Best Sunflower Seeds for Baseball
Sunflower seeds can be spotted strewn across baseball fields and dugouts all over the country. Baseball and sunflower seeds are an iconic pair that form part of the image of America’s pastime.
So, it’s no shock that there are hundreds of brands and types of sunflower seeds on the market to fulfill the needs of softball and baseball players across the world.
We’ve taken the time to look through all these offerings to find the best sunflower seeds that you can buy. However, before we give you those recommendations, there’s an important question to answer.
Why do Baseball Players Snack on Sunflower Seeds?
Whether you’re at your local Little League game or an MLB game, you’re likely to see players, coaches, and fans snacking on sunflower seeds. But why has the snack become synonymous with the sport?
Long summer games, doubleheaders, and long periods sitting on the bench while your team is batting are all characteristics of baseball and softball. This leaves players with plenty of idle time cheering their team or waiting for their turn at the plate.
The primary reason sunflower seeds caught on in the sport of baseball is to deal with the stress of waiting for your turn at bat or on the mound.
Sunflower seeds are easy to get rid of after you’ve chewed them and they are much healthier than other options that are popular in the sport. For example, chewing tobacco used to be much more common, and sunflower seeds have regained popularity for players more concerned about their health.
Chewing gum is another alternative, but it can be deceptively dehydrating, so most ballplayers prefer sunflower seeds.
Of course, there are multiple reasons ballplayers like sunflower seeds, some to calm their nerves, others because it’s a healthier alternative to their previous habits. Now, it’s taken on a life of its own and younger players will pick up the habit to emulate their favorite MLB stars.
Now with that settled, let’s look at the top ten best sunflower seeds.
Top 10 Best Sunflower Seeds List for Baseball Players
1. David Sunflower Seeds
David Seeds have the strongest brand association with America’s pastime. The red, white, and blue packaging of the original flavor sunflower seeds is instantly recognizable to baseball fans. They’ve gained so much popularity due to their simplicity, the original flavor is simply sunflower seeds and salt. But nowadays you can choose from 10 different flavors including their original recipe.
Why We Love David Sunflower Seeds:
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Most iconic sunflower seeds in the game
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10 flavors to choose from
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Original recipe is most popular among players
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Our overall favorite sunflower seed brand
2. Spitz Sunflower Seeds
Spitz is another brand closely tied to baseball. Spitz roasts their sunflower seeds in small batches which ensures high quality and great taste. Their three flavors, original, dill pickle, and cracked pepper are all very popular among ball players.
Why we love Spitz Sunflower Seeds:
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Three sunflower seed flavors to choose from
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Another iconic brand that baseball players love
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One of our favorite sunflower seed brands
3. Bigs Sunflower Seeds
Bigs is another sunflower seed brand that has a variety of flavors that will satisfy just about any sunflower seed fan. You can even buy the variety multipack which includes all 9 of their flavors. Roasted in the US, Bigs is another popular brand in the baseball world.
Why we love Bigs Sunflower Seeds:
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Bigs sunflower seeds flavors Offer 9 different options to choose from
4. Giants Sunflower Seeds
This multipack variety offering of five flavors has several things going for it. Not only do the seeds come in resealable bags, but with your purchase, you will also get a chip clip.
Sunflower seed highlights:
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Multipack offering of 5 different flavors
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Resealable bags and chip clip
5. Yupik Raw Shelled Seeds
This is one of the cheapest and healthiest options you can get if you want a snacking sunflower seed. Yupik sells this raw variety without any additives, oils, salt, or sugar, so you can chew without worrying about any health drawbacks
Highlights:
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No added oil, sugar, or salt
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Can also be used in cooking
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Less salt than other seeds while maintaining a great taste
6. Anthony's Organic Hulled Sunflower Seeds
This is another unsalted option that will appeal to both the health and environment-conscious chewer. These seeds are organic and packed in California.
Highlights:
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Organic and unsalted
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No salt means no sandpaper tongue
7. Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Hulled Sunflower Seeds
This is a great bulk option that will help cut down on costs while still remaining healthy. Similar to the two previous ones on this list, they are unsalted and healthier than many of the flavored options on this list. As it comes in bulk, you’ll likely want to put it in smaller packaging if you plan to chew them on gameday.
Sunflower Seed Highlights:
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Unsalted/Organic
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Family-run business
8. Blake’s Seed Based Roasted Sunflower Seeds
These sunflower seeds have some of the best online reviews on this list and come in individual packaging. For that reason, they come at a price premium, however, if you like a good flavored seed this will be the one for you.
Sunflower Seed Benefits:
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Three flavor options
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6 or 12 count packages
9. Jumbo Sunflower Seeds
This is another excellent bulk option if you want unsalted sunflower seeds to snack on. You get 12 5.5-ounce bags for a very reasonable price.
Sunflower Seeds Highlights:
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No added salt
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Buy in bulk
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Best sunflower seeds for a healthy snack
10. South 40 Snacks, Sunflower Seeds Giant
If you are looking for big seeds then look no further, this is the sunflower seed for you. One of the few bulk options for salted sunflower seeds that comes at at a reasonable price tag. Due to the seeds’ large size, they are somewhat easier to crack than some other options.
Sunflower Seeds Highlights:
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Jumbo size
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Salted
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Buy in bulk
Benefits of Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are not only a popular option on the baseball field, but they are also increasingly becoming known as a healthy food option. For those on a keto diet, they are an excellent low-carb snack, and some are even marketed to keto diets like David Sunflower Seeds.
They also have other health benefits as they include a range of vitamins and nutrients that can boost your immune system. Researchers have also found that sunflower seeds can improve the health of your heart and reduce blood pressure.
Sunflower seeds are rich in healthy fats, so they pack a big nutritional punch in their small size.
They are also a decent source of protein, and thus are popular with vegans or those looking for a high-protein diet.
Sunflower seeds have a wide range of health benefits that make them a much better alternative to sweet chewing gums or the nasty habit of chewing tobacco.
Can Eating Too Many Sunflower Seeds be Harmful?
As with anything you can have too much of a good thing. According to some doctors, eating too many sunflower seeds can cause stomach aches, constipation or even vomiting. If you plan on eating a lot of sunflower seeds, we recommend eating unsalted sunflower seeds, as they are lower in sodium.
Additionally, some people are allergic to sunflower seeds, so it’s important to consider if any of your teammates have an allergy.
It’s best to stick close to the recommended serving size, and you shouldn’t be going through a bag a day.
The most important thing to consider is the sodium content. That’s why some prefer unsalted seeds like Yupik Raw Shelled Seeds.
We Love Sunflower Seeds and We Hope You Liked This Article!
Sunflower seeds and baseball go together, and their health benefits make them a great source of stress relief as you’re waiting for your turn at bat or in the field.
There’s something for every sunflower seed fan in our list of the top 10 sunflower seeds for baseball players, so take a good look and enjoy your sunflower seeds on a nice summer day at the diamond. And do us a favor, make sure to eat sunflower seeds next time you're out on the diamond.