The Montgomery Biscuits, Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, will continue the Minor League Baseball tradition of food-based alternate identities, but with a tangy twist. They’ll play as the Montgomery Kimchi to commemorate Korean Heritage Night, in partnership with the Alabama-Korean Education and Economic Partnership (A-KEEP).
The jersey highlights the word kimchi in Korean characters on the front, with a sleeve patch featuring an anthropomorphized kimchi in a pot alongside a mugunghwa, or the rose of Sharon, the national flower of South Korea. Uniform numbers on the back of the jersey are adorned in cabbage leaves.
“Why Kimchi?” the team asked in a statement on its website. “We believe food is the gateway into culture. Just as Biscuits are a mainstay on a southern table, Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine.”
Kimchi is heavily seasoned pickled cabbage (or similar leafy vegetable), and is something of an acquired taste because of its strong flavor. These specialty uniforms, however, seem to be an immediate hit and have already made something of a splash on social media.
The Montgomery Kimchi will take the field Friday, July 16, against the Biloxi Shuckers. The jerseys will be auctioned off during the game, with all proceeds benefitting A-KEEP.
