sport peppers

[Joan Houston Hall]

Sometime within the last few months I've seen a discussion of "sport
pepper," the small, somewhat spicy, pickled pepper that accompanies a
Chicago-style hot dog.  I assumed that it was here on the list, but I don't
find it in the archives.  Does anyone else remember such a discussion, here
or anywhere else?  (This preceded the reference in the New York Times on
April 14.)  Our earliest citation right now is from 1996, which seems very
late.  Any earlier ones would be appreciated, as would personal
recollections of the term (when and where).
Thanks,
Joan