Ever since the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act was enacted in 1949, it has been illegal for drivers in New Jersey to pump their own gas. The law, which is supported by full-service gas stations and local fire marshals, is the only one of its kind in the nation. After Oregon lifted its ban on self-service gas stations in 2023, New Jersey’s are the last gas station attendants standing.
When drivers in New Jersey pull up to the pump at a gas station, they are likely to utter the phrase, “Fill it up, regular,” as they hand their credit card to the approaching attendant—a shorthand request to completely top off the tank with 87-octane fule.
The Sussex County Miners, a baseball team in the independent Frontier League, will pay tribute to their home state’s quirky gas station law by playing four games in 2025 as the Fill it up Regulars. The logos center around a gas nozzle and the outline of the state of New Jersey, and include an anthropomorphic gas pump swinging the nozzle like a baseball bat.
The Miners will auction off jerseys to support four-year-old Blakely Boyle, a local girl who is battling T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.
“We’re taking Jersey pride and turning it into something powerful,” said Miners General Manager Vincent Sangemino in a statement. “This is about celebrating our roots and rallying around a local family that could use all our love and support. The Miners’ goal is to make an impact on and off the field, and we encourage fans to join us in helping Blakely fight against cancer.”
The Miners will play as the Fill it up Regulars opening day, May 23, as well as June 27, July 18, and August 30.
