to throw the first pitch at a game. I’m hoping you can make that happen for me,” Scott said with a wink.
