On the warm afternoon of June 19, 1846, two groups of nine men boarded a ferry on the western shore of New York City and rode across the Hudson River to the foot of the Palisades on the New Jersey shoreline.
The eighteen men represented two baseball teams – among the first organized teams in the country. One was called the New York Nine and the other the New York Knickerbockers.
The teams made their way up steep paths to a meticulously maintained public park in Hoboken called Elysian Fields.
On this date, these men made a little bit of history, playing the first organized baseball games under the rules which govern the modern game.
The Knickerbockers had some problems with their pitching that day.
They were scorched by the New York Nine 23-1. In four innings.
This game began a long tradition of baseball in New Jersey. In fact, to put in perspective how long baseball has been played in New Jersey, when this first game in Hoboken was played:
- James Polk was President of the United States;
- The two most iconic of the Founding Fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, had died only 20 years before;
- The last signer of the Declaration of Independence had died only 14 years earlier;
- The Mexican War erupted that year;
- The Civil War would not begin for 15 more years;
- Covered wagons were begin the first treks to the American west and this was the year the Donner Party made its unfortunate detour in the Sierra Nevada.
While New Jersey had never hosted a major league team, they have hosted professional minor league teams in Newark, Trenton, Jersey City, Atlantic City, Camden and other cities.
As a new season of baseball dawns, four professional teams grace New Jersey ballfields – the Somerset Patriots in Bridgewater (named the top AA Affiliate by Baseball America for 2024), the Jersey Shore Blue Claws in Lakewood, the Jersey Jackals in Paterson, and the Sussex County Miners in Augusta.
Each year, these teams offer imaginative promotions to draw fans to the games.
Among these are promotions for active-military members, veterans, first responders and their families. These can include ticket discounts, parades and recognition ceremonies and fund raisers.
Here are the special discounts and tributes for military, veteran and first responders planned by New Jersey’s four professional baseball teams during the 2025 season:
- New Jersey Jackals
- Home games: Hinchliffe Stadium, 1 Jasper St., Paterson
- Home Opener: May 9 at 6:35 pm vs. Quebec Capitales
- League: Eastern Division of the Frontier League, Independent League
- Contact: 973-746-7434
- Promotions: $5 tickets to Sunday home games (regular price $15) with military ID
- Sussex County Miners
- Home Games: Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place, Augusta
- Home Opener: May 8 at 7:05 pm vs. Trois-Rivieres Aigle
- League: East Division of the Frontier League, Independent League
- Contact: 973-383-7644
- Promotions:
- July 4: First Responders Parade to honor area first responders and military members
- August 1: Battle of the Badges charity softball game between New Jersey and Pennsylvania state troopers to raise money for local causes.
- Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Home Games: Shoretown Ballpark, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood
- Home Opener: April 8 at 6:35 pm vs. Aberdeen Ironbirds
- League: South Atlantic League, High Single-A Affiliate of Philadelphia Phillies
- Contact: 732-901-7000
- Promotions:
- $11 tickets (purchased in advance) or $13 tickets (day of game) can only be bought in person at the Box Office with Military ID.
- July 24: Military Appreciation Night with Ocean First Bank, a post-game ceremony honoring veterans; also a drive for health aid, snack foods and other items for military families
- Vets Night Out: fans can purchase and donate tickets for active-duty and veterans which the BlueClaws will donate through accredited groups
- Somerset Patriots
- Home Games: TD Bank Ballpark, 860 East Main St., Bridgewater
- Home Opener: April 8 at 6:35 pm vs. Reading Fightin’ Phils
- League: Eastern League, Double AA Affiliate of the New York Yankees
- Contact: 908-252-0700
- Promotions:
- Active military and veterans can receive a $2 discount on any single game ticket. By showing military ID in person at the box office or call 908-252-0700 to receive the discount.
- May 18: Military Appreciation Day will feature free tickets for veterans and special $7 upper box seats for their guests; auctions that day will raise money for veterans organizations and first 2000 fans will receive a free cameo baseball
