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Kobayashi Plows Through Hamburgers at RailCats Game

August 18, 2011 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - Unofficial World Hot Dog Eating Champion Takeru Kobayashi chowed down against four lucky Gary SouthShore RailCats fans in a Hamburger Eating Contest at the end of the seventh inning and was proclaimed champion amid some controversy at U. S. Steel Yard Wednesday Night.

The man who once took on a Kodiak bear in a nationally televised hot dog eating contest, Kobayashi was a part of the action when the RailCats fell to the Shreveport-Bossier Captains 11-9. Miller Lite, Aramark and Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard sponsored Kobayashi's visit to U. S. Steel Yard and after greeting fans and signing autographs, the legendary competitive eater was a coach and judge of a wing eating contest featuring on field emcee Jason Yurechko defeating a RailCats fan in the third inning.

Kobayashi laced up his eating shoes in the seventh inning when the Nagano, Japan native took on four contestants. The participants won the right to partake in the challenge after competing in the semifinals held after the RailCats games on Monday and Tuesday. A last minute request for warm water gave a Kobayashi a late start but despite the adversity, the consummate professional still managed to eat six burgers in 47 seconds, good for a burger every 7.83 seconds. Conversely, the team of four RailCats fans consumed nine burgers in 1:17, which equates to 8.55 seconds per burger. With the confusion on the start time, team officials reviewed the tape and proclaimed Kobayashi the winner based on the time per burger.

Kobayashi is a professional eater who held the world record for hot dog eating for nearly six years and is currently the unofficial record holder for most hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes with 69. In addition to his hot dog eating prowess, Kobayashi holds several other eating records, including Guinness Records for hot dogs, meatballs, hamburgers and pasta despite his relatively small stature. The training methods for the 125-pounder have been well documented as Kobayashi expands his stomach for competition by eating progressively larger amounts of food and then exercises to ensure that fat will not impeded the expansion of his stomach.

Kobayashi set his first record at his rookie appearance on July 4, 2001, when the Nagano, Japan native became the unlikely champion after plowing through 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest. For the next six years (2001-2006), Kobayashi retained the Nathan's crown setting three world records along the way. Over that period of time, Kobayashi competed in a wide variety of eating competitions including hamburgers, vegetarian dumplings, roasted pork buns, bratwurst sausages, lobster rolls and even cow brains.

The RailCats return to U. S. Steel Yard for an eight-game homestand to close out the 2011 American Association regular season beginning on Tuesday, August 23. For more information on everything RailCats Baseball or to purchase tickets now call the 'Cats at 219.882.255 or visit www.railcatsbaseball.com today!

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