Syracuse.com
by Geoff Herbert
The Syracuse Mets are tipping their cap to Native Americans with its first-ever Haudenosaunee Night.
The minor league baseball team announced Thursday that it will partner with Onondaga Nation for an event honoring the traditions and culture of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee on Friday, July 21, at NBT Bank Stadium. The night will feature a pre-game ceremony, specialty on-field jerseys, a Haudenosaunee jersey giveaway and post-game fireworks presented by M&T Bank; gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the Mets will play the Buffalo Bisons starting at 6:35 p.m.
The Syracuse Mets, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will wear Haudenosaunee jerseys during the game and then auction them off online at syracusemets.com/auction to benefit the Haudenosaunee National Development Group.
The jerseys feature the word “Haudenosaunee” in purple and images of four squares and a tree, based on the Hiawatha belt seen on the Haudenosaunee flag. The design represents the five original members of the Iroquois Confederacy, including the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk nations; the group later became known as the Six Nations when it added the Tuscarora nation.
“This region has one of the richest histories and traditions of our native indigenous people,” Syracuse Mets General Manager Jason Smorol said in a statement. “We are proud to partner with the Onondaga Nation to bring that story to our fans and help promote the rich history and culture of the Six Nations.”
“It’s with great pleasure and appreciation the Haudenosaunee Nationals express our excitement in the upcoming Haudenosaunee Night with the Syracuse Mets,” added Rex Lyons, a former player and current board member of Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse and a Haudenosaunee Nationals Development Group Trustee. “This is an amazing opportunity for us to come together, celebrate our heritage, and enjoy a great afternoon of fun, food, and Syracuse Mets baseball! The beginning of another timeless tradition.”
Tickets to Haudenosaunee Night and other Syracuse Mets games are available at syracusemets.com or the Onondaga Coach Ticket Office at NBT Bank Stadium during regular hours (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) in-person or over the phone at (315) 474-7833.