Editing Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (section)

===By year (color-coded by belt color)===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! Year
! Winner<br/>(and date, if prior to permanently moving all contests to Independence Day in 1997)
! Hot dogs and buns<br/>(HDB)
! Contest duration
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Note(s)
<!--|-
|rowspan=2|2022
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|}} 
|align="center"|??
|rowspan=2|10 min
|rowspan=2||-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|}} 
|align="center"|?? -->
|-
| rowspan="2" |2024
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Patrick Bertoletti]]
|align="center"|58
| rowspan="2" |10 min
| rowspan="2" |<small>Joey Chestnut is absent from the men’s event for the first time since 2004, due to a purported sponsorship issue between Chestnut and Major League Eating. Chestnut eats 57 HDB in 5 minutes in a non-sponsored event. Miki Sudo sets a new women’s record, with 51 HDB eaten.</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Miki Sudo]]
|align="center"|'''51'''
|-
|rowspan=2|2023<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://abc7ny.com/nathans-hotdogs-content-2023-hot-dog-eating-contest-coney-island-joey-chestnut/13456057/ |title=Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest: Reigning champs Chestnut, Sudo eat their way to victory |date=2023-07-04 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=[[WABC-TV]]}}</ref>
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Joey Chestnut]]
|align="center"|62
|rowspan=2|10 min
|rowspan=2|
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Miki Sudo
|align="center"|{{frac|39|1|2}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2022
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align="center"|63{{ref|reference_name_A|a}}
|rowspan=2|10 min
|rowspan=2|<small>Miki Sudo returns from her pregnancy to reclaim her title. After being shoved from the table, Joey Chestnut puts a protester who ran onto the stage during the event in a chokehold. Geoffrey Esper (47 HDB) finished second. James Webb (41 HDB) finished third.</small> 
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Miki Sudo
|align="center"|40
|-
|rowspan=2|2021
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align="center"|'''76'''
|rowspan=2|10 min
|rowspan=2|<small>The event is held at [[Maimonides Park]] due to capacity restrictions and other health and safety requirements. Joey Chestnut breaks the world record with 76 HDB. Defending champion [[Miki Sudo]] was out due to her pregnancy.</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Michelle Lesco]]
|align="center"|{{frac|30|3|4}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2020
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align="center"|75
|rowspan=2|10 min
|rowspan=2|<small>First time event is being held indoors without fans caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Joey Chestnut breaks the world record with 75 HDB. Darron Breeden (42 HDB) finished second. Nick Wehry (39.5 HDB) finished third. Miki Sudo breaks the women's world record with 48.5 HDB.</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Miki Sudo
|align="center"|{{frac|48|1|2}}
|-
|rowspan="2" |2019
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align="center"|71
|rowspan="2" |10 min
|rowspan="2" |<small>Joey Chestnut won his 12th title. Darron Breeden (50 HDB) finished second. Geoffrey Esper (47 HDB) finished third. Sudo (31 HDB) edged out Lesco (26 HDB) to win her sixth Nathan's belt.</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Miki Sudo
|align="center"|31
|-
|rowspan="2" |2018
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align="center"|74
|rowspan="2" |10 min
|rowspan="2" |<small>After a judging error had left the results in question, the final results showed that Joey Chestnut broke the world record with 74 HDB. Carmen Cincotti (64 HDB) finished second. Darron Breeden (43 HDB) finished third. Sudo won her fifth women's belt. Michelle Lesco (28 HDB) finished second. Sonya Thomas and Juliet Lee (25 HDB) tied for third. This is the last competition that Thomas competed in.</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Miki Sudo
|align="center"|37
|-
|rowspan="2" |2017
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align="center"|72
|rowspan="2" |10 min
|rowspan="2" |<small>Joey Chestnut breaks the contest record with 72 HDB. Carmen Cincotti (60 HDB) finished second. Matt Stonie (48 HDB) finished third. Sudo won her fourth women's title, beating [[Michelle Lesco]] (32 HDB) and Thomas (30 HDB).</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Miki Sudo
|align="center"|41
|-
|rowspan=2|2016
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align="center"|70
|rowspan="2"|10 min
|rowspan="2"|<small>Joey Chestnut won the mustard-colored belt for the ninth time, eating 70 hot dogs and buns. Defending champion Matt Stonie consumed 53 HDB. Sudo ({{frac|38|1|2}}) won her third consecutive women's title, edging out Thomas (35 HDB). At the Giant National Capital BBQ Battle in [[Washington, D.C.]], on June 25, Chestnut set the record of 73.5 in an official qualifier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/moresports/story/_/id/16763727/joey-chestnut-eats-70-hot-dogs-wins-nathan-famous-crown|title=Joey Chestnut eats 70 hot dogs, 17 more than Matt Stonie, to win Nathan's title|last=Balsamo|first=Michael|date=July 4, 2016|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=July 4, 2016|archive-date=July 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728130707/http://espn.go.com/moresports/story/_/id/16763727/joey-chestnut-eats-70-hot-dogs-wins-nathan-famous-crown|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Miki Sudo
|align=center|{{frac|38|1|2}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2015
| style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Matt Stonie]]
|align="center"|62
|rowspan="2"|10 min
|rowspan="2"|<small>Matt Stonie ended the 8 year winning streak of Joey Chestnut, eating 62 HDB to Joey's 60. [[Tim Janus]] (35 HDB) finished third. Sudo won her second women's belt, beating Thomas (31 HDB).</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Miki Sudo
|align=center|38
|-
|rowspan=2|2014
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align="center"|61
|rowspan="2"|10 min
|rowspan="2"|<small>Joey Chestnut faced fierce competition from Matt Stonie, who finished second with 56 HDB. Tim Janus (44 HDB) finished in 3rd. This became Joey's 8th consecutive win. Miki Sudo (34 HDB) dethroned Thomas ({{frac|27|3|4}} HDB), the first time in the history of the competition that Thomas had been defeated since the inception of the women's division. Sudo also ended a long tradition by becoming the first champion in a quarter-century to decline to use a nickname during Nathan's competitions.</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Miki Sudo
|align=center|34
|-
|rowspan=2|2013
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align="center"|69
|rowspan="2"|10 min
|rowspan="2"|<small>Joey Chestnut beat his own record with 69 HDB. Matt Stonie (51HDB) finished second. Tim Janus (50 HDB) finished in 3rd. After facing fierce competition from Juliet Lee (36 HDB), Thomas ({{frac|36|3|4}} HDB) won her third title.</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Sonya Thomas]]
|align=center|{{frac|36|3|4}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2012
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align=center|68
|rowspan="2"|10 min
|rowspan=2|<small>Chestnut tied his previous record, previously set in 2009. He also became the second person to win six consecutive titles. Tim Janus (52.25) and [[Patrick Bertoletti]] (51) finish second and third. Matt Stonie, who would go on to claim victory in 2015 finished fourth with 46 HDB. [[Bob Shoudt]] was 5th (45 HDB) broke Thomas' record for oldest person to eat their age in HDB (45 yr) Thomas (45 HDB) broke the female record and set a new record for the oldest person to eat their age in HDB (44 yr), beating Juliet Lee (33 HDB).</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Sonya Thomas
|align=center|45
|-
|rowspan=2|2011
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align=center|62
|rowspan="2" |10 min
|rowspan=2|<small>Separate competitions are held for women and men for the first time since the 1975 one-off event. Chestnut dominates on his way to his fifth straight title. Sonya Thomas (40 HDB) won the inaugural women's event. Patrick Bertoletti (53) and Tim "Eater X" Janus (45) finish 2nd and 3rd for the second year in a row.</small>
|-
|style="background:pink" nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Sonya Thomas
|align=center|40
|-
|2010
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align=center|54
|10 min
|<small>Chestnut (54), Tim "Eater X" Janus (45), and Patrick Bertoletti (37) round out the top three.</small>
|-
|2009
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align=center|68
|10 min
|<small>Chestnut (68 HDB) beat his previous record in 10 minutes, setting new event, U.S., and world records. Kobayashi ({{frac|64|1|2}} HDB) set a Japanese record. Patrick Bertoletti (55 HDB) finished third. Sonya Thomas (41 HDB) broke the female record.</small>
|-
|2008
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align=center|59<br/><br/>Eat-off: 5
|10 min<br/><br/>Eat-off: untimed, but completed in 50 sec.
