The Phillies appeared to be done with Dollar Dog Nights until an angry ‘fan’ called his senator’s office

While Philadelphians aren’t exactly familiar with it, sometimes, it seems that government can be effective.

At least when it comes to hot dogs.

The overlapping section of the Venn diagram of Phillies fans and mystery meat aficionados probably already knows this, but the Phils’ beloved Dollar Dog Nights appeared to be over for the season (for the uninitiated, that’s when glizzies go on sale for a buck). The last one was May 3, reportedly marking the final of just two scheduled for 2022.

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That is, until now.

According to Associated Press sports writer Dan Gelston, the Phillies and food service provider Aramark are working on adding another Dollar Dog Night to the 2022 lineup.

“The Phillies and Aramark work together on the dates,” an Aramark representative told Gelston. “We are planning for another Dollar Dog Night, and we will be announcing that in the near future.”

And in some small way, the confirmation of a third date could be thanks to Sen. Bob Casey and Crossing Broad reporter Kyle Pagan.

As best we can tell, the sausage got made after Pagan called Casey’s office this week and asked to speak with the senator. Last week, Pagan posted a story on Crossing Broad that called only two Dollar Dog Nights this year “a disgrace,” and suggested publicly shaming the Phillies into adding another one.

So that’s what he did.

“Usually, they have three to four a year,” Pagan tells an attentive staffer named Regina, which he posted to Twitter. “This year, when they’re actually good, and [Phillies’ owner] John Middleton went over the luxury tax for the first time ever, they only have two, and they’re already gone by May.”

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Regina tells Pagan that she’ll pass the message on to Casey — which she appears to have actually done.

On Thursday, just over an hour after Crossing Broad tweeted a video of Pagan’s call, Casey’s Twitter account sent a frank message in support of Dollar Dog Night, writing “Let’s do this.” A few hours later, Gelston sent out his reply from Aramark noting more Dollar Dog Nights are on the horizon.

But why, of all things, did a senator get behind such a minor, yet meaty, issue?

“Who doesn’t love dollar dogs?” said Casey’s communications director Mairéad Lynn. “On issues big and small, Sen. Casey delivers for his constituents.”

But Casey’s support likely didn’t have an impact on the additional Dollar Dog Night. As Bonnie Clark, vice president of communications for the Phillies, told The Inquirer, the team always has at least three of the promotions each season, and “that has not changed for the 2022 season.”

“We are in the process of determining the date for the third,” Clark said. “Once we know that information, it will be added to our promotions schedule.”

As Lynn put it, there’s “no federal jurisdiction over Dollar Dog Night,” but Casey wanted to show his support. He is also focusing on more serious issues, such as the ongoing baby formula shortage and abortion. But helping out Philadelphians with more cheap ballpark hot dogs was an opportunity to show that the senator’s office “can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

This, of course, is just the latest example of government pandering to aggressively devoted Philly sports fans. On Thursday, Philadelphia City Council voted unanimously to name Sixers star Joel Embiid “Most Valuable Philadelphian.”

This situation, though, is at least beneficial to the average Phils fan — we can get a cheap meal out of it.