Somewhere on a New England summer night, a piece of heaven finds its way to earth.

Young men play the game of baseball in front of small crowds and large families – before the gleaming eyes of young children and the watchful glance of decades-long followers.

But instead of current major league stars dominating the headlines, it’s the prospects, the misfits, those trying to make it big – it’s the heroes of their hometowns and high schools, sons living out a dream.

These kind of nights happen all of over America. But in on place, the mixing of baseball, culture, and tradition is like no other.

This place is Portland, Maine.

The fans of the Pine Tree State love their home town Sea Dogs. 90’s kids like myself grew up taking pictures with Slugger the mascot and asking our parents to have one more Sea Dog Biscuit. We also grew up watching stars like Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Jon Lester, and Mookie Betts find their limelight in the Forest City.

Hadlock Field, the home ballpark, became a place of childhood memories. Between the LL Bean boot in right-center field and the Maine Monster in left, fans were able and still are able to appreciate Maine’s culture within their hometown ball club. Where else in America can you watch a pine tree, a blueberry, a lobster, and a potato race each other to win a case of Captain Eli’s Root Beer?

Nowhere but Portland, my friends.

Though it’s not just my local experience that leads to this conclusion. Recent surveys and studies by both SmartAsset and Baseball America have Portland in the top ten, if not the top five. The research focuses on socio-economic factors such as affordability, crime rate, and attendance as well as the overall success of the ball club.

In 2014, the Sea Dogs had the best winning percentage of any professional club in the country. This year, the Sea Dogs boasted the best prospect duo in the nation, as both Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada called Portland home this summer. The latter of which, Moncada, was selected by Baseball America as the best player in all of Minor League Baseball.

I don’t mean to take anything away from Frisco, Burlington, or Jackson, but Portland’s assets make it the best minor league town in the country.

So the next time you travel up Interstate 95 on your way to Old Orchard, Acadia or Baxter, make the extra effort to visit New England’s crown baseball jewel.