|<small>Event, Japanese, U.S., and world records set (59 HDB). First event using the new ten-minute time limit, and first tie and eat-off since 1980. Chestnut & Kobayashi tied for first with 59 in regulation. In overtime Chestnut is the first to finish a plate of 5 HDB in 50 seconds. Kobayashi, losing by 7 seconds, finishes second. Tim Janus finished third with 42.</small>
|-
|2007
| style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Chestnut
|align=center|66
|12 min
|<small>Having broken the world and U.S. records with {{frac|59|1|2}} HDB at a qualifier contest on June 2, 2007, Chestnut (66 HDB) finishes first, setting new event, U.S. and world records. Defeating Kobayashi (63 HDB) for the first time. Fifth place Sonya Thomas (39 HDB) sets female record.</small>
|-
|2006
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Takeru Kobayashi]]
|align=center|{{frac|53|3|4}}
|12 min
|<small>Winner Kobayashi sets event, Japanese and world records. Second place Joey Chestnut (52 HDB), sets U.S. record. Sonya Thomas (37) finishes third.</small>
|-
|2005
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|JPN}} Takeru Kobayashi
|align=center|49
|12 min
|<small>2nd: Sonya Thomas (37) sets U.S. record, Women's record. Future winner Joey Chestnut finishes third with 32.</small>
|-
|2004
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|JPN}} Takeru Kobayashi
|align=center|{{frac|53|1|2}}
|12 min
|<small>Event, United States and world records set. 2nd: Nobuyuki Shirota (38), Sonya Thomas (32 HDB) sets the female and U.S. records.</small>
|-
|2003
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|JPN}} Takeru Kobayashi
|align=center|{{frac|44|1|2}}
|12 min
|<small>Sonya Thomas (25 HDB) sets the female record. 2nd: Ed Jarvis ({{frac|30|1|2}}, American record), 3rd: Eric Booker (29). Twenty competitors and 3,000 spectators in attendance. [[William Perry (American football)|William "The Refrigerator" Perry]] competes, but eats only four HDB and drops out after five minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/moresports/news/2003/0704/1576745.html |title=2003 ESPN.com report |access-date=July 10, 2010 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305111144/http://espn.go.com/moresports/news/2003/0704/1576745.html |url-status=live }}</ref></small>
|-
|2002
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|JPN}} Takeru Kobayashi
|align=center|{{frac|50|1|2}}
|12 min
|<small>Event, Japanese and world records set.</small>
|-
|2001
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|JPN}} Takeru Kobayashi
|align=center|50
|12 min
|<small>20 competitors total. All-time world records set.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200605/competitive-eating/6 |title=Horsemen of the Esophagus |publisher=Theatlantic.com |date=May 1, 2006 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-date=September 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907071835/http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200605/competitive-eating/6 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 2nd: Kazutoyo Arai (31), 3rd: Eric "Badlands" Booker (22).</small>
|-
|2000
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|JPN}} Kazutoyo Arai
|align=center|{{frac|25|1|8}}
|12 min
|<small>The contest was won by a 100-pound 32-year-old mattress salesman from [[Saitama, Saitama|Saitama, Japan]]. The prizes were "the coveted mustard-yellow International Belt, a huge red trophy, and 20 pounds of Nathan's hot dogs." Misao Fujita (also known as "Wild Beast"<ref name="tv-tokyo.co.jp">{{cite web|title=Early eating world's best deciding match!|url=http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp.e.ck.hp.transer.com/tvchamp1/000824/under.htm|work=tv-tokyo.co.jp|date=2000|access-date=July 29, 2016|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705032916/http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp.e.ck.hp.transer.com/tvchamp1/000824/under.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>) of [[Japan]] was the runner-up and consumed 24 hot dogs. A woman, [[Takako Akasaka]] of Japan, was the third-place finisher and consumed 22 hot dogs. 41 year old [[locomotive]] machinist Steve Addicks of [[Finksburg, Maryland]], was the fourth-place finisher and consumed 21 hot dogs. 391-pound, 35 year old reigning champion Steve Keiner of [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]] "finished in the middle of the pack" and consumed 15 hot dogs. "Dozens" of contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1916.<ref name="abcnews.go.com">{{cite web|title=Japanese Man Wins Hot Dog Contest|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96638&page=1|work=abcnews.go.com|date=July 4, 2000|access-date=July 28, 2016|archive-date=July 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112106/https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96638&page=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Another describes this as the 85th annual contest.<ref name="tv-tokyo.co.jp"/></small>
|-
|1999
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Steve Keiner]]
|align=center|{{frac|21|1|2}}
|12 min
|<small>The contest was won by a 317-pound, 50-year-old man from [[Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey]]. The prize was the bejeweled mustard-colored belt<ref name="New York Times no. 3">{{cite web|author=Robert D. McFadden|date=July 5, 1999|title=Holiday Parades March By, But the Heat Is Just Settling In|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/05/nyregion/holiday-parades-march-by-but-the-heat-is-just-settling-in.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=August 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831212621/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/05/nyregion/holiday-parades-march-by-but-the-heat-is-just-settling-in.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and 60 pounds of hot dogs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Newsmakers: Nathan's hot-dog champ is dogged by controversy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/179185487/?terms=%22dogged%20by%20controversy%22&match=1|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] (sec. D, p. 2)|date=July 6, 1999|access-date=July 9, 2022|archive-date=July 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709010608/https://www.newspapers.com/image/179185487/?terms=%22dogged%20by%20controversy%22&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Footage recorded by [[NY1]] appeared to show that he actually consumed half of a hot dog before the starting gun was fired and should have been disqualified by the judges. Charles Hardy and Bartoszek Tadeusz, both of [[Brooklyn]], were the runners-up and consumed 20 hot dogs each. Hardy charged that he could have consumed more had he been given another plate of hot dogs before time expired.<ref name="New York Daily News">{{cite web|author=Michael Finnegan|date=July 6, 1999|title=Nathan's Champ Called Cheat Eating Contest Rematch Sought|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/nathan-champ-called-cheat-eating-contest-rematch-sought-article-1.852481|work=New York Daily News|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205344/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/nathan-champ-called-cheat-eating-contest-rematch-sought-article-1.852481|url-status=live}}</ref> 134-pound, reigning champion Hirofumi Nakajima of Japan consumed 19 hot dogs.<ref name="New York Times no. 3"/> Former champion Mike DeVito also participated.<ref name="New York Daily News"/></small>
