Portland Sea Dogs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portland Sea DogsFounded in 1994 Portland, Maine |
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| Class-level | |||||
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| Current | Double-A (1994–present) | ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | Eastern League (1994–present) | ||||
| Division | Northeast Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | Boston Red Sox (2003–present) | ||||
| Previous | Florida Marlins (1994–2002) | ||||
| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles (1) | 2006 | ||||
| Division titles (6) |
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| Second half titles (1) |
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| Team data | |||||
| Nickname | Portland Sea Dogs (1994–present) | ||||
| Colors | Navy, red, gray |
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| Mascot | Slugger | ||||
| Ballpark | Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field (1994–present) | ||||
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Owner(s)/
Operator(s) |
Diamond Baseball Holdings | ||||
| Manager | Chad Epperson | ||||
| General Manager | Geoff Iacuessa | ||||
The Portland Sea Dogs are a fun Minor League Baseball team from Portland, Maine. They play in the Eastern League. The team started in 1994. The Sea Dogs are the Double-A partner team for the famous Boston Red Sox. This means they help train future Red Sox stars!
The Sea Dogs first partnered with the Florida Marlins. Then, in 2003, they joined the Red Sox family. In 2006, the Sea Dogs won their first Double-A championship! They beat the Akron Aeros in an exciting series. This was a big win for the Red Sox's minor league teams. You can listen to all their games on local radio stations. Emma Tiedemann calls the play-by-play action.
Team History
Baseball came back to Maine on October 4, 1992. Portland got a new team in the Eastern League. The Sea Dogs officially partnered with the Florida Marlins in 1993. This partnership lasted for nine seasons. The city worked hard to make Hadlock Field ready. They turned a high school stadium into a professional ballpark.
The Sea Dogs won their very first game! They beat the Reading Phillies 2–1 on the road. A future major league player, Charles Johnson, hit a home run in the 14th inning. The team played their first home game at Hadlock Field on April 18, 1994. They lost 7–6 to the Albany-Colonie Yankees.
A famous cartoonist named Guy Gilchrist designed the team's cool logo. His comic strip, Mudpie, even featured the Sea Dogs in some stories! The team won their only league title on September 17, 2006. They defeated the Akron Aeros 8–5 in a thrilling championship game.
In 2021, Major League Baseball changed how Minor League Baseball was set up. The Sea Dogs became part of the Double-A Northeast. In 2022, this division went back to being called the Eastern League. In 2023, the Burke family, who owned the team for a long time, sold it to Diamond Baseball Holdings. In August 2024, the team was even featured in the popular comic strip Big Nate by Portland cartoonist Lincoln Peirce.
Home Stadium: Hadlock Field
The Sea Dogs play their home games at Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field. The stadium is named after Edson Hadlock, a beloved high school baseball coach. It can hold up to 7,368 fans. Many famous people have visited Hadlock Field. These include former NFL coach Bill Parcells and former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara.
One of the coolest parts of the stadium is the Maine Monster. It's a 37-foot-tall wall in left field. It looks just like the famous Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston! It even has a Coke bottle and a Citgo sign. Along the right-field line, there's a picnic area. Groups can enjoy the game and eat together there. In 2006, a new seating area opened above the right-field wall. It's like the Green Monster seats at Fenway Park. Fans there have a great chance to catch a home run ball!
The Sea Dogs have a fun mascot named Slugger the Sea Dog. He has been cheering on the team since May 6, 1994.
Championship Seasons
The Portland Sea Dogs have had some great seasons! They have won their division championship several times. Their biggest win was the Eastern League championship in 2006. They also made it to the championship series in 2005. The team has been a strong competitor in the Northeast division of the Eastern League for many years.
