Notable alumni: George Crowe, Fats Jenkins, John Henry Lloyd, Satchel Paige, Ted Radcliffe, “Mule” Suttles, Willie Wells

Originally known as the Harlem Stars (and alternatively as the Harlem Black Bombers), the New York Black Yankees were active in the Negro Leagues from 1931-1948, including 13 seasons in the Negro National League. Although they didn’t have much success on the field, finishing in last place in the NNL in 10 of their 13 seasons, the Black Yankees were among the Negro Leagues most visible franchises due to their connection to Yankee Stadium, one of a handful of parks the team called home over the years. (The Black Yankees were at times also based in Paterson, N.J., and Rochester, N.Y.)

The House that Ruth Built had a longstanding connection with the Negro Leagues and served as a showcase for Black baseball throughout the 1930s and 1940s. The relationship began on July 5, 1930, when Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert loaned the Bronx ballpark to civil rights activist A. Philip Randolph and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters for a fundraising event centered around a doubleheader between the New York’s Lincoln Giants and the Baltimore Black Sox. It’s estimated that as many as 20,000 people showed up that day to witness the first appearance of Negro League baseball at Yankee Stadium.

Between games, famed tap dancer and actor Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, a pioneer credited with breaking racial barriers in Hollywood, outraced several Y.M.C.A. track stars in a 100-yard dash despite running backwards (albeit with a 25-yard head start). Robinson later became a co-owner of the New York Black Yankees alongside James "Soldier Boy" Semler.

The Black Yankees made their Yankee Stadium debut on Sept. 9, 1934, as part of another fundraising event. The main draw that day was a pitching matchup between Satchel Paige of the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Slim Jones of the Philadelphia Stars, with an estimated 25,000 in attendance.

Paige would pitch for the Black Yankees on May 11, 1941, on loan from the Kansas City Monarchs. His start at Yankee Stadium purportedly outdrew the New York Giants’ matchup against the Boston Braves at the Polo Grounds the same day by roughly 6,000 fans. Paige was one of several future National Baseball Hall of Famers to suit up for the Black Yankees, joining George “Mule” Suttles and Willie Wells in this regard. John Henry “Pop” Lloyd also served as a player-manager when the team was still known as the Harlem Stars.