On Saturday, August 1, 2026, the Patriots will be honoring the New York Black Yankees, a professional Negro Leagues baseball team based in New York City, Paterson, New Jersey, and Rochester, New York from 1932 to 1948. It is the fourth season the Patriots will pay tribute to the iconic team through their New York Black Yankees initiative.
Somerset will rebrand as the New York Black Yankees with players and coaches wearing jerseys and hats with logos specifically created to honor the Black Yankees. The designs were created to give the historic team their own identity and branding they never had since they played in hand-me-down Yankees uniforms during their existence.
The logos were designed to put the emphasis on the Negro League team versus the city of New York or the Yankees brand. The logo was designed for the team by Ryan Foose, an award-winning designer who focuses on sports branding for companies that include ESPN, MiLB, NCAA and more. Foose also designed the Zorros de Somerset logo for the Patriots’ Copa de la Diversión identity and the Jersey Diners rebrand.
Yankees legend Willie Randolph helped the team unveil the Black Yankees jersey and hat prior to the 2024 season.