|-
|1998
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|JPN}} Hirofumi Nakajima
|align=center|19
|12 min
|<small>The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 135-pound, 23 year old furniture delivery worker from [[Kōfu|Kōfu, Japan]]. The prizes were "the coveted mustard-yellow International Belt, a huge red trophy, and 20 pounds of Nathan's hot dogs."<ref>{{cite news|author=Jeanne King|date=July 5, 1998|title=Japanese retains hot dog competition title|agency=Reuters}}</ref> A 387-pound, 29 year old corrections officer from Brooklyn, Charles "Hungry" Hardy, was the runner-up and consumed {{frac|17|1|2}} hot dogs.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lisi De Bourbon|date=July 5, 1998|title=World's champion hot dog eater retains his crown at Coney Island|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/95429866/?terms=%22retains%20his%20crown%22&match=1|work=[[Santa Cruz Sentinel]] (sec. C, p. 9)|access-date=July 9, 2022|archive-date=July 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709010609/https://www.newspapers.com/image/95429866/?terms=%22retains%20his%20crown%22&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref> 381-pound, 35 year old mechanical engineer and former champion Ed Krachie came out of retirement in a vain attempt to break Japan's win streak but was the third-place finisher and consumed 14 hot dogs. A 53 year old [[haggis]]-eating champion from the [[United Kingdom]], Barry Noble, also participated. In all, 16 contestants participated.<ref>{{cite web|title=(Hot) Dog Days of Summer: 19 Takes Title|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/160058641/?terms=%22%28Hot%29%20Dog%20Days%22|work=Los Angeles Times (sec. A, p. 20)|date=July 5, 1998|access-date=July 9, 2022|archive-date=July 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709010608/https://www.newspapers.com/image/160058641/?terms=%22(Hot)%20Dog%20Days%22|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|1997
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|JPN}} Hirofumi Nakajima<br/>
|align=center|{{frac|24|1|2}}
|12 min
|<small>Although Nathan's attempted to expand its pool of American contestants by sponsoring "a circuit of qualifying contests leading up to the grand finale on the Fourth",<ref name="St. Martin's Press (p. 15)">{{cite book|author=Ryan Nerz|date=April 2006|title=Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SP3CK4iGDK4C&q=%22Three+years+later%2C+in+January+of+1991%2C+Max+Rosey+lay+in+a+hospital+bed%22&pg=PA15|publisher=St. Martin's Press |page=15|isbn=9780312339685}}</ref> Japanese contestants continued to increase their influence. The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 135-pound, 22 year old furniture delivery worker from Kōfu, Japan. The prizes were "a large emerald and brass trophy, a Mustard-Yellow International Belt, and a 20-pack take-out order for Nathan's hot dogs." 100-pound, 30 year old future champion Kazutoyo Arai of Saitama, Japan was the runner-up and consumed 24 hot dogs. 330-pound, 34 year old former champion Ed Krachie was the third-place finisher and consumed 20 hot dogs. 23 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1916.<ref>{{cite web|title=Japanese Goes Faster, 'Furter in Hot Dog Contest|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-05-mn-9854-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 5, 1997|access-date=July 27, 2016|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819164506/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/05/news/mn-9854|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|rowspan=2|1996
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN''<br/>{{flagicon|Japan}} Hirofumi Nakajima<br/>''<small>December 4</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|23|1|4}}
|12 min
|rowspan=2|<small>The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 300-pound man from [[Queens]].<ref name="cnn.com">{{cite web|title=Man downs 22 hot dogs to win contest|url=http://www.cnn.com/EVENTS/1996/4july/stories/hotdog.contest/index.html|work=cnn.com|date=July 4, 1996|access-date=February 24, 2012|archive-date=November 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112131534/http://www.cnn.com/EVENTS/1996/4july/stories/hotdog.contest/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The prizes apparently included the bejeweled mustard-yellow belt and a trophy, if not more.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nathan's 4th July Hot Dog Contest (caption)|url=http://www.gettyimages.com/event/nathans-4th-july-hot-dog-contest-560367575#still-champ-ed-krachie-of-queens-holds-up-his-winners-belt-and-trophy-picture-id97320723|work=gettyimages.com|date=July 4, 1996|access-date=July 26, 2014|archive-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820203934/http://www.gettyimages.com/event/nathans-4th-july-hot-dog-contest-560367575#still-champ-ed-krachie-of-queens-holds-up-his-winners-belt-and-trophy-picture-id97320723|url-status=live}}</ref> Former champion Mike DeVito was the runner-up and consumed 20 hot dogs.<ref name="cnn.com"/> 200-pound, 42 year old [[Guardian Angels]] founder [[Curtis Sliwa]] was also a contestant.<ref name="United Press International">{{cite web|author=Tracy Connor|date=July 1, 1996|title=Sliwa makes bid for frank-eating title|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/01/Sliwa-makes-bid-for-frank-eating-title/8818836193600/|work=United Press International|access-date=July 25, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808001607/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/01/Sliwa-makes-bid-for-frank-eating-title/8818836193600/|url-status=live}}</ref> 20 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1916, except for 1939, 1940, and 1941<ref name="cnn.com"/>—this time held under the moniker "Battle of the Burroughs".<ref name="United Press International"/> A later 1996 contest was also sponsored by Nathan's (and [[TV Tokyo]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Ryan Nerz|date=April 2006|title=Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SP3CK4iGDK4C&q=%22A+YEAR+OF+GORGING+AND+GLORY%22|work=Macmillan (p. 63)|publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9780312339685}}</ref>), but was held at [[Central Park]] instead of at its traditional location. It was won by a 144-pound, 22-year-old man from Japan; he had never eaten a hot dog until the day before the competition. The prizes were the bejeweled mustard-yellow belt and $2,000. 320-pound, 33 year old mechanical engineer Ed Krachie of [[New York (state)|New York]] was the runner-up. Only those 2 contestants participated.<ref>{{cite web|author=Scott Neuman|date=December 4, 1996|title=Japan snatches top dog title from U.S.|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/12/04/Japan-snatches-top-dog-title-from-US/4034849675600/|work=United Press International|accessdate=July 24, 2016|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807230457/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/12/04/Japan-snatches-top-dog-title-from-US/4034849675600/|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Ed Krachie<br/>''<small>[[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]]</small>''
|align=center|22
|12 min
|-
|1995
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Ed Krachie<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|19|1|2}}
