VBT Fenway Park: The Green Monster

Fenway Park. You either love it or hate it. For those of us that hearken for the days of old and traditional baseball, we love Fenway Park. It is the oldest ballpark in MLB and also the smallest. At well over a century (that's right, a century) old, it was built during an era when all ballparks were situated downtown and nestled snuggly into the the surrounding neighborhood. As a result of the tight fit, ballparks were often designed to accommodate what acreage that was available. That meant for some rather unconventional dimensions. For Fenway, that meant a short left field. Very short. It would have made for a pitcher's nightmare as even the most anemic hitters would have little difficulty poking a homer into left field.

To compensate, for the short 310 feet to the wall, they made it over 37 feet tall. To this day, while it is no great feat to bounce one off the wall, it takes a real slugger to put one over for a round tripper. The outfield wall, painted green, even has a famous nickname: the Green Monster. A monster that swats down would be home runs, frustrating right hand hitters.

To honor one of the most iconic ballpark features in the history of the game, the hot dog designed for the Boston Red Sox is none other than the Green Monster Dog.

Keeping it green, put in a high quality veggie dog (I use Field Roast brand) into a grilled bun, add sliced avocado, fresh tomatillo relish, diced jalapenos, a few sport peppers and top with fresh cilantro. All green condiments. This is a dog you can eat with a clear conscience. No meat and all veggies. For all of you hot dog haters out there, this dog is for you.

Beer Pairing. While Sam Adams is brewed in several parts of the country, this lager is primarily made in the vicinity of Boston. While most versions of its lineup of brewskies will work, I recommend the summer ale. It is clean and refreshing, and baseball is, after all, a summer sport.