Portland, Maine — The Portland Sea Dogs have announced that former third baseman Will Middlebrooks, former Chairman Bill Burke, and former Treasurer Sally McNamara have been selected for induction into the Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame, presented by Unum. The induction ceremony will take place prior to the Sea Dogs game on Thursday, September 10, at Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field.
The Sea Dogs Hall of Fame was established in 2005 and recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization both on and off the field.
Will Middlebrooks
Middlebrooks starred at third base for the Sea Dogs during the 2011 season, establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization and one of the Eastern League’s premier players.
In 96 games with Portland, Middlebrooks batted .302 with 25 doubles, 18 home runs, and 80 RBI. His standout season earned him selections to the 2011 Eastern League All-Star Game and the prestigious MLB All-Star Futures Game. He was also named an Eastern League Post-Season All-Star.
Middlebrooks continued his rise through the Red Sox organization and made his Major League debut with Boston in 2012. He was named the 2012 Boston Red Sox Rookie of the Year and the following season helped the Red Sox capture the 2013 World Series championship.
Following his playing career, Middlebrooks transitioned into broadcasting and currently serves as a color analyst for NESN’s Boston Red Sox coverage, bringing his playing experience and insight to Red Sox broadcasts.
Bill Burke
Burke served as Chairman of the Portland Sea Dogs from 2010 through 2023, providing vision, leadership, and an unwavering commitment that helped shape one of Minor League Baseball’s premier organizations. Under his guidance, the Sea Dogs continued to serve as a cornerstone of the Maine community, defined by excellence both on and off the field.
Burke’s leadership was perhaps most evident during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the 2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled, Burke helped ensure that every Sea Dogs employee continued to receive a paycheck despite the absence of games and the revenue they generated.
Following the sale of the club, Burke once again demonstrated his commitment to the people behind the organization by sharing proceeds from the sale with members of the Sea Dogs front office staff in recognition of their dedication and contributions to the team’s success.
His generosity, integrity, and commitment to the people behind the game helped create a culture that extended far beyond the ballpark. Burke’s legacy remains reflected in the countless lives he touched and the enduring success of the Portland Sea Dogs.
Sally McNamara
McNamara served as Treasurer of the Portland Sea Dogs from 2010 through 2023. The daughter of Sea Dogs founder Dan Burke, McNamara played an integral role in the organization’s success while carrying forward her family’s commitment to the team, its employees, and the Maine community.
McNamara’s leadership was defined by loyalty, generosity, and a genuine appreciation for the people who made the Sea Dogs special. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped ensure that every Sea Dogs employee continued to be paid despite the cancellation of the 2020 Minor League Baseball season.
When the team was later sold, McNamara again demonstrated that same extraordinary generosity by sharing proceeds from the sale with members of the Sea Dogs front office staff.
Through her dedication to the organization and remarkable commitment to its employees, McNamara helped create a culture in which people were always the priority. Her impact on the Portland Sea Dogs extends far beyond the ballpark and will forever be part of the franchise’s legacy.
The induction of Middlebrooks, Burke, and McNamara will bring the Sea Dogs Hall of Fame up to 27 members. They’ll join the likes of Charles Johnson, Kevin Millar, Dustin Pedroia, and others. Plaques of all the Sea Dogs Hall of Fame members can be found in the concourse at Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field.