Lights, Lasers, and Baseball: Cosmic Baseball Brings Its Glow to Polar Park

From his seat at Sherwood’s Diner, overlooking Worcester’s Polar Park, Hank Stolz was ready to describe a truck navigating Summit Street to deliver lights for an unusual baseball spectacle. But then, the man behind the event himself — Chris Martin, owner of the Chili Peppers and creator of “Cosmic Baseball” — walked in to share the story.

Martin and his crew were in the thick of preparations for this weekend’s sold-out shows, part of a seven-stop 2025 tour that brings a glowing twist to America’s pastime.

“We created a new style of baseball,” Martin explained. “Basically what we do is we install black lights into the stadiums that we play in. Ultimately the ball’s glowing, the bat’s glowing, the jerseys are glowing. It looks like players are floating, running across the field at times… it’s really cool and really fun to see.”

Two Games in One Night

For fans attending, the evening begins with an hour of “traditional” baseball — but with a high-energy entertainment overlay. After a 30-minute intermission filled with music, games, and merchandise sales, the black lights flip on for an hour of what Martin calls “Cosmic.”

“All the lights in the entire stadium turn off except for our black lights,” he said. “You’ve got motion, lights, bubbles, confetti, lasers… I mean you’ve got everything.”

That merchandise is part of the fun. Fans can buy T-shirts, hats, light-up swords, and more during the pre-game “block party,” which runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with entertainers, autographs, and music. “If you don’t have your cosmic gear, don’t worry about it,” Martin said. “Come pregame… change into your merchandise, get ready for the game and go.”

The Birth of a Glow Game

Cosmic Baseball began in 2024 at the Chili Peppers’ home stadium in Virginia. Inspired by a light-stick giveaway, Martin wanted to go further.

“If you turn the lights off, the sticks can actually glow and people would enjoy it,” he recalled. But playing in darkness required a solution — black lights powerful enough to illuminate the field. After lighting companies told him it couldn’t be done, Martin worked with Sonaray to design custom fixtures. “All of a sudden I’m like, ‘Man, we can actually catch a ball in there.’”

The concept went viral, leading to this year’s first-ever national tour.

Big Setup for a Big Show

Bringing the experience to Polar Park means installing about 100 black lights and enough effects to rival a rock concert.

“We unload three tractor trailers full of lights… All these black lights are hanging from rafters. We’ve got towers that’ll erect 35 feet in the air. We’ve got bubble machines, confetti machines, our lasers,” Martin said. Setup takes between two and four days.

The show also features a twist on the rules: no bunting, no walks, and interactive fan opportunities to change player positions mid-game. Each inning ends with a home run derby, and those hits count toward the score.

Talent With Showmanship

The players — professional ballplayers from across the country and beyond — compete in teams like the Chili Peppers and the Glow Mojis. “They’re entertainers, they’re very good ballplayers and they’re competitors,” Martin said. “When you win the weekend, you win a trophy.”

For Worcester, the response has been overwhelming. The first Polar Park date sold out in hours, prompting the addition of a second night. Standing Room Only tickets remain available through a lottery.

Martin’s advice for fans is simple: “Make sure you come out ready to have a good time… hit the block party… Just be ready to come and enjoy it.”