I’m sure you all saw Mike Antonellis’s blog about our 20th Season Celebration last night.  It was quite the evening; we brought back Sea Dog Alums before the game, hosted a special VIP area for season ticket holders and partners who had been with us for 20 years (which is an amazing milestone and we were thrilled and humbled to have everyone here celebrating with us) and we had a special on field ceremony and simultaneous first pitch!  One of the  Alums here was Sea Dogs’ star Charles Johnson, arguably the first big name that donned a Sea Dogs uniform.  In case you  missed it, below a few photos of the ceremony:

Alums patiently waiting in the dug out.

Who doesn’t love a high five tunnel?

Charles Johnson, chatting, anxious to go through previously shown high five tunnel.

Portland Mayor, Michael Brennan saying a few words about the Sea Dogs.

Simultaneous First Pitch!

Our series with New Britain rolls on tonight when we welcome our Appreciated Teachers to the park!  Teachers throughout Maine that were nominated by their Principals will be honored on the field before the game.  Afterwards, they will be treated to chair massages in the Portland Room thanks to the fine people from Soma Massage.  Teachers are selfless, so join us tonight for a big THANK YOU.

The fun continues throughout the weekend with more games on Saturday and Sunday against New Britain, and then we take on the BMets Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Plenty of fun to be had well into next week!

If not, you are missing out.  We pit the titans of Maine Industries against each other in a race to the death!  Well-a race to the finish line, which is located in front of the Sea Dogs’ dug out.  Want to meet the Maine Event Characters?  Want to seem them race around the warning track?  Come to a Sea Dogs game and find out…

It was an early morning at Hadlock Field today, with Assistant General Manager/Media Guy Chris Cameron and I opening up the park at 4am to welcome our early morning media visitors.  Each Opening Day I am consistently impressed and grateful for the level of coverage that we receive from all of the local media.  They all do a fantastic job and in spite of the hour we have a great time.

Opening Day is incredible for many reasons.  It is a tangible way to give winter a big going away party and mentally prepare to move into the next season.  In a lot of ways it is the unofficial start of summer.  Also-little known fact-calories do not count on Opening Day, for front office staff AND fans.  I am embarrassed to say what I had for breakfast, but I can tell you I am already looking forward to French Fries and a Sea Dog Biscuit for dinner.

For this entire homestand we will have some great things going on at the ballpark.  Tonight we will welcome long-time announcer Dean Rogers to th e park to throw out our ceremonial first pitch.  This is a huge deal for us, as Dean announced almost all of our first pitches for 19 seasons, and it will be a delight to have him be the center of attention.  Dean’s history in baseball and broadcasting is impressive and I am looking forward to spending some time with him and his family at the park tonight.

Also, the Q97.9 Sea Dogs’ Dance team will make their debut at Hadlock Field this evening, donning their uniforms thanks to Classic Flooring.  This group will be so exciting to watch at the park this year.

On Friday night we will have the band 43 North performing in the front plaza before our 6pm game.  They are a true friend to the Sea Dogs and a really fun Country band that plays some great covers and will really set the mood as you head into the game.

On Saturday and Sunday get ready for some day baseball as the Sea Dogs are set to finish off their series with the Trenton Thunder at 1pm on both days.  Who doesn’t love some day baseball?  On Saturday we have a front gate giveaway of our 2013 Magnet Schedules, thanks to Paul G. White.  The magnet schedules this year feature two key players and look great on any refrigerator.  Also on Saturday, The Kastaways will make their debut appearance in the front plaza.  This year The Kastaways are sponsored by Moxie the Moose and Bugaboo Creek, so be sure to swing by and see your favorite band and special guests!  On Sunday we will welcome Maine’s Public Universities and their Reading Challenge contestants, the Woodside One Wheelers and many other groups!

On Monday we will start a new series against the Reading Fightin Phils and will have a very big National Anthem Group that evening comprised of some talented musicians from around the state.  Tuesday and Wednesday night ‘s games are both also at 6pm, with Tuesday night being our Pi Night with Portland Pie Company.  On this night we will recognize some Maine students who participated in a competition this winter where they recited as many spaces of Pi as they could…from  memory (3.14).  The winning student (who memorized over 250 spaces) is going to go home with a YEAR of free pizza thanks to Portland Pie Company.  If there had been prizes like this when I was in school Math might have been my favorite subject.  On Wednesday we will finish up our first homestand  as we celebrate our School Night at the Ballpark as well as our Dance Night with the folks from Dance Studio of Maine.