|12 min
|<small>The contest was won by a 350-pound [[NYNEX]] [[engineer]] from Queens. 205-pound, 33 year old [[Salomon Brothers]] vice president and reigning champion Mike DeVito of [[Manalapan Township, New Jersey]], was the runner-up and consumed 19 hot dogs.<ref name="New York Times no. 4">{{cite news|author=David Stout|date=July 5, 1995|title=New Jersey Daily Briefing: A Coup in Hot Dog Land|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE5D8123EF936A35754C0A963958260|work=The New York Times}}</ref></small>
|-
|1994
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael DeVito|Mike DeVito]]<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|20
|12 min<ref>{{cite web|author=Corky Siemaszko|date=July 5, 1994|title=A boom town for the day: Big Apple proudly hails Fourth of July|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/474269751/?terms=%22Big%20Apple%20proudly%22&match=1|work=[[New York City|New York]] [[New York Daily News|Daily News]] (sec. C, p. 3)|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000232/https://www.newspapers.com/image/474269751/?terms=%22Big%20Apple%20proudly%22&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|<small>The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 32 year old [[accountant]].<ref name="New York Times no. 5">{{cite web|title=Chronicle|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/05/nyregion/chronicle-582492.html|work=The New York Times|date=July 5, 1994|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819105728/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/05/nyregion/chronicle-582492.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Future champion Ed Krachie was the runner-up.<ref name="New York Times no. 4"/> 40 year old Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa was the third-place finisher<ref name="United Press International"/> and consumed 13 hot dogs.<ref name="New York Times no. 5"/></small>
|-
|rowspan=2|1993
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Mike DeVito<br/>''<small>October 27<ref>{{cite news|title=Devouring those dirty-water dogs (caption)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50010441/the-journal-news/|work=[[Rockland, New York|Rockland]] ([[New York (state)|N.Y.]]) [[The Journal News|Journal–News]] (sec. B, p. 5)|date=October 28, 1993|page=29|access-date=June 14, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195412/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50010441/the-journal-news/|url-status=live}}</ref></small>''
|align=center|18
|30 min
|rowspan=2|<small>The contest was won by a former champion, a [[Wall Street]] brokerage firm worker from Manalapan Township, New Jersey. The prize was 365 hot dogs. Joe Gotay of Brooklyn was the runner-up and consumed {{frac|14|1|2}} hot dogs. Willie Dykstra of Brooklyn was the top female contestant and consumed {{frac|7|1|2}} hot dogs. 18 men and 2 women participated. The reigning champion, 290-pound Frankie Dellarosa of Brooklyn, "canceled out at the last minute due to a family emergency"<ref name="United Press International no. 2">{{cite web|title=Jersey hotdog gobbler wins back title|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/07/04/Jersey-hotdog-gobbler-wins-back-title/2922741758400/|work=United Press International|date=July 4, 1993|access-date=July 24, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808050722/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/07/04/Jersey-hotdog-gobbler-wins-back-title/2922741758400/|url-status=live}}</ref> and was unable to defend his title. Instead, he declared that he was now retired from competitions and planned to pursue an acting career,<ref name="St. Martin's Press (p. 62)">{{cite book|author=Ryan Nerz|date=April 2006|title=Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SP3CK4iGDK4C&q=%221990%2C+while+commuting+from+his+New+Jersey+home+to+his+job+on+Wall%22&pg=PA62|publisher=St. Martin's Press |page=62|isbn=9780312339685}}</ref> something that he would later have a modest success in.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frankie Dellarosa|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0217456/|work=imdb.com|access-date=July 23, 2016|archive-date=February 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217084206/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0217456/|url-status=live}}</ref> A press account from the time describes this as the 77th annual contest, held regularly since 1916.<ref name="United Press International no. 2"/> A later 1993 contest was also sponsored by Nathan's (and recorded by TV Tokyo), but was held under the [[Brooklyn Bridge]] in [[Manhattan]] instead of at its traditional location. It was won by reigning champion DeVito.<ref name="St. Martin's Press (p. 17)">{{cite book|author=Ryan Nerz|date=April 2006|title=Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SP3CK4iGDK4C&dq=%22proach+to+the+sport+%28he+was+the+first+to+realize+that+a+two-dog-%22&pg=PA17|publisher=St. Martin's Press (p. 17)|isbn=9780312339685}}</ref> Years later it was stated that the prize was the bejeweled mustard-colored belt "created by the descendants of [[House of Fabergé|Fabergé]]" that remains in use today but had supposedly been held in Japan for some years after having been won by a Japanese contestant at Nathan's<ref name="St. Martin's Press (p. 15)"/> (presumably at the February 11, 1986, competition). The earliest that the belt's existence is known to be covered by the press is 1996.<ref name="United Press International"/> A woman, Orio Ito of Japan, was the runner-up and consumed 16 hot dogs. Only those 2 contestants participated.<ref name="St. Martin's Press (p. 17)"/></small>
|-
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Mike DeVito<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|17
|12 min
|-
|1992
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Frankie Dellarosa<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|19
|12 min<ref name="New York Daily News (p. 3)">{{cite web|title=Frankly, this king still rules|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/469833057/?terms=%22franks%20do%20after%20downing%2020%22&match=1|work=[[New York City|New York]] [[New York Daily News|Daily News]] (p. 3)|date=July 5, 1992|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000239/https://www.newspapers.com/image/469833057/?terms=%22franks%20do%20after%20downing%2020%22&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|<small>The contest was won by the reigning champion. The prize was 365 hot dogs.<ref name="New York Daily News (p. 3)"/> Former and future champion Mike DeVito was the runner-up and consumed 17 hot dogs.<ref name="St. Martin's Press (p. 62)"/> 18 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 76th annual contest.<ref name="New York Daily News (p. 3)"/></small>
|-
|1991
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Frankie Dellarosa<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|21
|12 min
|<small>The contest was won by a 270-pound, 23 year old engineer<ref name="Reading (Pa.) Eagle (p. 1 )">{{cite web|title=Engineer wolfs way to dog title|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gQoxAAAAIBAJ&pg=5282%2C843952|work=Reading (Pa.) Eagle (p. 1 )|date=July 5, 1991|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510144350/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gQoxAAAAIBAJ&pg=5282,843952|url-status=live}}</ref> and part-time [[Hofstra Pride football|Hofstra University football]] coach<ref name="St. Martin's Press (p. 62)"/> from Queens. The prize was "a 3-foot trophy, topped with an athlete, plate, and hot dog. He also received hats, cups, and a year's supply of hot dogs." 20 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 75th annual contest, this time held under the motto "No Guts, No Glory".<ref name="Reading (Pa.) Eagle (p. 1 )"/></small>
