If you’ve been to a Reading Fightin Phils baseball game, you’ve likely laughed along with the crowd at the comedic antics of the team’s popular ostrich-riding character known as the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor, who leads skits and contests to entertain fans between innings. Likely less familiar to audiences is the man behind the bird, Matt Jackson, who’s also the ball club’s Executive Director of Graphic Arts and Game Entertainment. A lifelong baseball fan, Jackson has an impressive memorabilia collection in his West Reading home — and prefers his hot dogs with mustard and sauerkraut.
Q: How did you get into this line of work? I’m a huge baseball fan; I love the history of the game. My goal was to play major league ball; I played through high school, but I saw the writing on the wall. My parents encouraged me to pursue business but within my area of interest, so after graduating from Reading High, I got a sports management degree from Slippery Rock University. I was a summer intern for the Phils three years in a row and then they offered me a position.
Q: As the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor? [laughs] At first I filled in as needed – ticket sales, answering calls, assisting the GM and Assistant GM. I did all the graphic design of materials like mailers, signs, et cetera and performed in skits for fun. The Crazy Hot Dog Vendor came from that. In 2003, a performer was scheduled, and he had a costume like the ostrich. There was some confusion with the dates, however, and he didn’t show up. In order to avoid that in the future, [management] thought I’d be good at such an act. My first night – it was Opening Day – the costume hadn’t arrived, so I ran out in khakis, doing karate kicks and handstands, with hot dogs going everywhere. The crowd was on its feet cheering and laughing. Eventually the ostrich costume arrived and the Hot Dog Vendor started in 2004. I kept at it, going for laughs, and learned to get the audience involved.
Q: I’d say you’ve perfected that character. And I’m curious: if you’re really eating, do you choose a hot dog or burger? I do love a good burger, but I usually go for a hot dog. Believe it or not, I don’t eat that many; I just throw them. [laughs] When I do eat one, I like them simple – mustard and sauerkraut.
Q: Are you interested in other sports as well? I’m somewhat of a Steelers fan; I did security for them while I was in college, but baseball is my game. I have a baseball room at home with memorabilia I’ve collected since I was a kid. I also love to travel and have been all over the world, so the room has antiques from my travels too.
Q: What’s your favorite part – like a moment or tradition – of each season? It’s the memories that are made. Seeing kids fascinated by that Hall of Fame, or a grandparent talking to a child about games or players they saw, or seeing people’s faces light up from the excitement of the game or from just enjoying themselves. These are things I wouldn’t experience if I didn’t have this job; I enjoy the opportunity to put that good out into the world.
