BATH

Tom Clifford and Thom Hinton have sat shoulder to shoulder while scoring over 900 Portland Sea Dog games together.

Now, it isn’t like they are attached at the hip. However, when discussing how to score a hit, error, etc., there is a partnership that has proven successful.

Recently, Clifford and Hinton each celebrated milestones working with the team and the Eastern League. Clifford scored his 1,300th contest, including Future Games when the Sea Dogs played at Fenway Park in recent years, while partner Hinton went over the 900-game mark.

“We have nine employees who have been with the organization since day one of the franchise, and it is the people that make this such a great place to work — from the fans, to co-workers, to the ownership. It is a very close-knit group with a fun atmosphere,” said Sea Dogs Assistant General Manager and Director of Media Relations Chris Cameron. “We have many employees that tell us that this is their ‘fun’ job. We believe that our staff is having fun.”

Tom Clifford

When attending a game at Hadlock Field, scoreboard watchers wait to see how the “official” scorer ruled. Was it a hit? How about an error? Are the balls and strikes correct?

That is the job of Clifford, 49, who is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. He began working with the Sea Dogs back in 1996, filling in when the full-time scorer took time out to attend the Summer Olympic games in Atlanta.

“I filled in throughout the rest of the year, and started full-time the next season from the opening game,” said Clifford.

When he began his run, the Sea Dogs were affiliated with the Florida Marlins, now the Miami Marlins. Clifford saw players such as Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, Mark Kotsay, Kevin Millar and others make their way through the organization with stops in Portland.

“We had five guys who hit 20-plus home runs in a season,” remembered Clifford. “You won’t see that again. Players move up pretty quick when that happens. There were a lot of fun years, a lot of ups and downs with the Marlins.”

Prior to the 2003 season, the Sea Dogs changed their affiliation to the Boston Red Sox.

“There was a lot of excitement when that happened,” Clifford recalls. “Now, we get to see those players come through here on their way to Fenway. For the players, this is it until that move comes to Triple-A. Then, it is the majors. That is great to see.”

A typical home Sea Dogs game for Clifford begins when he arrives at Hadlock Field around 30 minutes prior to game time.

“I get the board set up, then once the game starts I watch the home plate umpire and put balls and strikes on the board,” said Clifford. Thom sits right next to me. We get along well, and we make decisions together on hits, errors. Usually, those decisions are not questioned during a game. Occasionally we will hear from a manager to relook at a scoring decision.

“When I was first here and Thom hadn’t started yet, a manager/hitting coach who will remain nameless would call the official scorers and complain during a game. That doesn’t happen now.”

Clifford had the chance to scorekeep at Fenway when the Portland Sea Dogs traveled to Boston for Future Games.

“It was a different perspective for me looking out of those little slots (in the scoreboard),” said Clifford. “I enjoy baseball a lot. I have seen all the tragedies of the Red Sox, 1986, 1975, and seen the successes. It is cool to see those that were here in Portland, along with players from other teams, that are in the majors now.”

Thom Hinton

Things started in similar fashion for Hinton, who began working for the Eastern League at Hadlock Field part-time in 2003 before taking over the job permanently in 2004.

“My daughter was recit- ing a poem and a chaplain overheard her,” said Hinton, who is an IT systems administrator at Midcoast Hospital. “He tracked me down, talked some baseball and said the league was looking for an official scorer in Portland. He gave me some tickets during a homestand. Two gentlemen spoke to me while I was at a game, giving it to the umpires like fans do, and they said they heard I was interested. Mike Beveridge was the scorer then, and his backup was retiring. They were comfortable with me and it took off from there.”

Sitting next to Clifford all these years has proven to be a good partnership.

“We have sat with each other for all these seasons, and we have become like an old married couple,” joked Hinton, 62. “Each year, we start out the year getting back into it, especially with judgment calls. We always try to make the right decisions. Why is it a hit or an error? It seems to work.”

Hinton remembers a time when he wasn’t excited about meeting with a manager about a scoring decision.

“I wasn’t comfortable going down there after a game. It was a bit intimidating, talking to former major leaguers,” said Hinton. “I get it though. They have players who are prospects, trying to advance. The managers don’t want their guys to look bad on paper. My thinking is, give credit where credit is due, and blame where blame is due.”

Things haven’t always been pleasant.

“I got a call from a manager, and he was angry. I hung up on him,” said Hinton. “After that, I thought about what he had said. We worked it out. It is an honor to be a scorer. I really knuckle down. I read the rulebook twice a year, and I have no issue talking to managers now.”

This season has been a rough one for the Sea Dogs after a superb 2014 season. But, Hinton says watching baseball is something he enjoys.

“I enjoy watching good baseball,” said the Bath resident. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Binghamton, Reading or the Sea Dogs, when the players are playing the game well, it is fun to watch. I cheer for the guys to improve, and it is nice to be a fan.”

The Sea Dogs are on the road this week, but return to Hadlock Field on Tuesday to open a homestand against Erie and Akron.