|-
|1990
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Mike DeVito<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Jay Green<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|15
|12 min
|<small>The contest was tied by the reigning champion, from Brooklyn, (Green) who was allowed to compete again despite previous contest rules, and a 28 year old from [[Staten Island]] (DeVito).<ref>{{cite web|title=On the Fourth, Feeling Cooked On a 93 degrees Grill|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/05/nyregion/on-the-fourth-feeling-cooked-on-a-93-degrees-grill.html|work=The New York Times|date=July 5, 1990|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007060840/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/05/nyregion/on-the-fourth-feeling-cooked-on-a-93-degrees-grill.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There was apparently no tie-breaking eat-off. A press account from the time describes this as the 7th annual contest.<ref name="Norwalk (Conn.) Hour (p. 3)">{{cite web|title=A day to relish|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XyMiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2893%2C391246|work=Norwalk (Conn.) Hour (p. 3)|date=July 5, 1990|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205705/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XyMiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2893,391246|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|1989
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jay Green<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|15|1|2}}
|12 min
|<small>The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 215-pound, 31 year old dry wall contractor, who, as per contest rules, was declared "retired" after the competition for being a two-time winner. 24 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 73rd annual contest.<ref name="Schenectady (N.Y.) Gazette (p. 12)">{{cite web|title=Green Claims 2nd Victory in Hot Dog Contest|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xnEhAAAAIBAJ&dq=hot%20dog%20contest&pg=5168%2C735803|work=Schenectady (N.Y.) Gazette (p. 12)|date=July 5, 1989|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507122107/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xnEhAAAAIBAJ&dq=hot%20dog%20contest&pg=5168,735803|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|1988
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jay Green<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|10
|12 min
|<small>The contest was won by a 30 year old limousine service manager from [[Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn]]. 13 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 72nd annual contest.<ref name="Reading (Pa.) Eagle (p. 14)">{{cite web|title=1987 runner-up is hot dog king|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7dsxAAAAIBAJ&dq=hot%20dog%20contest&pg=6804%2C3382102|work=Reading (Pa.) Eagle (p. 14)|date=July 5, 1988|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205704/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7dsxAAAAIBAJ&dq=hot%20dog%20contest&pg=6804,3382102|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|1987
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Don Wolfman<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|13|1|2}}
|10 min
|<small>29 year old future champion Jay Green was the runner-up and consumed {{frac|13|1|4}} hot dogs.<ref name="Reading (Pa.) Eagle (p. 14)"/> A press account from the time describes this as the 71st annual contest.<ref>{{cite web|title=Americans mark July 4 with parades, fireworks|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C4A1AAAAIBAJ&pg=6731,829074&dq=hot+dog+contest&hl=en|work=Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard (sec. C, p. 10)|date=July 4, 1987|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205805/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C4A1AAAAIBAJ&pg=6731,829074&dq=hot+dog+contest&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|rowspan=2|1986
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Heller<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|15|1|2}}
|10 min
|rowspan=2|<small>The contest was won by a 245-pound man; the prizes were a plaque and a year supply of hot dogs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Contest winner finishes 'dog' tired|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/112353886/?terms=%22Contest%20winner%20finishes%22&match=1|work=[[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] [[The Tennessean|Tennessean]] (sec. A, p. 3)|date=July 7, 1986|access-date=July 9, 2022|archive-date=July 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709010609/https://www.newspapers.com/image/112353886/?terms=%22Contest%20winner%20finishes%22&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Robert Gerber was the runner-up and consumed 13 hot dogs. 24 men participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 70th annual contest, held regularly since 1916.<ref>{{cite web|title=Winner a hot dog|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W9xVAAAAIBAJ&pg=4742,1457580&dq=hot+dog+contest&hl=en|work=Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard (sec. A, p. 2)|date=July 7, 1986|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506015944/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W9xVAAAAIBAJ&pg=4742,1457580&dq=hot+dog+contest&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> An earlier 1986 contest was also sponsored by Nathan's. It was won by a 264-pound, 21-year-old student from [[Tokyo|Tokyo, Japan]]. Reigning champion Oscar Rodriguez was the runner-up and consumed {{frac|9|1|2}} hot dogs. Only those 2 contestants participated.<ref name="Salt Lake City Deseret News (sec. A, p. 3)">{{cite web|title=Hot dog champion relishes his victory but craves sushi|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8tQjAAAAIBAJ&dq=hot%20dog%20contest&pg=5326%2C5275788|work=Salt Lake City Deseret News (sec. A, p. 3)|date=February 13–14, 1986|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510144420/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8tQjAAAAIBAJ&dq=hot%20dog%20contest&pg=5326,5275788|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|style="background:yellow" nowrap="nowrap"|''ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN''<br/>{{flagicon|Japan}} Hiroaki Tominaga<br />''<small>February 11</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|10|1|2}}
|10 min
|-
|1985
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Oscar Rodriguez<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|11|3|4}}
|12 min
|<small>The contest was won by a 21-year-old man. More than 40 contestants participated.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jilian Mincer|date=July 5, 1985|title=Miss Liberty Offstage, Buy City Has A Popping 4th|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/05/nyregion/miss-liberty-offstage-buy-city-has-a-popping-4th.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007060831/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/05/nyregion/miss-liberty-offstage-buy-city-has-a-popping-4th.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br/></small>
