Nearly a century after the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues were the first professional baseball team to host a game under artificial lights, the Tri-City Chili Peppers of the Coastal Plain League are bringing their own twist to this innovation. The team will be playing „Cosmic Baseball“ under powerful blacklight, illuminating UV-reactive uniforms, caps, bats, balls – essentially the entire game.
Based in Colonial Heights, Virginia, the team collaborated with their uniform supplier 3n2 to design glow-in-the-dark uniforms for both the Chili Peppers and their opponents, with hats from Bretmor Headwear. The game will feature UV-reactive equipment, including bats from Tucci, helmets, and baseballs from Wilson Sporting Goods. The lighting company Sonaray has developed blacklights strong enough to play under.
The Chili Peppers will take the field for Cosmic Baseball on the 1st, 15th, and 28th of June, as well as on July 20th, describing the experience as a „historic immersive baseball experience.“