Two join Sea Dogs' Hall of Fame
This year's ballot included players Alex Gonzalez, Edgar Renteria, Livan Hernandez, Luis Castillo, Mark Kotsay and Randy Winn. The non-player nominees were Fredi Gonzalez and John Boles. Each inductee is presented a plaque for their accomplishment. In addition, plaques of the Hall of Fame members will be displayed in the Hadlock Field concourse. Fans can also visit www.seadogs.com for Hall of Fame plaques, bios, and video and audio clips of the Hall of Fame members.
Edgar Renteria led Portland to its first ever playoff appearance in 1995 by hitting .289 with 68 RBI and 30 stolen bases. He was named the Marlins Organizational Player of the Year and was the everyday shortstop at the major league level the following season. In 1997, Renteria delivered one of the most dramatic post-season hits in baseball history, clinching the World Series for the Marlins by driving home the winning run with an RBI single in the 11th inning of Game Seven.
Renteria was traded to St. Louis in 1999 and stayed with the Cardinals until 2005, when he left for the Red Sox after signing as a free agent. With Boston, he hit .276 with 70 RBI and a career-high 100 runs. Traded to Atlanta prior to the 2006 season, Renteria reached his fifth All-Star Game. Renteria has also won two Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger awards - a feat accomplished by only four other shortstops in Major League history (Alan Trammell, Cal Ripken Jr., Alex Gonzalez and Barry Larkin). Renteria is also the all-time Major League record holder in home runs, RBI and runs scored by Colombian-born players. In 12 major league season Renteria has compiled a .291 average with 116 home runs, 758 RBI's, and 274 stolen bases. Earlier this month, Renteria scored his 1,000th career run.
Fredi Gonzalez became the second manager in Sea Dogs history, taking over for Carlos Tosca in 1997 who had served three years as the Sea Dogs skipper. In his lone season as the Sea Dogs manager, Gonzalez led the Sea Dogs to their third straight Northern Division title with a 79-63 record. Baseball America selected him as the Eastern League Manager of the Year. The 1997 Sea Dogs team became the first team in Eastern League history to have five players hit 20 or more home runs in a season. Kevin Millar nearly won the Triple Crown and 19 players went on to play in the major leagues. Gonzalez's .556 winning percentage is the best career mark for any Sea Dogs manager.
On October 6, 2006, Gonzalez was announced as the ninth manager in the history of the Florida Marlins. Gonzalez joined Carlos Tosca as the only Sea Dogs managers to manage in the big leagues. Prior to taking the Marlins job, Gonzalez spent five seasons in the Atlanta Braves' organization, including the last four as the third base coach for Atlanta. In ten seasons as a minor league manager, he has posted a 628-596 (.513) record.
Renteria and Gonzalez join Kevin Millar, Charles Johnson, Carlos Tosca and Bob Ganley as members of the Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame.
The Sea Dogs continue their final regular season homestand with a doubleheader on Wednesday against the Trenton Thunder (Yankees) at 6:00 PM. Tickets are available for all remaining 2007 Sea Dogs home games. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com. Wednesday is the annual Field of Dreams/Fan Appreciation Day. Team awards will be give out prior to the last regular season home game on Thursday.
Tickets for the playoffs are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500. Should the Sea Dogs qualify for post-season play, games three and four (if necessary) of the first round of the playoffs would be held at Hadlock Field on Friday, September 7th and Saturday, September 8th at 6:00 PM.