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A big flag flies in center field at TD Bank Park, home of the Somerset Patriots |
The Somerset Patriots are one of three independent teams brought into the minor leagues in last year’s reorganization by Major League Baseball. The other two were the St. Paul Saints, who became the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, and the Sugar Land Skeeters, who became the Houston Astros’ AAA team.
The Patriots took the place of the Trenton Thunder as the AA team of the New York Yankees and Trenton got left behind in the shuffle. I wondered why the major league teams were bringing in clubs from outside in the new alignment, while at the same time reducing the number of affiliated teams from 160 to 120. That was when I knew almost nothing about the independent professional leagues.
It turns out there’s been a lot going on outside of Major League Baseball and their minor league teams. I’d heard about the success of the St. Paul Saints, who were part of the American Association of Professional Baseball. We’ll talk about them whenever I get to see a game there.
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A big version of Sparkee, the Patriots' mascot, welcomes fans to the ballpark. |
It turns out there’s been a lot going on outside of Major League Baseball and their minor league teams. I’d heard about the success of the St. Paul Saints, who were part of the American Association of Professional Baseball. We’ll talk about them whenever I get to see a game there.
The Patriots and the Skeeters were part of Atlantic League Professional Baseball, which was created in 1998 when the New York Mets objected to an affiliated minor league team moving into their market area. The league works with a higher salary cap than other minor leagues, tries to sign players with major league experience, and requires that stadiums be maintained at or above the standards set for AAA ballparks.
Two teams that lost their affiliation with major league teams, the West Virginia Power and the Lexington Legends, have joined the Atlantic League to replace the Patriots and the Skeeters, and there are plans to expand from eight teams to as many as 12 in the coming years. A team in Staten Island is expected to start play in 2022.
The Patriots and their fans have embraced their new association with the Yankees, which strengthened ties that were already part of the team’s history. The Yankee pitcher Sparky Lyle was involved with the team from the start and he served as manager for many years. They’ve retired his number (and mine), 28, which hangs on the stadium wall behind the home plate seats. The furry mascot Sparkee has a very distinctive and familiar looking moustache.
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Every ballpark should do this. Pay for parking, get a store discount |
Two teams that lost their affiliation with major league teams, the West Virginia Power and the Lexington Legends, have joined the Atlantic League to replace the Patriots and the Skeeters, and there are plans to expand from eight teams to as many as 12 in the coming years. A team in Staten Island is expected to start play in 2022.
The Atlantic League has recently agreed to test a wide range of experimental rules that are being considered by Major League Baseball, like radar tracking for balls and strikes and moving the pitcher’s rubber back a foot. It’s an interesting partnership that makes me want to add the Atlantic League teams to my list of ballparks to visit. I’ve already seen a game in Charleston, W. Va., when the Power were a Class A team of the Seattle Mariners.
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The Patriots have retired 28, my number and the number of Sparky Lyle, who managed the team for many years. |
The Patriots and their fans have embraced their new association with the Yankees, which strengthened ties that were already part of the team’s history. The Yankee pitcher Sparky Lyle was involved with the team from the start and he served as manager for many years. They’ve retired his number (and mine), 28, which hangs on the stadium wall behind the home plate seats. The furry mascot Sparkee has a very distinctive and familiar looking moustache.
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Honoring the contributions of the Negro Leagues to professional baseball. |
The special event for the night was a celebration of the Negro Leagues and the decision by Major League Baseball to include statistics from Negro League players. Exhibits were on display from the Yogi Berra Museum in Little Falls, and from the Hinchliffe Stadium Project to restore the historic ballpark in Paterson that was home to the New York Black Yankees.
Early arriving fans received a bobble head figurine of Elston Howard, the catcher who became the first black player with the New York Yankees. Howard is known for his stellar career, and also for inventing the batting doughnut, the circular weight that slips over a bat to help an on-deck player warm up for his plate appearance.
The Patriots fell behind the Akron Rubber Ducks early, but tied the score twice, the second time in the bottom of the ninth when Josh Breaux hit a solo home run. The Rubber Ducks scored two runs in the top of the 10th, and the Patriots went down in order for the loss. Final: Akron Rubber Ducks 5, Somerset Patriots 3, 10 innings.
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A small bobble head honoring Elston Howard, with fun facts and stats on the box. |
Early arriving fans received a bobble head figurine of Elston Howard, the catcher who became the first black player with the New York Yankees. Howard is known for his stellar career, and also for inventing the batting doughnut, the circular weight that slips over a bat to help an on-deck player warm up for his plate appearance.
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Loaded barbecue potato chips with pulled pork, bbq sauce and cole slaw. |
The Patriots fell behind the Akron Rubber Ducks early, but tied the score twice, the second time in the bottom of the ninth when Josh Breaux hit a solo home run. The Rubber Ducks scored two runs in the top of the 10th, and the Patriots went down in order for the loss. Final: Akron Rubber Ducks 5, Somerset Patriots 3, 10 innings.
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