|-
|1984
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|GER}} Birgit Felden<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|9|1|2}}
|10 min
|<small>The contest was won by a 130-pound,<ref name="Daytona Beach (Fla.) Morning Journal (sec. D, p. 3)">{{cite web|title=German Scores in Frankfurter Contest|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QpkpAAAAIBAJ&pg=3427%2C2101684|work=Daytona Beach (Fla.) Morning Journal (sec. D, p. 3)|date=July 5, 1984|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506015946/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QpkpAAAAIBAJ&pg=3427,2101684|url-status=live}}</ref> 17 year old [[West Germany|West German]] women's [[judo]] team member<ref name="Crown/Archetype (p. 222)"/> from [[Cologne]]; she had never eaten a hot dog before the competition. Publicist Morty Matz described her as being only the second female to have ever won the contest. 17 year old U.S. women's judo team member Jean Kanokogi (and daughter of [[Ryohei Kanokogi|Ryohei]] and [[Rena Kanokogi|Rusty Kanokogi]]) of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn was the runner-up and consumed 8 hot dogs. 20 men and 4 women participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 68th annual contest.<ref name="Daytona Beach (Fla.) Morning Journal (sec. D, p. 3)"/></small>
|-
|1983
| nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Emil Gomez<br />''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|10|1|2}}
|10 min
|<small>The contest was won by a 210-pound, 25 year old accountant from [[the Bronx]].<ref>{{cite web|title=America waves flag to celebrate Fourth|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kyA0AAAAIBAJ&pg=3469,1241371&dq=hot+dog+contest&hl=en|work=Bangor (Maine) Daily News (p. 1)|date=July 5, 1983|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506015948/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kyA0AAAAIBAJ&pg=3469,1241371&dq=hot+dog+contest&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> His brother, Andre Gomez, was the runner-up and consumed 10 hot dogs. 11 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 17th annual contest.<ref name="Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal (p. 8)">{{cite web|title=It's hot in the Big Apple|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/114181403/|work=Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal (p. 8)|date=July 5, 1983|access-date=July 10, 2016|archive-date=August 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818134049/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/114181403/|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|1982
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Steven Abrams<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''<br>''<small>(observed July 5)</small>''
|align=center|11+
|10 min<ref name="New York Daily News no. 2">{{cite web|author=Larry Sutton|date=July 6, 1982|title=Boatload o' joy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/490103666/?terms=%22Larry%20Sutton%22&match=1|work=[[New York City|New York]] [[New York Daily News|Daily News]] (p. 4)|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000234/https://www.newspapers.com/image/490103666/?terms=%22Larry%20Sutton%22&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|<small>The contest was held on Monday, July 5, the observed date of Independence Day, as the holiday fell on a Sunday. It was won by a 26 year old from [[Flushing, Queens]].<ref name="New York Daily News no. 2"/> He ate one bite of a twelfth hot dog.<ref name="New York Times no. 6">{{cite web|author=Robert D. McFadden|date=July 6, 1982|title=Holiday Crowds Sample Pristine Day's Pleasures|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/06/nyregion/holiday-crowds-sample-pristine-day-s-pleasures.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007060950/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/06/nyregion/holiday-crowds-sample-pristine-day-s-pleasures.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Sid Smith of Brooklyn was the runner-up and consumed 10 hot dogs, and Risto Puulos of [[Helsinki]] was the third-place finisher and consumed 8.<ref name="New York Daily News no. 2"/></small>
|-
|1981
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Thomas DeBerry<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|11
|5 min<ref name="New York Daily News no. 3">{{cite web|author=Marcia Kramer|date=July 5, 1981|title=Red, white & blue banishes the gray|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/488680159/?terms=%22Marcia%20Kramer%22&match=1|work=[[New York City|New York]] [[New York Daily News|Daily News]] (p. 4)|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000233/https://www.newspapers.com/image/488680159/?terms=%22Marcia%20Kramer%22&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|<small>The contest was won by a 35 year old Housing Authority gardener from Coney Island, Brooklyn. He "downed 11 hot dogs in five minutes and then rushed off with his family to attend a barbecue."<ref>{{cite web|author=Paul L. Montgomery|date=July 5, 1981|title=Rain Curtails Fourth of July Crowds|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/05/nyregion/rain-curtails-fourth-of-july-crowds.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007060857/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/05/nyregion/rain-curtails-fourth-of-july-crowds.html|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|1980
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Joe Baldini<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jerry Butler (actor)|Paul Siederman]]<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|9|3|4}}+<br/><br/>Eat-off: {{frac|3|1|2}}
|10 min<br/><br/>Eat-off: 3 min
|<small>The contest was tied by a 190-pound, 25 year old unemployed pharmacist (Baldini) and a 260-pound, 21 year old unemployed actor (Siederman), both from Brooklyn. Each then tied again after a tie-breaking eat-off. The prizes were "two trophies and a pair of yellow plastic bags". Reigning co-champion Jim Mattner was the third-place finisher and consumed approximately 9 hot dogs. 28 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 64th annual contest.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coney kings crowned after hotdog contest|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8iZYAAAAIBAJ&pg=4459%2C6933148|work=Bend (Ore.) Bulletin (p. 25)|date=July 5, 1980|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506015945/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8iZYAAAAIBAJ&pg=4459,6933148|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|1979
|nowrap="nowrap"|
{{flagicon|USA}} Luther Frazier<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Mattner<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|10<br/><br/>Eat-off: {{frac|3|1|2}}<ref name="New York Newsday (sec. Q, p. 7)">{{cite web|title=A Rainy Fourth Fails to Dampen City's Celebration|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/717038572/?terms=%22Rainy%20Fourth%22&match=1|work=[[New York City|New York]] [[Newsday]] (sec. Q, p. 7)|date=July 5, 1979|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000237/https://www.newspapers.com/image/717038572/?terms=%22Rainy%20Fourth%22&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|10 min<br/><br/>Eat-off: {{frac|3|1|2}} min<ref name="New York Newsday (sec. Q, p. 7)"/>
