Currently there is a contest running in the Portland Press Herald where fans can select their all-time favorite Sea Dogs team in celebration of the Sea Dogs' 15th season in Portland. Everyone who enters will receive a free General Admission Ticket to the May 6th Sea Dogs game, where the winning team will be announced. All entries will go into a random drawing of Four 2008 Season Tickets, A Sky Box to the May 27th game, and ten prizes of four reserved seat tickets to the May 23rd game. Entry forms can be found in the Portland Press Herald or at the Welcome Center at the Portland Press Herald.

Let's take a look at some of the leading candidates for all-time favorite Sea Dogs team.

2006
One obvious choice would have to be the 2006 team. In all honesty, this probably wasn’t the most talented team to ever play in Portland. However, it was the team that finally brought an Eastern League Championship to Portland. Sea Dogs manager, Todd Claus was named Baseball America’s Minor League Baseball Manager of the Year for what he was able to accomplish with the team he had. This is a team that started the year with David Murphy in centerfield and ended with Jacoby Ellsbury in center.

2005
How about the 2005 team? This team started the season 10-0, the best start ever to an Eastern League season. The team finished the season with a 76-66 record and reached post-season play for the first time in eight years, only to lose to Akron in the Championship Series. 16 players from the 2005 team have appeared in the Major League’s. This list includes two Rookie of the Year winner’s. The Sea Dogs middle infield consisted of 2006 National League Rookie of the Year Hanley Ramirez at shortstop and 2007 American League Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia at second base. Four of the five regular starters have played in the big leagues including Jonathan Papelbon, Jon Lester, Kason Gabbard, and David Pauley. Lester led the Eastern League in ERA (2.61) and strikeouts (153). How about the outfield; Brandon Moss and David Murphy. The bullpen had Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen, and Cla Meredith. Oh, and let’s not forget Anibal Sanchez, who replaced Papelbon in the rotation when he was promoted to Triple-A.

1997
You think the 2005 team produced a lot of big leaguers, the 1997 team produced even more. 19 players from the 1997 team appeared in the Major Leagues. This team produced a 79-58 record and reached the Eastern League Championship Series but fell to Harrisburg. To this date, the 1997 Sea Dogs team is the only team in Minor League Baseball to have five players to hit 20 or more home runs; Kevin Millar, Ryan Jackson, John Roskos, Mark Kotsay, and Josh Booty. Amazingly Alex Gonzalez fell just short of making it six players with his 19 home runs. Millar put together the best individual season in team history and one of the greatest in league history. Millar fell just short of the Eastern League Triple Crown, he led the league with a .342 average and 131 RBI while his 32 home runs was second in the league. Needless to say, Millar was a lock for the Eastern League MVP award. Other contributors to the 1997 team were Brian Meadows, Tony Saunders, Bryan Ward, and Randy Winn.

1995
Or how about the Sea Dogs team with the most wins? That would be the 1995 Sea Dogs team, a team that posted an 86-56 (.606) record. This was the first Sea Dogs team to reach post-season play. The team was led by Billy McMillon (now coaching in the Red Sox organization) who hit .315 with 14 home runs and 93 RBI. Ralph Milliard scored a franchise record 104 runs. Other key contributors were Will Cunnane, Reynol Mendoza, Jay Powell, and Edgar Renteria.

Is it too early to consider the 2008 team? The team is off to a perfect 4-0 start.

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