What has 19 letters, seven syllables and is covered in pinstripes?
The Somerset Patriots have the answer to this heretofore unasked question, as this week the Double-A New York Yankees affiliate announced its Semiquincentennials alternate identity. This gargantuan word simply means "250th anniversary," which America will celebrate in 2026. The Central New Jersey-based Patriots are getting in on the act by playing as the Semiquincentennials on four occasions during the 2026 season.
"It's a ridiculous word that we're really only going to use one time in our country's history, and it's next year, and then that word is essentially going to vanish," said Hal Hansen, Patriots senior director of sales and marketing. "So, let's capitalize on it and do something fun with it. ... And, we thought it was cool that we could claim to be the longest team name in, potentially, sports history."
"It makes a lot of sense for the Somerset Patriots, because our name is derived from the Revolutionary War," added Dave Marek, the Patriots' senior vice president of marketing. "Central Jersey is literally the crossroads of the American Revolution. There are multiple historic houses all throughout New Jersey and there's one across the street from our ballpark, the Van Horne House, which was instrumental in the Battle of Bound Brook in 1777."
While inspired by their specific location, the Patriots wanted the Semiquincentennials logos and uniforms to have a broad-based appeal. To this end, the primary logo features a bald eagle wearing an Uncle Sam-inspired top hat. The three stars on the top hat reference New Jersey's status as the third state to ratify the Constitution and join the Union; a roundel version of the logo is encircled by 19 stars, referencing the number of letters in Semiquincentennial.
"The eagle was, in 1782, the original seal of the United States," said Marek. "So that's why it's such a prominent feature in a lot of American culture."
The Patriots worked with Ryan Foos of Fooser Sports Design to bring the Semiquincentennials' identity to life.
"One of the challenges in the build out for this is, how do you fit a 19-letter team name across the uniform?" said Marek. "I think Ryan did a great job."
"The jersey still has pinstripes, but the pinstripes are alternating red and blue," said Hansen. "Specifically the exact shades of red and blue that are used in the American flag. So we kept those colors consistent throughout all of the logos. ... The other aspect of the jersey that's really neat is that, imprinted on both sleeves, there are the actual signatures from the Declaration of Independence."
An alternate "quill signers" logo, also included on the jersey, highlights the name of the five men from New Jersey who signed the Declaration of Independence: Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton and John Witherspoon.
The Patriots will play as the Semiquincentennials on four occasions, from July 3-5 and again on August 15th for the team's annual history-inspired Revolutionary Revelry promotion. If all goes well, might they consider playing as the Bicenterquasquigenaries when America celebrates its 275th anniversary in 2051?
"I need a lot more practice on that one," said Hansen.