Somerset Patriots Inaugural Negro League Tribute Game
On August 27th, the Somerset Patriots played in special jerseys with the logo of the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) as well as a newly-designed logo honoring the Black Yankees. These game-worn jerseys were auctioned off live after the event to benefit SSAAM’s mission and educational programming.
SSAAM –as well as One Hillsborough –supported this event honoring the history and legacy of the New York Black Yankees: a Negro League baseball team of the 1930s and ‘40s. At a time when Major League Baseball excluded Black athletes, Negro League teams gave African Americans a path to play professional baseball.
The Patriots took on the visiting Harvard Yard Goats as the "New York Black Yankees" to commemorate the Negro League team that played from 1932 until 1948. The Harvard Yard Goats played as the "Harvard Schoolboys" in honor of Connecticut baseball legend Johnny "Schoolboy" Taylor, who played in the Negro Leagues during the 1930s. He is regarded as one of the best players ever from the state of Connecticut, yet was never able to play in the major leagues.
About the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum is a history museum located in the Skillman section of Montgomery Township, New Jersey, United States. The museum is located at the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, an African Methodist Episcopal church constructed in 1899. (Source: wikipedia)