Mascot Spotlight: Ketchup

This recurring series features those lovable furry creatures who respresnt sports teams and other companies. I might have an unhealthy fascination with them.

Ketchup is one of the mascots of the Chicago Dogs minor league baseball team. How he became a mascot is a bit of a mystery. Squeeze was/is the longtime mascot of the Dogs. As Chicagoans know, Chicago is notorious for not putting ketchup on hot dogs. It's almost a crime.

Naturally, when the Dogs debuted, Mustard had to be their mascot. Sometime in 2020, there was a Squeeze retirement announcement. Some suspect it actually came from Ketchup. Either way, their rivalry continues to this day.

Fans cheer Squeeze and boo Ketchup, although often Kethcup gets a lot of love, too. How can you not love the big lug?

The last time I saw the Dogs, I looked all over for Ketchup, but couldn't find him. I went up to the Press Box and did my work. Then when I was leaving, I pretty much ran into him coming out of a skybox. Of course, I had to get a selfie (see my admitted fascination above). 

For more info on Ketchup and the team, go to thechicagodogs.com. Be on the lookout for Ketchup and Squeeze.

Ketchup and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2024.

Friend Encounters: Ketchup and Kacy Standohar

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends meeting celebrities.

I met Kacy Standohar several years ago when she was the in-game host for the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits. Since then, I have seen Kacy at many other sports events, both pro and college. It's always great running into her or working the same event.

An Ohio native, Kacy is now an adopted Chicagoan (although I thinks she still has some Ohio sports fandom in her, but that's understandable). She is totally Chicago though, supprting and covering all local teams.

I don't see any one having more fun or working harder than Kacy. She makes it fun for viewers and co-workers.

Last year, while working at the Chicago Dogs games, Kacy took a selfie with Ketchup, the underrated secondary mascot to Squeeze (because Chicago dogs don't have ketchup). Look at those smiles. I think Kacy's is even bigger than Ketchup's!

Kacy also works on CHGO, a great Chicago sports site. How this woman has the energy is beyond me, but her enthusiasm is contagious.

The Chicago Dogs open their season May 12. I don't know if Kacy will be there, but I hope to see her sometime this season.

Check my first interview with Kacy at On the Beat With Kacy Standohar. Go to AllCHGO.com to see Kacy's great work and lots of interesting sports coverage.

Kacy Standohar and Ketchup in Rosemont, IL-May 2022.

Friend Encounters: Squeeze and Ketchup and Jenniffer Weigel

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

I grew up watching Tim Weigel deliver the sports news on television. Tim's unique style included humor, which was greatly appreciated during very lean years for Chicago sports. Unfortunately, Tim died in 2001, succumbing to a brain tumor at just 56 years old.

One of Tim's daughters followed his path into the media, although in her own way. Jenniffer is an author, reporter, television host, speaker and more. The first book I read of hers was Stay Tuned, an amazing book about communicating with her late father from beyond. I have since read her other books and highly encourage all to do so, too.

Jenniffer's approach is one of searching for answers and options. She has her beliefs, but is pen to others, while continuing her search for more insight. I find her work immensely entertaining, informative and calming. I don't have to agree with everything she writes (although I pretty much do), to respect her thought process.

Jenniffer is known for posting various heart pictures on her social media pages. The hearts are really other things that are shaped close to hearts, but it is her way of saying love is everywhere. It's a great mantra and I have since found myself looking for hearts, too. I even occasionally post one and tag her out of respect.

At a Chicago Dogs baseball game, Jenniffer didn't find any hearts (or at least none that she posted), but she found Mustard and Ketchup, mascots of the Dogs. Jenniffer might be just what Ketchup needs to stop getting (playfully) booed (because everyone knows Ketchup doesn't belong on hot dogs). If Jenniffer can spread her message of love throughout the stands, maybe fans will be more appreciative of Ketchup. If anyone can do it, Jenniffer can.

Check out Jenniffer's books and other interesting stuff at JenWeigel.com. I'm a big fan and I have a lot of respect or Jenniffer. I'm not ashamed to say her books have helped me during random tough times.

As for the Dogs, they started play last Friday. I'll be "On the Beat" and reporting back here, on GlobalTravelerUSA.com and Patch.com. Go to ChicagoDogs.com for more info on the Dogs!

Squeeze, Jenniffer Weigel and Ketchup in Rosemont, IL-July 2020.

Friend Encounters: Chicago Dogs' Ketchup & Dave Zeman

The Chicago Dogs open their season this Friday. Once again, I will be "On the Beat" covering the Dogs here, on Patch.com and GlobalTravelerUSA.com. Who better to celebrate the start of the Dogs season than their much-maligned mascot Ketchup and baseball historian Dave Zeman.

It's been well-documented here how much I enjoy mascots. Actually, I think today's friend loves mascots, too (or maybe he just indulged me). When Dave Zeman and I attended a Chicago Dogs game, I sought out the mascots as always. I got my picture with Ketchup and Dave got one, too.

I'm usually not in favor of inanimate objects being mascots. I do like Ketchup though, although oddly, I rarely use ketchup.

The Chicago Dogs have two mascots. Ketchup's mascot colleague is Squeeze (mustard), which often brings funny interplay during games. Fans even get into the act by playfully booing Ketchup, because everyone knows, ketchup does not belong on Chicago (hot)dogs.

Dave is the co-author of The Baseball Rookies Encyclopedia, a look at rookie crops from 1872 through 2003. Dave and co-author David Nemec did an exhausting, but fantastic job on this book, which I happily own.

Having Dave pictured with Ketchup gives respect to this mascot. If a baseball scholar and historian like Dave can embrace a mascot, everyone can.

Go to ChicagoDogs.com for more info and scheduling of the Dogs. Look for The Baseball Rookie Encyclopedia on Amazon.

Squeeze and Dave Zeman in Rosemont, IL-June 2018.