Sox Park's new top dog

NEW ERA ON S. SIDE | Vienna Beef replaces Best's Kosher at Cell

The Sox have a new dog.

At the April 6 home opener, White Sox fans won't be greeted by a favorite that goes back to old Comiskey Park: the sweet and savory Best's Kosher hot dogs.

Sox officials told the Sun-Times another hometown frank is coming in to play as a headliner for the South Siders: Vienna Beef.

An all-beef jumbo dog, weighing in at nearly a quarter pound -- but following the same recipe as Vienna's standard hot dog -- will be at concession stands and offered by vendors working the aisles. Sox officials say they haven't arrived at a price yet.

Last year, Sara Lee Corp. said it was exiting the kosher meat business, cutting Best's Kosher, which has been on the Sox menu for decades. Sara Lee's Ballpark Franks will still be sold at the Cell.

Brooks Boyer, vice president and chief marketing officer for the Sox, reflected on losing the best-selling kosher dog: "It was a great-tasting hot dog and it was a premium hot dog. It was just a terrific, terrific product. We were sad to see it go."

Vienna Beef president Howard Eirinberg is pumped about the jumbo dog being the official Sox dog.

"I'm a die-hard Cubs fan, but it got me excited about going to a Sox game," Eirinberg said.