|<small>The contest was tied by a 172-pound 17-year-old boy from Brooklyn (Frazier) and a 205-pound, 35 year old bond dealer from [[Ozone Park, Queens]] (Mattner). Each then tied again after a tie-breaking eat-off.<ref name="New York Newsday (sec. Q, p. 7)"/> They consumed what was considered a "record" number of hot dogs, when including the eat-off total.<ref name="New York Times no. 6"/> A press account from the time describes this as the 63rd annual contest.<ref name="New York Newsday (sec. Q, p. 7)"/></small>
|-
|1978
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Manel Hollenback<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Kevin Sinclair<br/>''<small>[[Memorial Day]]</small>''
|align=center|10
|{{frac|6|1|2}} min
|<small>The contest was held on Memorial Day and was tied by a 180-pound, 18 year old basketball player from [[Newark, New Jersey]] (Hollenback) and a 75-pound, 10-year-old student (Sinclair). There was apparently no tie-breaking eat-off. 28 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1917, except for 1942 and 1944.<ref name="Ellensburg (Wash.) Daily Record (p. 11)">{{cite web|title=Two share prize|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8W9UAAAAIBAJ&dq=nathan%20hot%20dog%20contest&pg=4174%2C4040481|work=Ellensburg (Wash.) Daily Record (p. 11)|date=May 31, 1978|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205705/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8W9UAAAAIBAJ&dq=nathan%20hot%20dog%20contest&pg=4174,4040481|url-status=live}}</ref></small>
|-
|1976–1977
|style="background:#d3d3d3" nowrap="nowrap"; colspan="4"; align="center"|<small>''(no documented contests)''</small>
|-
|rowspan=2|1975
|nowrap="nowrap"|''MEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Lonnie Brown<br/>''<small>Memorial Day</small>''
|align=center|8
|rowspan=2|{{frac|3|1|2}} min, with a 1 min break
|rowspan=2|<small>An all-female contest was originally scheduled to be held on Memorial Day with the winner to be declared "Miss Coney Island;"<ref name="New York Times no. 2"/> the contest was won by a 30 year old market researcher from Manhattan.<ref name="Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (sec. C, p. 1)">{{cite web|title=News Makers: Hot dog queen?|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/137063370/|work=[[Rochester, New York|Rochester]] [[Democrat and Chronicle]] (sec. C, p. 1)|date=May 27, 1975|access-date=June 12, 2021|archive-date=June 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612160000/https://www.newspapers.com/image/137063370/|url-status=live}}</ref> A contemporary press account indicates that when the contest was held it was ultimately decided to allow men to participate and that the top-finishing male was awarded a plaque;<ref>{{cite web|author=Jerry Adler|date=May 27, 1975|title=Slip In a Ringer at Hot Dog Chompfest|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/464395798/|work=[[New York City|New York]] [[New York Daily News|Daily News]] (sec. ML, p. 7)|access-date=June 14, 2021|archive-date=June 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614230111/https://www.newspapers.com/image/464395798/|url-status=live}}</ref> he was a 28 year old [[National Guard (United States)|National Guardsman]] from [[Far Rockaway, Queens]]. 15 contestants participated.<ref name="Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (sec. C, p. 1)"/></small>
|-
|nowrap="nowrap"|''WOMEN'S''<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Sharlene Smith<br/>''<small>Memorial Day</small>''
|align=center|{{frac|8|1|2}}
|-
|rowspan=3|1974
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Walter Paul<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} Paul Sirop<br/>''<small>[[Labor Day]]</small>''
|align=center|<small>''(unknown)''</small>
|<small>''(unknown)''</small>
|rowspan=3|<small>The first 1974 contest was held on April 7 (opening day for Coney Island's summer season activities)<ref name="Crown/Archetype (p. 221)">{{cite book|author=Jason Fagone|date=2007|title=Horsemen of the Esophagus: Competitive Eating and the Big Fat American Dream|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=utR6mUoZBVIC&q=%22column+about+how+Morty+would%22&pg=PA221|work=Crown/Archetype (p. 221)|publisher=Three Rivers Press |isbn=9780307237392}}</ref> and was won by a 22 year old [[Borough of Manhattan Community College|Manhattan Community College]] student from [[Astoria, Queens]]; the prize was a trophy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nine hot dogs get him a trophy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/156110578/|work=Wilmington (Del.) Morning News (p. 22)|date=April 12, 1974|access-date=July 7, 2016|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819072358/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/156110578/|url-status=live}}</ref> Six contestants participated.<ref name="Crown/Archetype (p. 221)"/> The second 1974 contest was held on Independence Day and was won by a 185-pound, 24 year old from Brooklyn; the prize was "a trophy with an emblazoned hot dog on it".<ref>{{cite web|title=Still Hungry|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uBpdAAAAIBAJ&dq=hot%20dog%20contest&pg=1646%2C530505|work=St. Joseph (Mo.) Gazette (sec. B, p. 2)|date=July 5, 1974|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506015944/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uBpdAAAAIBAJ&dq=hot%20dog%20contest&pg=1646,530505|url-status=live}}</ref> The third 1974 contest was held on Labor Day and was tied by Walter Paul—the event's first two-time winner—and Paul Sirop.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Weiner & Hungry Look|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/491512804/?terms=%22Charles%20Frattini%22&match=1|work=[[New York City|New York]] [[New York Daily News|Daily News]] (p. 7)|date=September 3, 1974|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000236/https://www.newspapers.com/image/491512804/?terms=%22Charles%20Frattini%22&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref> There was apparently no tie-breaking eat-off.</small> 
|-
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Roberto Muriel<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|10
|{{frac|3|1|2}} min
|-
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} John Connolly<br/>''<small>Opening day of Coney Island's summer season</small>''<br>''<small>(April 7)</small>''
|align=center|9
|{{frac|2|1|2}} min
|-
|rowspan=2|1973
|nowrap="nowrap"|''(unknown)''<br/>''<small>Independence Day</small>''
|align=center|<small>''(unknown)''</small>
|<small>''(unknown)''</small>
