A minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees has announced a temporary rebranding of the team, and all I can say is, "shut up and take my money!"

More and more, minor league baseball teams have been leaning into fun. Fun promotions, fun social media accounts, and even fun ways of bending the rules mid-game (look no further than the viral Savannah Bananas). Luckily, a local team is joining the party.

The Somerset Patriots, a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees, will temporarily rebrand as the Jersey Diners to honor the state's rich history
The Somerset Patriots, a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees, will temporarily rebrand as the Jersey Diners to honor the state's rich history (Somerset Patriots via Facebook)
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New York Yankees Affiliate Team Promoting Brilliant Stunt

These "extra" activities are mostly out of necessity; minor league teams need to fill seats to stay in business, and while Major League Baseball has enough rules and bylaws to rival nearly any stuffy institution, there's a bit more leeway in the minors. That's why one team, who plays just about an hour outside of the Hudson Valley, NY, is changing their name.

Get ready to cheer for the Jersey Diners baseball team for three games this season
Get ready to cheer for the Jersey Diners baseball team for three games this season (MLBShop.com/MiLBStore.com/SOmerset Patriots via Facebook)
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The Somerset Patriots are Transforming to the Jersey Diners

The announcement originally sounded too good (and too funny) to be true. "Beginning with the 2024 Season", Minor League Baseball announced, "the Somerset Patriots are incredibly excited to honor and celebrate the historic and cultural significance of the diner, as we rebrand for three games as the “Jersey Diners.” Somebody deserves a raise.

The Somerset Patriots are rebranding as the Jersey Diners for three games and will sell merch like this fitted baseball hat featuring a smiling diner coffee cup with matching paper hat
The Somerset Patriots are rebranding as the Jersey Diners for three games and will sell merch like this fitted baseball hat featuring a smiling diner coffee cup with matching paper hat (Somerset Patriots via Facebook/MiLB.com)
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Minor League Baseball Honors Diners in New York and New Jersey

The temporary rebrand thankfully (and also perhaps obviously) comes with brand new merch honoring the tristate's most precious commodity: roadside diners. Hats (above) feature an adorable smiling coffee mug, complete with the classic paper diner hat, and jerseys (below) honor the neon signage that has called to hungry travelers for decades.

The Somerset Patriots are rebranding as the Jersey Diners for three games and will sell merch like this neon-inspired player's jersey
The Somerset Patriots are rebranding as the Jersey Diners for three games and will sell merch like this neon-inspired player's jersey (Somerset Patriots via Facebook/MiLB.com)
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Get Your Hands on Jersey Diners Baseball Merch

While some minor league promotions are just being silly for silliness' sake, there is a genuine intention behind the stunt with the Somerset Patriots. Anyone who grew up in New York or New Jersey knows just how special diners are to local communities. From Minor League Baseball:

Diners are woven into the fabric of our communities. They are a place to reconnect with old friends, celebrate a school achievement, gather with family in both happy times and sad, or just pass the time when some comfort food and a cup of coffee are what is most needed.

While the team's focus naturally falls on diners in the Garden State, New Yorkers, including Hudson Valley residents, hold these institutions in equally high regard. Check out what may be the smallest diner in New York (with a huge baseball connection) below, and keep scrolling to see the 26 best diners in New York State.

Is This the Smallest Diner in Upstate New York? We Think So!

The tiny Cooperstown Diner, on Main Street in this historic village, is so small that it has an address with "1/2" in it. How small? Check out this gallery of one of the most charming diners in New York State.

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

"Order Up!" 26 Of the Best Diners in New York State

From the tip of Long Island to the tip of Western New York, the Empire State has no shortage of excellent diners. Some have been around for a decade or so, and some have been around for five decades or so. Most are mom-and pop diners that have been in the family for a couple of generations. It is always fun to eat at a diner and we submit that these 26 are just too good to pass up. Stop in...the coffee pot is always ready! (Note: We had to include a diner in New York City, where more than 100 of these places in the 5 boroughs carry the name "diner" with them!)

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

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