The Cape Cod Baseball League is famous for many things: talented players, devoted fans, and even a movie or two. One ball field might just add food to that list, but not just any ballpark food. I’m talking about the Cape’s unique burgers.couldn’t give them away!" said McGlone. "Nobody wanted any."

Three years ago when Bob Phillips joined David McGlone at the grill at Red Wilson Field in South Yarmouth, they found themselves with a dilemma. When the men would stop in for coffee at a local Dunkin’ Donuts, they would be treated to two dozen doughnuts to give away at the game. "The problem is we 

At the end of the night, the two men would reluctantly toss out too many of the sweet treats. They realized they needed a plan. Phillips can be credited with stumbling upon perhaps the weirdest way to get rid of those doughnuts. He slipped a hamburger patty between them and started marketing his new creations, dubbed Sinkers and Hurlers.

Just as there are several kinds of doughnuts, there are several kinds of Sinkers. Which one you get depends on what kind of doughnut-bun you’re willing to try. An Inside Sinker is served in a grilled cinnamon doughnut. An Outside Sinker is on a plain grilled doughnut, and an Over the Plate Sinker comes on a grilled powdered doughnut. The most popular is probably the Outside Sinker.

Truly brave souls, however, dare to attempt The Hurler. Those with vivid imaginations and weak stomachs should stop reading right now. Otherwise, soldier on.

A Hurler is quite a confection. It is a grilled hamburger set between a halved jelly doughnut and topped with Easy Cheese. You know, the cheese that comes in a can. 

Upon hearing the description folks often wonder if Hurler refers to baseball pitching lingo or what a person might do if they actually eat one.

I ate one.

While I might not be the best judge (a favorite childhood snack was white sugar on Wonder Bread), I’d go with the pitching thing. After all, I really did eat one and I am still here to tell about it. It was Tuesday night and it was hot. The Cotuit Kettleers were playing the Y-D Red Sox and I was there to snap some photos. I was also there to make good on a Double Dog Dare that a friend had made doubting I’d be able to eat a Hurler.


After standing in line watching waves of heat simmer off the parking lot, I purchased my official cheeseburger ticket, which I proudly carried over to McGlone, known as “The Executive Flipper.” Sadly, Phillips was off that evening. “I’d like a Hurler, please,” I told him confidently. A fresh jelly doughnut was quickly pulled from a protective bin and halved. After McGlone
slapped a steaming burger on one side, he added a sizeable dollop of Easy Cheese,
topping it with the second doughnut half.

It was time to face the music. Fish or cut bait. Put my mouth where my money had just gone. You get the point. I bit in, getting a good mouthful of juicy burger and sugary doughnut. “Hmmm. Interesting,” I thought. Another bite, jelly oozing onto my fingers this time. I waited to hate it. I wanted to hate it. But I didn’t.

Maybe because I’m a woman, a mother who recalls odd cravings from my one pregnancy, I am acclimated to strange taste sensations. I’m not sure. What I do know is that it was actually pretty tasty.

The saltiness of the cheese provided a nice contrast to the sweetness of the jelly and sugar while the hamburger itself simply rounded everything out. I actually liked it, much to my surprise. Must be why the duo has sold more than 800 of these eclectic eats. Does this mean I’ll start modifying the burgers I make at home? Probably not. Although my father did say he’deat one if he had the opportunity.

Ready, Dad?

By Kathleen Szmit Manwaring
kmanwaring@barnstablepatriot.com