Somerset Patriots Inaugural Negro League Tribute Game

On August 27th, the Somerset Patriots will play 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 will be auctioned off live after the event to benefit SSAAM’s mission and educational programming.

SSAAM supports 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 will take 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 will play 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.

The game starts on August 27th, 2023, with a special 12:30pm on-field commemorative presentation. Mayor Adrian Mapp of Plainfield, NJ, will throw the first pitch at 1:05pm.

​Tickets purchased through this link, will also help raise funds for SSAAM.

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)