Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
When we last checked in with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the New York Mets’ Double-A affiliate had just released their Bathtub Donkeys alternate identity. This tribute to an archaic and perhaps apocryphal state law will be complemented on the team’s 2025 promotional calendar by another, perhaps even more absurd, alter-ego:
The Southern Tier Spicy Meatballs.
"The primary logo features a meatball portrayed as an Italian gondolier on a bed of pasta making its way through a river of sauce with a baseball bat fork," wrote the Rumble Ponies in their press release, providing a perfect example of how, in Minor League Baseball, even straightforward descriptions carry a strong whiff of the whimsical. "The secondary logo features the baseball bat fork of the meatball bat gondolier with spaghetti noodles wrapped around the utensil."
That’s what the Spicy Meatballs look like, but why do they exist in the first place?
There is a significant Italian population throughout central New York’s Southern Tier region, of which Binghamton is a part. The Rumble Ponies specifically single out nearby Endicott as an epicenter of Italian heritage; this locale, along with Binghamton and Johnson City, makes up the Southern Tier’s “Triple Cities” metropolitan area. (From 1923-68, Binghamton’s Minor League team was known as the Triplets, a reference to the Triple Cities.)
"In the early days of Endicott, N.Y., an area known as the North Side was huge with Italian roots," according to the press release. "Many of the Italian immigrants moving to the region worked at the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, Inc. However, many property owners would not sell land to Italian immigrants, so Endicott-Johnson purchased properties for their employees and along the cobblestone streets of Endicott grew the vibrant community of Little Italy..."
The Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, established in 1899, was for a time the largest manufacturer of footwear in the nation. Company president George Johnson, known for his philanthropy and generally enlightened approach to labor relations, bestowed the region with six carousels between 1919 and 1934. These carousels, still operating, inspired the Binghamton Mets to change their name from the Mets to the Rumble Ponies in 2016. A Rumble Pony, you see, is a slang for a carousel horse.
Despite the influence of the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company within the Southern Tier region, the Rumble Ponies have yet to unveil a footwear-themed alternate identity. For an example of such, one doesn’t have to leave the state of New York, or the Mets' farm system. In 2018, the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs (now known as the Mets) played as the Devices, an homage to the ubiquitous Brannock Device foot measuring tool that was invented in Syracuse.
As for the Southern Tier Spicy Meatballs, the aforementioned meatball gondolier will be depicted within a uniform featuring a green, red and white color scheme (in a nod to the Italian flag). The Rumble Ponies will adopt this identity from Aug. 14-16, in conjunction with the annual bazaar staged by the nearby St. Mary of the Assumption church.
Though it remains to be seen how the Spicy Meatballs will fare on the field, their mere existence has already generated plenty of online enthusiasm. No less an entity than the State of New York was moved to weigh in, simply tweeting, "This eats."
Mangia, mangia!
Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.
Bluey Appearance Scheduled For 4/13
Bridgewater, New Jersey - The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, will welcome Bluey to TD Bank Ballpark on Sunday, April 13 as part of the Kids Opening Day. The Patriots take on the Reading Fightin Phils (PHI) at 1:05 pm.
Sopranos Night With Special Guest Steve Schirripa Returns To Somerset
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, have announced that the team will once again host Sopranos Night with special guest Steve Schirripa at TD Bank Ballpark on Saturday, May 31 for the 6:35 pm game against the Akron RubberDucks (Cleveland Guardians).
