Beloved Bay Area hot dog vendor Jimmy Graff dies unexpectedly at 49

Steve Gardner | USA TODAY

Baseball fans who attended a San Francisco Giants or Oakland A's game over the past couple decades might remember the guy with the bow tie selling hot dogs.

James "Jimmy" Graff was a familiar sight, toting a metal box over the shoulder of his red and white striped vest. He carried gourmet condiments with him and formed a bond with so many fans he knew by name.

That's why his unexpected death on Christmas Day at the age of 49 will seem like the loss of a family member for baseball fans in the Bay Area. His father told The San Francisco Chronicle he found his son in the bathroom Wednesday morning, and the A's tweeted their condolences Friday.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Graff began his career as a vendor as a 10-year-old at University of California football games while tagging along with his father. He quickly found out how interacting with customers led to bigger tips, carrying that work ethic with him to bigger and better venues.

Condolences to the family of Jimmy Graff, our beloved hot dog vendor. He was a friendly face for countless A’s fans and employees alike. 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/t4iFZpgkQ9 — Oakland A's (@Athletics) December 27, 2019

One anecdote from the Chronicle neatly sums up Graff's approach.

“When you’re trying to make the most money vending, you pick an item that’s quick to sell and everyone wants it — ice cream on a hot day or hot chocolate on a cold day,” said Hal Gordon, a ballpark vendor who began working with Graff in 2016. “Not Jimmy. He had all these regulars. He’d talk to them about the game and make their hot dog fresher. I’d hustle my butt off to sell $1,000 worth of hot chocolate, and sell $300 or $400 worth of hot dogs, but he’d bring home more than the rest of us in tips.”

When he wasn't selling hot dogs, Graff worked as a handyman at the San Francisco apartment complex where his father still lives. Graff is survived by four children and two grandchildren.