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Patriots Partner With Queen City Film Festival For Showing Of “The League”

July 17, 2024

Bridgewater, New Jersey – Through the New York Black Yankees initiative, the Somerset Patriots have partnered with Queen City Film Festival for a special showing of the film, “The League” at their free monthly film screening SCREEN TALK NJ. The event will take place on Saturday, August 10th at the

Bridgewater, New Jersey – Through the New York Black Yankees initiative, the Somerset Patriots have partnered with Queen City Film Festival for a special showing of the film, “The League” at their free monthly film screening SCREEN TALK NJ. The event will take place on Saturday, August 10th at the Plainfield Library from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sam Pollard, “The League” celebrates the dynamic journey of Negro League baseball's triumphs and challenges through the first half of the twentieth century. The story is told through previously unearthed archival footage and never-before-seen interviews with legendary players like Satchel Paige and Buck O’Neil – whose early careers paved the way for the Jackie Robinson era – as well as celebrated Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Hank Aaron who started out in the Negro Leagues. The film explores Black baseball as an economic and social pillar of Black communities and a stage for some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game, while also examining the unintended consequences of integration.

Pollard, an Academy Award nominee, will participate in a Q&A at the event moderated by Lamar David Mackson.

"Partnering with the Somerset Patriots to bring this much needed film to residents of all backgrounds is so important,” said Mackson. “We are thrilled to be a part of their mission to promote MiLB's Nine and continue to amplify Black stories with our platform."

As part of MiLB’s “The Nine” program, the Patriots pay tribute to the New York Black Yankees, a professional Negro League baseball team from 1932 to 1948 and played in Hinchcliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ. The team will rebrand as the Black Yankees on Friday, August 30th at TD Bank Ballpark for their 6:35 pm game versus the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies).

For more information about the New York Black Yankees initiative, please visit www.somersetpatriots.com/community/black-yankees.

For more information about Queen City Film Festival, please visit www.QCFFNJ.com.

About the Somerset Patriots
The Somerset Patriots are the New York Yankees Double-A Affiliate and develop today’s top minor league talent into the pinstriped superstars of tomorrow for MLB’s winningest team. The Patriots 2024 season is presented by New Jersey Office Systems, LLC. Home games are played at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ, where fans of all ages and levels of baseball fandom get to enjoy the unique experience that is minor league baseball. To learn more, visit: somersetpatriots.com.