About four years ago, I stumbled upon a bit of lore that felt like a secret while researching a question we all take for granted: Why is it okay for fans to take home runs and foul balls from stadiums? If I were to run off with a basketball or football that ended up in the field of play, the powers that be would both demand the ball back and get mad.
Then I found the answer, and it was glorious and silly, and I shared it with you on Thanksgiving 2023 after sifting through hundreds of online pages
of turn-of-the-century newspapers. The anniversary of this fateful day has quietly passed, and as the Dodgers return to Philadelphia, I relink to it to refresh everyone’s recollections.
But during this research I stumbled upon something right up my alley. Eric Stephen gave me one spoken mission when he hired me in 2022: write about interesting things. The unspoken mission turned out to be “don’t get sued,” but to be fair, in five seasons, we’ve only had one close call.
When I was making this season’s intro clip, I was sorely tempted to reference something I enjoyed in my college days. I held back because I figured no one would get the reference. For my money, the original Iron Chef Japan was the best; a quirky mix of kitsch, competence, and fun. It’s a combination of traits that subsequent remakes could never top because they became lost in their own self-importance.
Five years and a small fortune to see baseball experiences that could be classified as high art? There are worse parallels to create in one’s life. The original Hans Zimmer Backdraft soundtrack for the show still slaps. I often listen to the show’s original title theme when I land at a destination.
The Visiting Clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park
Did you know that the most sought-after cheesesteak in Philadelphia turns out to be the one served in the visitor’s clubhouse?
From 2022, Matt Monagan of MLB reported on the exciting yet goofy contest that arrives when every team comes to Citizens Bank Park: how many cheesesteaks can you eat?
“It wasn’t even a dare,” Young told me in a recent call. “I was just hungry.”
But after eating 11 cheesesteaks over a three-game series in Philadelphia some time in the early 2000s, the Detroit Tigers All-Star unknowingly launched a competition that would continue on for two decades: An underground, cheesesteak-devouring contest in the bowels of Citizens Bank Park — beyond the cheering crowds and behind the double doors of the visitors’ clubhouse. Players, coaches and, most notably, bullpen catchers, have come into town raring to set a new sandwich-eating high.
The story Mr. Monagan reported on opened my eyes and gave me the silliest idea: I should get a cheesesteak from there when I visit. Conversations with Stephen Nelson and Tim Neverett over the years fueled this caloric search for El Dorado. The tricky part is that in my current role, I walk the line between serious journalist and devoted fan, often keeping a foot in both camps.
I thought, what better way to celebrate completing the MLB circuit and begin my transition into being a more serious, more credible journalist? In one of life’s little ironies, I have the means of traveling the country but not the access one would need or want to do the job.
While I attempt to square that circle, one does not need access to enjoy a good cheesesteak in Philadelphia, as one couple from Tokyo have demonstrated.
A champion arises from the East
In one of the many All-Star festivities that blended together before the All-Star Game, a cook-off was held to see who could cook the best cheesesteak. The winners came from an unexpected corner, per Max Ralph of MLB.
Kosuke and Tomomi Chujo, a Japanese couple who have been informally adopted by Philadelphia, traveled from Tokyo for the event. The Chujos have run a Philadelphia-inspired restaurant in Tokyo, “Nihonbashi Philly,” since 2011. The restaurant is a stone’s throw from Tokyo Station, which would have been helpful information to know back in March 2025.
The restaurant, which has a dedicated internet following, is dedicated to all things Philadelphia, with Phillies and Eagles gear. The Chujos have made several pilgrimages to Philadelphia to enjoy its culture in both sport and cheesesteak, improving their craft through homemade bread and homemade cheese whiz.
The Chujos’ prize for winning the contest is having their cheesesteak featured at Angelo’s restaurant in Philadelphia. Angelo’s Pizzeria will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, so I will have to endure the line before Wednesday’s finale.
“The secret was that there was no secret.”
I was initially frustrated that my quest for Cheesesteak El Dorado would likely be stymied by my inability to get credentialed, until Matt Gelb of The Athletic inadvertently killed my little dream, like throwing Santa Claus off a roof in a Tim Allen picture.
