Mariners and Red Sox 'Turn Back the Clock' to 1946

The Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox will pay tribute to Negro Leagues players on Saturday, May 16, when they "Turn Back the Clock" to 1946. Mariners players will wear the uniform of the Seattle Steelheads and the Red Sox will be dressed as Boston Royal Giants.

African American Heritage Night
The game is also African American Heritage Night at Safeco Field, the Mariners annual celebration of the contributions of African Americans to the Northwest community. Honorees include Bill Russell, widely considered one of the best players in the history of the National Basketball Association and a long-time Seattle resident, Supersonics legend Fred Brown, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bill Withers, former King County Executive Ron Sims, George Fleming, University of Washington football legend and the first African American elected to the state Senate, and business executive Art Harper. There will also be a tribute to Herb Simpson, the last known surviving member of the Seattle Steelheads, who died in January at the age of 94.

Seattle Steelheads
The Seattle Steelheads were a short-lived team in the West Coast Negro Baseball League. They played home games at Sick's Stadium as well as ballparks in Tacoma, Bremerton, Spokane and Bellingham. In honor of these trailblazers, Mariners players will wear cream uniforms with "Seattle" across the front in black block letters trimmed in gray. The cap will be black with a cream "S."

Boston Royal Giants
The Boston Royal Giants were organized in 1923, but for "marketing" purposes were called the Philadelphia Royal Giants. They played teams from across the Northeast including mill or industrial teams in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, and as far north as Canada's Cape Breton League. Royal Giants pitcher William "Cannonball" Jackman played for 30 years in the 1920s through the 1940s, and was known as the "best ball player you have never heard of." The Red Sox will wear road gray uniforms with black trim and the word "Boston" in block letters across the front.

Ticket Special
A special online-only ticket offer is available for the game. Prices are $20 for View Level and $35 for Main Level seats. Five dollars from each ticket sold through this offer will benefit Senior Services. Tickets are available at mariners.com/africanamerican. Deadline for this special offer is noon, Friday, May 15.