COMSTOCK PARK -- The next item the West Michigan Whitecaps might want to consider selling at Fifth Third Ballpark concession stands is antacids. Or cholesterol medication.
That is because their newest menu option is a 4,800-calorie mouthful.The team's Fifth Third Burger recently garnered attention from ESPN's "SportsCenter" and NBC's "The Today Show," in addition to Web sites and blogs across the country.
"We always try to come up with something new and innovative," Whitecaps president Scott Lane said. "We believe it's very important to the overall experience."
Watch the Fifth Third Burger being made
Here's what fans can expect from the Fifth Third Burger:
Start with an 8-inch sesame seed bun that requires 1 pound of dough and is made specially for the Whitecaps by Nantucket Baking Co. of Grand Rapids.
Spoon on nearly a cup of chili and place five one-third pound hamburger patties on top of that. (Get it, 5/3 pounds of beef for the Fifth Third Burger?)
Add five slices of American cheese and liberal doses of salsa, nacho cheese and Fritos. Top it off with lettuce, tomato and sour cream, and you have a burger that can be sliced with a pizza cutter and feed four people for $20. Jalapenos are optional.
If a single person can consume the entire 4-pound finished product in one sitting, the team plans to give him or her a special T-shirt.
"Besides being unique and large and bizarre, it tastes good," Lane said. "I'm sure there are going to be crazies that come down and try to eat the entire thing."
This is not the Whitecaps' first unique menu option. In recent years, the team has offered everything from deep-fried Twinkies and deep-fried Pepsi to entire turkey drumsticks.
Each offseason, team officials brainstorm ideas for their next culinary creation. Potential ingredients for this season included cactus, sausage gravy, Spam, fried eggs and grape jelly. Fortunately, not all on one sandwich.
Eventually, the Whitecaps settled on the Fifth Third Burger because it consisted mostly of items that easily can be found at a ballpark.
Other new food options for the season are a Chicago-style hot dog cart and frozen bananas dipped in chocolate.
But what about those health implications?
In addition to more than 4,800 calories -- potentially the most caloric item ever offered at a ballpark -- the Fifth Third Burger contains nearly 300 grams of fat, 744 milligrams of cholesterol and more than 10,000 milligrams of sodium. The smell alone might be 25 calories.
Not to worry, Lane said. Fifth Third Ballpark has plenty of healthy options, including salads and wraps, although many fans enjoy indulging at sporting events.
"Why hide it?" he said. "At home, people eat healthy. When they come to a game, they might eat a hot dog."
E-mail Michael Zuidema: mzuidema@grpress.com