In a preview essay before the All-Star Game, Mr. Gelb spoke with current participants about getting cheesesteaks in the visiting clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park.
“It’s good,” Kansas City Royals starter Michael Wacha said, “to have a little cheat meal every now and then.”
Every MLB team travels with at least one nutritionist, a requirement stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement. Teams spend hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to feed their players the highest cuisine. On the road, visiting teams are typically responsible for arranging catering. Some ballparks offer trained chefs in the visiting clubhouses.
The Phillies have a bunch of guys who know how to work a grill. Their cheesesteak is regarded as one of the best in the city, as proclaimed not just by visitors but also some local employees who have conducted their own unscientific research. The clubhouse staff, Michaels estimated, makes at least 35 cheesesteaks on a regular-season game day. With an American League team that comes to Citizens Bank Park only every other year, that number swells to 50. Word of mouth, in this sport, is strong.
Generally, it’s a fun piece that includes some trivia: Freddie Freeman normally gets a chicken cheesesteak with American cheese and A1 sauce, Logan Webb will have a single cheesesteak a day, drenched in hot sauce, and Paul Skenes ordered five cheesesteaks to go on getaway day the last time the Pirates were in Philadelphia.
It’s all well and good until Mr. Gelb inadvertently points out that my Cheesesteak El Dorado, much like actual El Dorado, does not actually exist. Yes, they serve cheesesteaks in the visiting clubhouse, but…
The secret, [Clubhouse Attendant Eric] Michaels said, is there is no secret. There is no special beef; they use the same brand (Philly’s Best Steak) that Aramark, the ballpark food service, uses. They have a daily fresh delivery of rolls from Liscio’s, a local bread institution based in New Jersey. They are willing to bend the traditional rules of cheesesteaks — toppings other than grilled onions are acceptable — and they don’t mess with Cheez Whiz. Every steak sandwich is made with American cheese, but savvy players can request provolone.
“It’s ingredients that are here, fresh every day,” Michaels said. “You tell us what you want, it’s made right in front of you, and five minutes later you’re taking it down.”
Michaels, 30, grew up in Northeast Philadelphia. He’s worked for the Phillies for 13 years. His boss, Kevin Steinhour, has run the visitors clubhouse in Philadelphia since 1992 — long before the Phillies abandoned Veterans Stadium. This [year] is his 46th year in professional baseball; he’s a steady presence for opposing teams. And he has never understood the fascination with the clubhouse cheesesteaks, which have gained attention through various TV features and cameos on game broadcasts.
[Emphasis added.]
Way to kill the mystique, guys.
Clearly, Philadelphia is fresh out of whimsy, relievers who can handle Andy Pages’ comebackers in extra innings, and fans who don’t incessantly boo everyone at an exhibition game that everyone overpaid for!
Sass aside, I realized that if no special access was needed, I could still celebrate finishing the MLB circuit.
I thought somehow things would change after finishing up my chase, and maybe they will. I am not immune to wanting recognition or a pat on the back, to be acknowledged by my peers and colleagues. I was annoyed that the Yankees would not shut up and try to upsell me about being the 29th MLB ballpark I visited, and the Phillies could not give less of a wet sprocket that my chase ends at their ballpark.
I learned a long time ago that you are your own best advocate, but having a little humility from time to time helps.
By the article, one can just get the same quality of cheesesteak from a vendor at the ballpark – no credential required. At times, it helps to have a measure of perspective. The joys of life are often fleeting, like the freshness of a newly made cheesesteak.
One might wonder if Freeman partook of the visiting clubhouse during the All-Star Game festivities. For a final time, Mr. Gelb, demonstrating the truth of the adage, all good things come to those who wait:
This week, Freeman resides in the home clubhouse because he’s on the National League team. The Phillies have a robust kitchen staff on that side, complete with two trained chefs. They prepare gourmet meals.
“I want to try their food,” Freeman said Monday afternoon. “I had some steak and rice earlier. It was really good.”
He laughed. In a week, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be at Citizens Bank Park to play the Phillies. Freeman will return to the visitors clubhouse.
“So I’ll save the cheesesteaks for then,” Freeman said. “Chicken and cheese. Can’t wait.”
It’ll likely be worth every bite.
