The New York Black Yankees Return
Bridgewater, New Jersey – On August 30, the Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, paid tribute to the New York Black Yankees by playing as the historic Negro League team. The New York Black Yankees were a professional Negro League baseball team based in New York City; Paterson;
Bridgewater, New Jersey – On August 30, the Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, paid tribute to the New York Black Yankees by playing as the historic Negro League team.
The New York Black Yankees were a professional Negro League baseball team based in New York City; Paterson; and Rochester, New York. Beginning as the independent Harlem Stars, the team became the New York Black Yankees in 1932 and joined the Negro National League in 1936, and remained in the league through 1948. The team played at historic Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey in the 1930s-1940s, as well as Yankee Stadium.
Willie Randolph is eagerly in attendance for tonight's tribute game to the Negro Leagues' New York Black Yankees! pic.twitter.com/64Mheh1G0d
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 30, 2024
“This is special because not only do we get a chance to honor these great former players, but the fans get a chance to be educated on what the Negro Leagues were all about,” said Yankees legend Willie Randolph, who served as an ambassador of the Patriots’ New York Black Yankees initiative and threw out a ceremonial first pitch at the game.
Despite playing in uniforms that resembled the Yankees, or used uniforms from the major league Yankees, the Black Yankees never had a true brand identity to call their own.
We’ll be playing tonight as the New York Black Yankees and wearing jerseys and hats created to give the historic Negro Leagues team their own identity.
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 30, 2024
The game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit @SSAAMuseum.
Bid here: https://t.co/LShdzTD9kp pic.twitter.com/2tOpJrKN4b
The Patriots created logos and uniforms designed specifically to honor the Black Yankees’ heritage that is unique to the historic team. All players and coaches, including rehabbing Yankees 1B Anthony Rizzo, wore the uniforms that were auctioned off online to benefit the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM). The auction raised over $5,000 for SSAAM, which tells the story of the unique culture, experiences, and contributions of the African American community of the Sourland Mountain Region. In addition, fundraising for the night exceeded $12,000, putting the year’s New York Black Yankees initiative community giving over $38,000.
As fans entered the ballpark adorned with banners on the main concourse depicting the history of the Negro Leagues and the Black Yankees, they received commemorative card strips featuring four Black Yankees players that have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame – John Henry “Pop” Lloyd, George “Mule” Suttles, Willie “The Devil” Wells and Leroy “Satchel” Paige.
Pre-game festivities included an on-field program highlighted by presentations and speeches from Hinchliffe Stadium, Prince Rodgers Foundation and SSAAM.
Family Flava Food Truck and Catering served up soul food favorites for fans including hits like lemon pepper & honey BBQ wingettes, chicken and waffles, BBQ brisket sandwiches, mac & cheese, cole slaw and smoky collard greens with turkey, peach cobbler, sweet potato pies and uptowns,.
40+ Double Dutch Club Plainfield entertained the crowd coming into the ballpark, in-game and prior to the postgame fireworks show with jump roping and dance performances.
Roaming the concourse, fans found the 6th Regiment United States Colored Troops Re-enactors, a non-profit living history organization with the purpose of educating the public about the historic military contributions of African Americans during the country's formative years.
In addition, Rays of Hope featured a Live Black Museum throughout the concourse, featuring several notable Black historical figures including Satchel Paige, Frederick Douglass, Jay-Z, Michelle Obama, Maxwell, Queen Latifah, and Hattie McDaniel, where fans will be able to walk up to the students portraying these figures to learn more about them.
During the game fans were entertained with themed scoreboard elements and music by Black artists. Patriots played in honor of Black Yankees players who were displayed on the scoreboard during their at bats. Black Yankees recognized included C John “Johnny” Hayes, 1B George “Big George” Crowe, 2B Walter “Rev” Cannady, SS Willie “The Devil” Wells, 3B Henry “Swingtime” Spearman, RF John “The Black Bomber” Beckwith, CF Henry “Jimbo” Kimbro, LF George “Mule” Suttles, P LeRoy “Satchel” Paige and DH John Henry “POP” Lloyd.
“This game will stand out as one of the true highlights of our 2024 season,” said Patriots President/General Manager Patrick McVerry. “Our Senior Vice President of Marketing Dave Marek put together a remarkable event that paid tribute to this historic team, educated our fans and worked closely with several Black community businesses and organizations to make for a night fans and our organization will always remember.”
The Patriots’ New York Black Yankees initiative is in conjunction with Minor League Baseball’s “The Nine” initiative, a Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.
Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, “The Nine” connects MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign.
Learn more about the New York Black Yankees by CLICKING HERE!