"Rookie of the Year" Star Thomas Nicholas To Appear At 7/13 Game
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, have announced that Thomas Nicholas, the star of the baseball film “Rookie of the Year,” will appear at the Sunday, July 13 game. The Patriots take on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays) at TD
Kids Opening Day On Sunday, April 13
Bridgewater, New Jersey - Kids Opening Day with the Somerset Patriots is back on Sunday, April 13th at 1:05 PM! Enter for the chance to win one of our special kids experiences. Plus you can meet Bluey! Events for ALL kids! - Meet Bluey at the game - In-game kids
Darryl Strawberry To Appear At August 6th Game
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, have announced that New York baseball legend Darryl Strawberry will appear at the Wednesday, August 6 game at TD Bank Ballpark. The Patriots take on the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets) at 6:35 pm in the
2025 Spring Breakout Roster Announced For Yankees
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The New York Yankees, along with Major League Baseball, have announced their roster for the 2025 Spring Breakout Game versus prospects of the Baltimore Orioles to be played on Saturday, March 15 at 6:05 pm at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, FL.
Yankees' 2025 Spring Breakout Game To Be Broadcast By Patriots
Sarasota, FL - The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees' Double-A affiliate, have announced plans to produce a live radio broadcast of the 2025 Spring Breakout Game between the Yankees' and Orioles' top prospects on Saturday, March 15 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida.
9 Questions with Willie Randolph
In tribute to Black History Month, former Yankees World Series Champion Willie Randolph sat down with the Somerset Patriots to address nine questions in reference to Minor League Baseball's The Nine program. The Nine, which pays homage to the number that Jackie Robinson wore when he broke the color barrier
New York Black Yankees Tribute On 8/2
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, will play as the New York Black Yankees at TD Bank Ballpark as part of a tribute night to honor the historic Negro Leagues team. The Patriots take on the Richmond Flying Squirrels (SFG) at 7:05 pm.
Celebrate Our Armed Forces On May 18
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, have announced that the team’s Military Appreciation Day will take place at TD Bank Ballpark on Sunday, May 18. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for a pre-game ceremony beginning at 12:00 pm prior to the 1:05
Nine Patriots Named As Yankees Spring Training Non-Roster Invitees
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The New York Yankees have announced their spring training non-roster invitees, which includes nine players with time as Somerset Patriots.
Somerset Patriots' Ultimate Guide to the Top Sporting Events Worldwide
If you’re a Somerset Patriots fan, this guide will take you on a journey across some of the world’s most iconic and thrilling sporting events. From the excitement of the NBA Finals to the history of Wimbledon, each event brings a unique flair to the global stage. Ready to attend?
Yankees Announce 2025 Coaching Staff For Double-A Somerset Patriots
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The New York Yankees have announced the 2025 coaching staff for the Double-A Somerset Patriots, led by manager Raul Dominguez. Dominguez enters his third consecutive season as manager for the Patriots, 11th overall as a manager and 19th coaching in the Yankees organization. In his first
Seasonal Job Fair Scheduled For 2/8
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, as well as HomePlate Catering and Hospitality, will host a seasonal job fair at TD Bank Ballpark on Saturday, February 8 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The Patriots and HomePlate Catering and Hospitality are looking for
Baseball America Names Patriots 2024 Double-A Organization of the Year
Bridgewater, New Jersey – Baseball America has named the Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, winners of its 2024 Freitas Award for Double-A Organization of the Year.
Fundraise By Working Concessions For Games
Bridgewater, New Jersey- HomePlate Catering & Hospitality, the concessions partner of the Somerset Patriots, is once again offering a program for local non-profit organizations to work at TD Bank Ballpark during the 2025 season to raise money for their charities.
Remembering Dave Rosenthal
Bridgewater, New Jersey - The Somerset Patriots are saddened to hear of the passing of Dave Rosenthal, who served as an event staff supervisor at our ballpark from 1999 - 2010. Rosenthal, of Spotswood, passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Jersey Diners Return For 2025
Bridgewater, New Jersey - The Somerset Patriots have announced that the Jersey Diners will be back for the 2025 season. The Jersey Diners, the winner of MiLB's 2024 Best Alternate Identity and Golden Bobblehead for Best New Merchandise Promotion or Retail Sales Strategy, will play six games at TD Bank
Holiday Auction To Benefit The Greater Somerset County YMCA
Bridgewater, New Jersey - The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, are hosting a Holiday Auction to benefit the Greater Somerset County YMCA.