GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Baseball will be the theme of the night as the Grand Rapids Griffins team up with the West Michigan Whitecaps to present Whitecaps Night on Friday, March 16.

The Griffins will wear Whitecaps-inspired jerseys, in addition to stirrup-styled socks, blue gloves and blue pant shells, for their 7 p.m. game against the Rockford IceHogs, which is sponsored by Centennial Securities. The special-edition jerseys will be auctioned off post-game with proceeds benefiting the Jake Engel family. Engel was a corporate sales account manager with the Griffins and a former Whitecaps ticket sales consultant who passed away on Feb. 6.

Tickets for Whitecaps Night can be purchased here.

The Whitecaps, who are entering their 25th season, will host Salute to the Griffins Night presented by Centennial Securities on Saturday, Aug. 25 against the Great Lakes Loons.

“The Griffins and Whitecaps have had a great relationship, and we could not be more excited about these two longstanding, top-notch franchises partnering for what is sure to be a pair of memorable nights for Grand Rapids sports fans,” Griffins vice president of community relations and broadcasting Bob Kaser said. “Both organizations have been outstanding in their commitment to the West Michigan community and we are thrilled, as part of our first-ever partnership endeavor, to get behind this meaningful cause. Jake was a great friend to many at the Griffins and Whitecaps and we’re eager to provide any kind of assistance we can to his wonderful family.”

Several popular in-game promotions from the Whitecaps will be incorporated into the Griffins game, including the dinosaur dance, singing of the third-period stretch, and appearances from Fifth Third Ballpark’s on-field host Bob Wells, public address announcer Michael Newell, and Whitecaps’ mascots Crash, Franky and Roxy. Members of the Griffins and Whitecaps staffs will also contest a home run derby during one of the intermissions.

Kaser, the voice of Griffins hockey on WOOD Radio, will be joined on his broadcast by Whitecaps play-by-play man Dan Hasty.