After a highly-publicized release from Comerica Park’s Sportservice concessions service-provider, Detroit’s infamous “singing hot dog vendor” (Charley Marcuse) will be absent from Opening Day for the first time since Tiger Stadium’s final season – 15 years ago.
Marcuse, who began selling hot dogs at Tiger Stadium while in high school, was known for serenading spectators with an operatic vocal performance during concession sales, denying ketchup to stadium customers (arguing that mustard was the only acceptable condiment) and bombarding television broadcasts with his boisterous call – “Hoooooottttttt doooooogggssss!”
While many fans embraced Marcuse’s enthusiasm as part of the baseball experience, many others found his antics disruptive, distracting and disrespectful to the game.
Towards the end of his career at Comerica Park last year, Sportservice concessions had limited Marcuse’s singing to only four times per game: between innings without exception. Following a barrage of new complaints, he was relieved of his hot dog-warmer in September of 2013.
Marcuse, 33, now sells menswear at Birmingham’s high-end retailer – Claymore Shop. According to inquiries by the Detroit News, Sportservice general manager Robert Thormeier has provided “no update” regarding the return of Marcuse, and his controversial position as Detroit’s “singing hot dog vendor.”
Watch Charley Marcuse perform his famous hot dog-selling call below: