Baseball, fireworks, and the Fourth of July
Celebrating Independence Day in Portland
Despite being America’s holiday, Americans consider the Fourth of July just their third favorite holiday. I tried to celebrate in the most American way possible, with baseball, hot dogs, fireworks, and cold beer.
As America’s Pastime, baseball has long embraced Independence Day. A great example would be what the Portland Sea Dogs did prior to the start of their game on July 3. For the Sea Dogs, the game against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies was their last before the holiday. So, for the 15th year in a row, the crowd was treated to the full lyrics of the “Star Spangled Banner” instead of just the first verse normally sung before games. Yep, all four verses of Francis Scott Key’s poem that became the national anthem. Of course, the singer, Rene Rancourt of the Boston Bruins, needed a piece of paper with all of the words on it. It was a truly unique experience that could only really happen at a minor league baseball game. I think my favorite part, however, was when some people clapped after the first verse because they thought the song was over. It reminded me of when audience members clap after just one movement of a four movement symphony.
Hadlock Field, the Sea Dogs’ home diamond, was a pretty nice stadium. Since the team is the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, the left field wall is as tall as the Green Monster and dubbed the “Maine Monster.” The day before I went, a ball bounced off the top of the Monster and onto Tim Tebow’s head, but more on him later. My only complaint with Hadlock was the lack of shade. There’s been a heat wave in Portland, and the game started at 6 p.m. All 7,628 people were bathed in sunlight for the first five or six innings because there is no upper deck to shade the lower stands. It grew quite hot but still was bearable. Of course, the game was sold out (there were fireworks after the game), and the place was crowded. No complaints from me about that, though. It’s great to see a local community rally around a minor league team.
It would’ve been nice if that team had won the game for the hometown crowd, but it was not meant to be. Binghamton’s Justin Dunn held the ‘Dogs to just two hits over seven and two-thirds innings. Portland did manage a run in the bottom of the first inning, but that’s all they could muster the whole game. The loss was not the result of poor pitching, though, as Portland starter Daniel McGrath matched Dunn, allowing just one run over five innings. The Rumble Ponies scored in the top of the eighth inning and two relievers closed out the game. Portland lost 2–1.
Very few people would be able to distinguish between a minor league player and a random guy in his 20s. One of the players on the Rumble Ponies drew large cheers whenever he went to bat. He was the aforementioned Tebow, the star college football player who is now attempting a baseball career. Tebow went 1-for-4 in the game and was thrown out at home while the game was still tied. To the untrained eye, he did not look out of place on the baseball diamond.
On the holiday itself, I spend most of my time lounging around, an American tradition. Around noon, my uncle and I went to Allagash Brewing Company, one of the only breweries around that was open on the Fourth. It also happens to be my uncle’s favorite, but that is besides the point. At the end of the day, I watched Portland’s fireworks over the Back Cove with my relatives from their roof. Always the perfect way to end the Fourth of July. Fireworks.
Home team record: 0–1
Hat of the week:
2016 Portland Sea Dogs Independence Day
I own a few hats with the American flag inside the team’s logo. The Sea Dogs one might be my favorite. It’s the only one with more than just a letter.
Mascot Watch: The best part of minor league baseball teams are their ridiculous names and mascots. I’ll be taking photos and possibly making comments in this section.
Slugger, a Sea Dog. There is a bit of a disparity between the mascot on the team’s logo and the costumed mascot. The logo looks very similar to a seal while Slugger is a dog. Not really sure why, though I would guess it is because a dog is easier for young children to meet. Slugger really embraces the dog aesthetic, selling Sea Dog Biscuits (ice cream sandwiches) and using “Who Let the Dogs Out” as an entrance song.
Travel Time: None
Random notes: During the day and before the game, I traveled to different places near Portland with my young cousins and aunt. I ate a lobster roll, a necessity when traveling to Maine, and saw the Atlantic Ocean. In a few weeks, I will see the Pacific Ocean, officially traveling from sea to shining sea. The best way to celebrate America is to visit different parts of the country.
