Wednesday
September 18, 2024 
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) announced its second annual partnership with the Somerset Patriots for a fundraising event honoring the legacy of the New York Black Yankees and the Negro Leagues.
The event, at TD Bank Ballpark, Bridgewater, N.J., Friday, Aug. 30, will feature a special game between the Somerset Patriots (NYY) and the Reading Fightin’ Phils (PHI). There will be a special pre-game ceremony at 5:45 .m. Game time is 6:35 p.m.
SSAAM is Central New Jersey’s only museum telling the rich local and regional stories of African Americans from the time of the transatlantic slave trade to the present day. SSAM is happy to support this event, which honors the history and legacy of the New York Black Yankees, a Negro League baseball team of the 1930s and ’40s. The Negro League teams gave African Americans a path to play professional baseball when Major League Baseball excluded Black athletes.
On Aug. 30, the Somerset Patriots will pay tribute to the Negro Leagues by donning special uniforms commemorating the New York Black Yankees and will feature the SSAAM logo. These unique player-worn jerseys will be available for live auction, with all proceeds supporting SSAAM’s mission of preserving African American history and culture.
SSAAM’s mission. SSAAM is excited to partner for this special event for the 2nd year because American baseball was among the first high-profile spaces to integrate Black players, and it’s an opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage of the Negro Leagues while raising awareness about the importance of preserving African American History.
Tickets for the game are available for $15, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting SSAAM’s mission. The ticket purchase link is: bit.ly/ssaam-ny-black-yankees.
For information about the event or SSAAM, visit SSAAMuseum.ORG.
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