The San Francisco Giants are trying to do what many thought to be impossible and make a run for the playoffs, and they’re inviting Joey Chestnut along for the ride.
During the Giants’ series-opening matchup Friday September 12, 2025 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 17-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest winner Chestnut will attempt to eat 99 Impossible Foods plant-based nuggets in 9 innings.
While the Giants are taking on the Dodgers, with Justin Verlander penciled in to pitch against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Chestnut will take on a fan that won the Impossible Foods sweepstakes to compete against him. That fan will have their flight, hotel, and game ticket covered by Impossible Foods.
Chestnut is originally from Vallejo and spent time in San Jose while in college.
“I’ve done a lot of wild challenges over the years, but 99 nuggets in 9 innings is a new one for me, and I’m fired up!” Chestnut said in a statement provided to Heavy Sports. Doing it back in the Bay where I grew up, and at Oracle Park with the Giants, makes it even better. I’m a big fan, and it feels like a home game!! I’m pumped to team up with Impossible again, they’ve been awesome partners, and their nuggets are legit. They’re my favorite. I’ve been training, I’m feeling good, so 99 should go down no problem. Honestly, just talking about it is making me hungry…I hope they’ve got a few extras ready.”
As he said, 99 nuggets in 2-3 hours should be no sweat for Chestnut. At the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest, he ate 70.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
His stomach has clearly endured a lot worse.
Chestnut’s Baseball Eating Tour
This is far from the first eating challenge that Chestnut has taken on at a baseball game over the years.
Just over a month ago on August 8, 2025, Chestnut made an eating challenge appearance at a St. Paul Saints game against the Iowa Cubs. The Saints are the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
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For his eating challenge at the Saints game, Chestnut and fellow competitive eater Notorious B.O.B took on the “Land of 10,000 Calories.”
The famous hot dog is six feet long and is covered in pulled pork, mac and cheese, jalapenos and barbecue sauce served with 6 feet of french fries and jalapeno poppers.
Any fan can purchase the 23.5 pound feast at a Saints game, but it will cost them $135 and take about 45 minutes to prepare.
He also made appearances with the Toledo Mud Hens, Indianapolis Indians and even the Savannah Bananas in recent years. With the Bananas, Chestnut took on a “Banana Dog” eating challenge.
Will Chestnut Bring Good Luck To San Francisco?
While Chestnut’s appearance in San Francisco is certainly exciting, many fans are equally as excited about what’s happening on the field between the Giants and Dodgers this weekend.
The Giants are 13-4 in their last 17 games behind a showstopping offensive surge that has helped them shoot up the standings. As of now, they are only 2 games behind the New York Mets for the final Wild Card spot, 5 games behind the San Diego Padres for the second Wild Card and 8 games behind the Dodgers for the NL West lead.
But Friday’s game starts a stretch of 7 games against the Dodgers in 10 days. These games against the Giants’ first-place divisional rival represent the toughest remaining games they will play this season on paper.
Basically, these games against the Dodgers will make or break their season. The Giants are hot and hungry, but the Dodgers are eager to play spoiler to their hated rivals.
The Giants hope to start out that stretch with a win Friday, so hopefully Joey Chestnut’s “Impossible” eating challenge brings them some good luck.
Giants fans, are you excited to see Joey Chestnut at Oracle Park?
Joey Chestnut, Hot Dog Contest Legend, Making Appearance At San Francisco Giants Game