PORTLAND — The Portland Sea Dogs have been selected by the Eastern League to host the 2015 Eastern League All-Star Game on July 15, Sea Dogs General Manager Geoff Iacuessa announced Tuesday at Hadlock Field.
“This community event will showcase the very special bond between the team and community, while highlighting the entire southern Maine region,” Eastern League President Joe McEacharn said in a news release. “It’s another significant investment by the team, on top of ballpark improvements, aimed at providing the best affordable family experience possible.”
The All-Star Game will feature the top players from the Eastern Division taking on the stars from the Western Division. Each team will be comprised of 24 players, with every Eastern League team being represented by at least one pitcher and one position player.
The teams will be selected through a combination of fan balloting and selections from managers, media and team personnel.
The Eastern League All-Star break will result in two days of All-Star festivities in Portland July 14-15, including a home run derby, autograph sessions and fireworks.
The Sea Dogs hosted their first All-Star Game in 2005 and the game was sold-out before the team’s opener in April.
Tickets to the game will go on sale at 9 a.m. Nov. 1.
Many of today’s Major League Baseball All-Stars have participated in past Eastern League All-Star games, including Matt Garza (2006), Ryan Howard (2004) and Hanley Ramirez (2005). Current Red Sox players Clay Buchholz (2007), Jon Lester (2005), Will Middlebrooks (2011), Junichi Tazawa (2009) and Christian Vazquez (2013) were all named Eastern League All-Stars while playing for the Sea Dogs.
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