Courtesy/Portland Sea Dogs
Slugger and fellow super heroes at the top of their game.
Updated: January 27, 2020
Help wanted: Assistant to Portland Sea Dogs mascot Slugger
Courtesy / Portland Sea Dogs
Slugger the Sea Dog and a dinosaur friend at Hadlock Field in Portland.
Like many employers in Maine, the Portland Sea Dogs minor-league baseball team is in hiring mode — on behalf of mascot Slugger.
The Sea Dogs are looking for a part-time mascot assistant, who will work as Slugger’s liaison at Hadlock Field home games and community events, reporting directly to mascot coordinator Tim Jorn.
Jorn told Mainebiz that while recruiting this time of year is tough, it's a perfect time for high school and college students looking to land a summer job.
As of today, he said around 10 applications had come in for the mascot assistant opening.
They include applications from from out of state, as well as from fans not necessarily interested in the job but wanting to show their support.
"They're just like, 'Slugger needs help? Of course I'm going to apply," Jorn said.
The search comes amid Portland's rising popularity among minor-league baseball towns, ranked No. 8 in last October's scorecard by New York-based personal finance technology company SmartAssset. While that attraction might boost applications, the candidate search also comes as employers across many sectors face recruiting challenges because of historic low unemployment.
The mascot assistant job, posted on TeamWork Online and being promoted on social media, entails helping Slugger in creating and executing skits and dance numbers, helping with props and wardrobe inventory and representing the Portland Sea Dogs brand at games and outside events.
Jorn, a Nebraska transplant who's about to start his fifth season with the Portland franchise, said that Slugger worked with three mascot assistants last season. All had to be adept at customer service and interacting with fans.
Slugger "doesn't necessarily lean on the help of his assistants all the time, but they're there when he needs them," said Jorn, who holds an MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Since Slugger doesn't talk, the mascot assistant must be able to read his non-verbal signals, like when to hand a scared child a baseball card or "any situation that's negative," Jorn said. "Slugger always likes to end it on a positive note."
Applicants are also required to have a basic knowledge of baseball; be available to work flexible hours including nights, weekends and/or holidays; and have reliable transportation and a valid driver's license.
Jorn also said that while mascot assistants don't have to improvise, they need to be at the top of their game at every game.
"It's really fun, it's fast-paced, and working on game day you have to be on your toes."
Physical requirements include being able to lift at least 50 pounds and to stand for extended periods of time. Jorn said the job pays either the Portland minimum wage or the so-called game rate, whichever is higher.
He's confident of being able to fill the opening, noting: "I've never had anyone leave the position because they're unhappy."
280 seasonal staff
Besides the mascot assistant job, the Sea Dogs are also advertising for a visiting clubhouse manager.
The Sea Dogs employ a total of 280 part-time seasonal staff between April and September, along with 20 full-timers.
Jorn said the team is planning a job fair in early March as it looks to hire seasonal staff for various departments for the 2020 season.
And for those who want to scope out job ideas for future seasons or just cheer the team and Slugger, the Hadlock Field home opener is scheduled for April 16.
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