So, lots of fun things going on this week, and throughout the entire season.  Check out more on our promotional website here:  http://www.milb.com/promotions/index.jsp?sid=t546 and as always feel free to email me with questions at lriley@seadogs.com.

Be on the look out for a furry seal friend out there gifting roses, Sea Dogs hats and tickets.  Remember, only 49 more days left until Opening Day!  We are putting the finishing touches on many promotions as we speak!

While I love the Holiday Season, there is often undue stress placed upon finding the perfect gift.  We also all know someone who is incredibly difficult to shop for.  For me, that person is my Dad.  He is, without a doubt, the worst person to shop for because he claims to “like everything!”.  Really, Dad?  Because I was going to get you the unabridged version of Anna Karenina and broccoli.  No one actually likes “everything”.  But seriously, I enjoy shopping for other people.  It is fun for me to think of gifts that they will truly appreciate and enjoy.  Sometimes, that gift does not have to be a material item.  At the Sea Dogs we have worked with many non-profit organizations that do tremendous work in Maine and throughout New England.  This year I have made a few donations in the name of people on my shopping list, because I knew that would be more meaningful to them than another material possession.   Don’t get me wrong, material possessions are wonderful.  I still fondly remember the Barbie Dream House that was under the tree on Christmas morning when I was five.  (It had an elevator!)  But if you’re stumped this year, consider donating to an organization in the name of someone on your gift list.  If you’re not sure what organization to look towards, read on to learn more about an organization that we worked closely with this summer.

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This past summer, the Sea Dogs partnered with the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program to host the first-ever Adventure Series event for veterans and military families in the state of Maine. The Home Base Adventure Series is designed to support family relationships during and after deployments. The program offers military veterans and their families an opportunity to explore a new sport or activity together, meet other military families – and get acquainted with the Home Base Program. The Sea Dogs event this past summer was a big success — over 100 veterans and their families joined us at Hadlock field for an afternoon game and outdoor barbecue. During the opening ceremony, kids and adults helped unveil a large American flag on the field for the singing of the national anthem. Follow @Home Base Program on Facebook and see photos from the event http://on.fb.me/TSz7Zs. This was the beginning of what we hope to be a longstanding relationship with Home Base.

Home Base Tent in Hadlock Field Plaza.

Pre-Game Presentation
August 19th, 2012

Donations made to the Home Base Program support the treatment of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and families affected by combat or deployment-related stress and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – the “invisible wounds of war.” It is estimated that as many as one in three Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experience the effects of one of these injuries. Home Base clinicians provide individualized, confidential mental health care, and physical, medicine and rehabilitation for veterans regardless of their ability to pay or their discharge status. Funding also allows Home Base to provide counseling and support of veterans’ families; research to improve understanding and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) and TBI; and community and provider education surrounding these wounds. The support of generous donors has allowed Home Base to treat and support hundreds of veterans and families throughout New England; produce new educational materials and disseminate them to thousands of primary care physicians, nurses, educators and first responders not only in New England but nationwide; and employ a team of veterans to find those in need and guide them into care.

There are many ways in which people can support the Home Base Program:

The Home Base Program relies almost solely on philanthropic support from donors. This financial support may be given directly by individual donors, but donors may also host fundraising events that benefit Home Base. http://www.homebaseprogram.org/general-information/for-donors.aspx

A gift of time is always most welcome…the Home Base Program operates several special events which require hundreds of volunteers each year. If interested, email pgoldfarb@partners.org.

You may know an active duty service member, veteran or family that is facing challenges from a military deployment. Let them know that the Home Base Program is there to help them. Visit www.homebaseprogram.org or call 617-724-5202 to learn more.

So whether it be planning a charity golf tournament, operating a lemonade stand, asking an employer to donate to Home Base, volunteering at a special event, or referring a veteran or family in need to Home Base, there are many ways to get involved!

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Special thanks to the Development Team at Home Base for putting together the information on their wonderful organization.  Be happy, healthy, safe and kind as we get closer to Christmas!