Originally named the Harlem Stars, the New York Black Yankees were founded in the summer of 1932. They spent their first years barnstorming across the country, sometimes playing doubleheaders in different states on successive days. They officially joined the Negro National League in 1936, where they played until their final season in 1948. In the 40s, they played home games at Yankee Stadium when the American League Yankees were on the road, but they also played home games in Paterson, NJ, and in 1948 they played home games upstate in Rochester, NY.