The West Virginia Black Bears are back at Kendrick Family Ballpark for another exciting season of baseball in Morgantown. As the defending MLB Draft League champions, the Black Bears enter the season with plenty of momentum and a roster of young talent eager to make their mark. This year brings a new manager to the dugout, a promotional calendar packed with theme nights, fireworks and family events, and a fanbase that has made summer nights at Kendrick Family Ballpark a Morgantown tradition.
Introducing Manager Tim Garland
Tim Garland steps into Kendrick Family Ballpark as the eighth manager in the Black Bears’ history, bringing with him a baseball career that spans decades on both sides of the white lines. A former outfielder drafted by the New York Yankees in 1989, Garland went on to play in the minors and made a name for himself as a baserunner.
After retiring as a player, Garland transitioned into coaching and served as a hitting coach for the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros before joining the Detroit Tigers in 2017. He spent the last four seasons as a bench coach for the Tigers before taking on his first managerial role with the Black Bears.
Theme Nights & Special Events
Every night at a Black Bears game is a good time, but guests are in for something special during Friday night games this season. All seven Friday Night Fireworks games include a pregame happy hour with half-off drinks until the first pitch! Plus, the biggest fireworks show takes place on July 3 for the Independence Day Eve game.
Beyond Friday night spectacles, the 2026 promotional calendar is packed with themed nights and special events worth planning around:
- West Virginia Day (June 20): The Bears suit up in navy blue pinstripe jerseys with gold accents to honor the state’s official colors, and the first 500 fans through the gate walk away with a pair of gold and blue logo socks.
- 2026 is 2016 Night (June 26): This night is sure to be one for the memes, as a tribute to the era that gave the internet some of its finest moments.
- Bark in the Park: Dogs are welcome at Kendrick Family Ballpark twice this season. On June 27, therapy dog Atlas from WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s hosts West Virginia’s first golden retriever meetup, and August 2 brings the first wiener dog race at Kendrick Family Ballpark. All dogs receive a bandana and treat bag at the gate.
- Star Wars Night presented by WVU Medicine (July 11): Character appearances, glow-in-the-dark light-sword mini bats with ticket packs and a Mandalorian and Grogu jersey auction benefiting WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s.
- “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” at the Park (July 12): Fans can get a Poké-baseball to collect and the chance for more Pokémon prizes during the game.
- Pittsburgh Pirates Night (July 31): The Pirate Parrot and the Bucco Brigade make the trip to Morgantown for a night no Pirates fan will want to miss.
- 90’s Night (August 14): The fan-favorite theme night returns with postgame fireworks.
- Women in Sports Night (August 15): The Black Bears celebrate women’s sports and are giving away a Pepperoni Roll Mascot bobblehead.
- Camo Classic Series (beginning August 23): The Bears take on the State College Spikes in the first Camo Classic Series, wearing Realtree jerseys and orange on-field caps. The series opener includes a Realtree logo can coozie giveaway and matching Realtree merchandise in-store.
Special Family Days
MLB Draft League games are the perfect way to spend a day as a family, but some Black Bears games are especially ideal. Every Sunday at Kendrick Family Ballpark is a Family Funday, with discounts on tickets and concessions, and kids running the bases after the game. But beyond these Sundays, there are a couple of events to look forward to.
Father’s Day weekend kicks things off on Sunday, June 21, with a 1 pm pitch and a full day of festivities. The day begins with Brunch with the Bears, a pregame meet and greet with the team available as a ticket pack, and wraps up with a postgame catch on the field, followed by a family movie.
On June 28, the kids take over with Kids Takeover Day and Splash Day. Young fans step into the spotlight as PA announcers and on-field hosts, while designated splash zones throughout the ballpark bring in-game promotions and activities with an extra fun twist. After the final out, kids are invited to run the bases through the sprinklers.
Deals & Discounts
The 2026 Black Bears schedule has plenty of opportunities to stretch your dollar a little further. Midweek games offer the best value with 2sDays at the Park returning for another season of $2 hot dogs and game day discounts every Tuesday. Wednesdays are ideal for families, with $10 tickets for juniors and seniors making it one of the most affordable nights on the schedule. Thursday nights are the move for groups, with $12 group tickets available for every Thursday game.