|rowspan=2|<small>The first 1973 contest was scheduled to be held on April 7 (opening day for Coney Island's summer season activities) but was canceled due to the [[1973 meat boycott]]. A press account from the time describes this to have been the 23rd annual contest.<ref>{{cite web|author=Colleen Sullivan|date=April 8, 1973|title=Boycott Leaders Hail Protest; Price Watchers Are Skeptical|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/718540930/|work=[[Melville, New York|Melville]] ([[New York (state)|N.Y.]]) [[Newsday|Sunday Newsday]]: [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk]] Ed. (p. 5)|access-date=June 12, 2021|archive-date=June 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612160000/https://www.newspapers.com/image/718540930/|url-status=live}}</ref> A contest was scheduled to be held on Independence Day (designated as the 106th anniversary of the invention of the hot dog) and refereed by the "1973 Hot Dog Queen",<ref>{{cite web|author=Linda Greenhouse|date=July 4, 1973|title=Old-Time One-Day Fourth To Get New Angles Here|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/04/archives/oldtime-oneday-fourth-to-get-new-angles-here-air-show-scheduled.html|work=The New York Times (p. 38)|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506015945/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/04/archives/oldtime-oneday-fourth-to-get-new-angles-here-air-show-scheduled.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but no results are known to have been compiled and released to the public.</small>
|-
|nowrap="nowrap"|''(canceled)''<br/>''<small>Opening day of Coney Island's summer season</small>''<br>''<small>(April 7)</small>''
|align=center|—
|—
|-
|rowspan=2|1972
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Melody Andorfer<br/>''<small>Labor Day</small>''
|align=center|12
|5 min
|rowspan=2|<small>The first 1972 contest was held on Memorial Day and was won by a [[Brooklyn College]] student; the prize "was a book of certificates for forty more hot dogs".<ref name="New York Times"/> The second 1972 contest was held on Labor Day and was won by a 105-pound, 18-year-old female community activist from Astoria, Queens;<ref name="St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press (sec. A, p. 2)"/> the prize was a paper crown (on July 2, 2021, she received a belt similar to those awarded to recent winners, for her past achievement).<ref>{{cite web|author=Charles Denson|date=April 23, 2020|title=Melody Andorfer: 'Hot Dog Queen' and Winner of the 1972 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest|url=https://www.coneyislandhistory.org/oral-history-archive/melody-andorfer|work=coneyislandhistory.org|accessdate=2021-07-20|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000243/https://www.coneyislandhistory.org/oral-history-archive/melody-andorfer|url-status=live}}</ref> 260-pound, 19 year old Gary Silverman of Brooklyn was the runner-up and consumed 10 hot dogs. 8 men and 8 women participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 23rd annual contest.<ref name="St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press (sec. A, p. 2)"/></small> <small>In 2020, the [[Coney Island History Project]] interviewed Andorfer.</small><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-10 |title=Melody Andorfer |url=https://www.coneyislandhistory.org/oral-history-archive/melody-andorfer |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Coney Island History Project |language=en |archive-date=July 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000243/https://www.coneyislandhistory.org/oral-history-archive/melody-andorfer |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jason Schechter<br/>''<small>Memorial Day</small>''
|align=center|14
|{{frac|3|1|2}} min
|-
|1968–1971
|style="background:#d3d3d3" nowrap="nowrap"; colspan="4"; align="center"|<small>''(no documented contests)''</small>
|-
|1967
|nowrap="nowrap"|{{flagicon|USA}} Walter Paul<br/>''<small>[[Centennial]] celebration of the invention of the hot dog</small>''<br>''<small>(June 30)</small>''
|align=center|17{{ref|reference_name_B|b}}
|60 min
|<small>The contest was held on June 30 (designated as the 100th anniversary of the invention of the hot dog) and was won by a 400-pound, 32 year old truck driver. The prize was "a trophy proclaiming him the world's champion hot dog eater." He consumed the hot dogs over the period of "one hour flat".<ref>{{cite web|title=Frankfurter Fan Downs 127 for Centennial Title|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FgMqAAAAIBAJ&pg=4511,12128&hl=en|work=Milwaukee Journal (p. 2)|date=July 1, 1967}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Man Gobbles 127 Hot Dogs|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IxwrAAAAIBAJ&pg=6803%2C365137|work=Reading (Pa.) Eagle (p. 14)|date=July 2, 1967|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=July 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703201454/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IxwrAAAAIBAJ&pg=6803%2C365137|url-status=live}}</ref> It is not immediately clear if he ate buns with the hot dogs.</small>
|}
{{note|reference_name_A|a}} final total may have been affected by interruption from protestor<ref>{{cite web|author=Scott Gleeson|date=July 4, 2022|title=Joey Chestnut puts protestor in brief chokehold during his Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest victory|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/joey-chestnut-puts-protestor-brief-175356245.html|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=2022-07-04|archive-date=July 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704203548/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/joey-chestnut-puts-protestor-brief-175356245.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br>{{note|reference_name_B|b}} though Walter Paul's 1967 feat is documented in multiple [[UPI]] press accounts from the time, he has also been mentioned in passing in more recent press accounts for supposedly establishing the contest's then-record ''17'' hot dogs consumed; several other people have similarly been credited for records of {{frac|13|1|2}}, {{frac|17|1|2}}, or {{frac|18|1|2}} hot dogs consumed; the following feats are not known to be documented more fully in press accounts from the time of their occurrence and, as such, may not be credible and are not included in the ''Results'' table above:

"Several years" before 1986: unspecified contestant, {{frac|13|1|2}}<ref name="Salt Lake City Deseret News (sec. A, p. 3)"/><br/>
1979: unspecified contestant, {{frac|17|1|2}}<ref name="Reading (Pa.) Eagle (p. 14)"/><br/>
1978: Walter Paul (described as being from [[Coney Island]], [[Brooklyn]]), 17<ref>{{cite web|title=Extra! Man bites dog—15 of 'em|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/13855370/|work=Tyrone (Pa.) Daily Herald (p. 6)|date=July 7, 1986|access-date=July 10, 2016|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819020354/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/13855370/|url-status=live}}</ref><br/>
1974: unspecified contestant, 16<ref name="New York Daily News no. 3"/><br/>
1968: Walter Paul (described as "a rotund Coney Island carnival caretaker"), 17<ref name="Schenectady (N.Y.) Gazette (p. 12)"/><br/>
1959: Peter Washburn (described as "a one-armed Brooklyn Carnival worker"), {{frac|18|1|2}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Ryan Nerz|date=April 2006|title=Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SP3CK4iGDK4C&q=%22selhoff%2C+the+former+Baywatch+star%22&pg=PA61|work=St. Martin's Griffin (p. 61)|publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9780312339685}}</ref> or 17<ref name="St. Martin's Press (p. 62)"/><br />
1959: Paul Washburn (described as a carnival worker from Brooklyn), {{frac|17|1|2}}<ref name="Reading (Pa.) Eagle (p. 1 )"/><br />
1959: Walter Paul (described as a 260-pound man from Brooklyn), 17<ref name="Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal (p. 8)"/><br />
1957: Paul Washburn, {{frac|17|1|2}}<ref name="Norwalk (Conn.) Hour (p. 3)"/>