The White Sox Ultimate Fan Sweepstakes offered a season-long celebration of fan engagement, thrilling lucky winners with unique Sox-themed prizes each month of the 2024 season. In honor of National Hot Dog Month, July’s sweepstakes elevated fan involvement to the next level, inviting one individual to create and name their own hot dog.
Enter Homewood-native and lifelong Sox fan, Tom Wilmowski.
Meet Tom
Wilmowski, 76, grew up on Chicago’s North Side, just blocks away from another major league ballpark near the Addison Red Line stop. Despite being surrounded by rival fans, his father instilled in him a deep love for the South Side White Sox.
Tom, a season ticket holder for the better part of four decades, has a long history attending an average of 20+ White Sox games each season. It’s a tenure filled with memorable moments, including witnessing both the 1983 and 2003 All-Star Games with his son and daughter, in-person, and attending Game 1 of the White Sox 2005 World Series, a moment that brought him to tears.
When Tom saw the Ultimate Fan Sweepstakes online, he entered on a whim, never imagining he’d win.
“When I first got the email, I thought it was some kind of scam,” he joked, explaining he even forwarded the message to his children to verify its authenticity.
“Oh my God, I have to come up with a hot dog!”
The ‘Wilmo Dog’ Takes Shape
The name “Wilmo Dog” stems from Tom’s college nickname.
“All my friends call me Wilmo because there were two Toms, so ‘Wilmo’ was short for Wilmowski,” he explained.
His hot dog inspiration came during an August trip to the Oakland Coliseum, when his son reminded him of their shared love for Texas BBQ from past White Sox games against the Rangers.
“My son and I were there, talking about the contest, and he reminded me how much I love BBQ,” Wilmowski recalled. “Eating some of the best BBQ in Texas sparked the idea for a brisket-inspired dog.”
The Wilmo Dog is a unique fusion of flavors, featuring the South Side staple Vienna Beef hot dog, BBQ brisket, crispy onions, shredded cheese, and Hog Wild sauce — a nod to Wilmowski’s favorite local BBQ spot in Midlothian.
“I always put shredded cheese on my food,” he shared, adding that Delaware North, one of the ballpark’s food service providers, came up with the idea to add crispy onions.
A Day at the Ballpark
On September 14, the Wilmo Dog made its debut at the Center Field Concession Stand. Fans eagerly lined up to try the new creation, with reactions ranging from enthusiastic to down-right curious. Many fans commented on the bold BBQ flavor and the satisfying crunch from the crispy onions.
Tom was thrilled with the final product, praising the collaboration with Delaware North,
“They crafted a version of the proposed hot dog, and I said, ‘This is really good.’ They gave me two of them, which was almost too much!”
‘Wilmo Dog’ Reactions
Friends and family of Wilmowski were quick to express their support and excitement.
“They said I was so lucky, that I deserve it after all these years of dedication to the team,” he noted.
When asked if he’d like to see the Wilmo Dog become a permanent menu item, Wilmowski responded with a hopeful, “Sure I would!”
Stay tuned for the 2025 Ultimate Fan Sweepstakes to test your luck at unique and exciting prizes!
Could the next Wilmo Dog be on the horizon?
White Sox Fan’s Dream Come True: Tom Wilmowski and the ‘Wilmo Dog’ was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.