The Savannah Bananas are going to change the world of sports and entertainment

“Did you see that?!?”

"Can we see them play in Savannah next year?"

“Who knew baseball could be this fun?”

“I’m obsessed.”

“This is the highlight of my summer!”

I’ve been fortunate to attend Super Bowls, NCAA Final Fours, College Football National Championships, The Masters, the Home Run Derby, my fair share of music festivals and Broadway shows, and I can confidently say that the Savannah Bananas game I attended this past weekend in Staten Island was the most unique experiences out of ‘em all. Now, I know what you’re thinking – “it sounds good for the story but there’s no way.”

By this point, I’m sure many of you are more than familiar with the lore of the Savannah Bananas. You’ve likely come across a TikTok of a dancing umpire, or a reel of the tallest batter in the world, or the 2022 ESPN+ Docuseries, but it’s tough to describe the Banana Ball experience without being there in-person. Some say they are the "Harlem Globetrotters of baseball," which is close on the surface but doesn’t give Jesse Cole and the Bananas enough credit for the incredible brand they’ve created and cultivated.

The best description I can come up with is a fusion of baseball and pro wrestling with a splash of Broadway theatrics.

Their mantra is “fans first,” and it’s clear this is much more than just a fluff statement to put on a wall. It’s their guiding principle and something that’s in the DNA of the brand, the players and staff. From the moment you walk into the park, there’s an energy that’s palpable. We're not talking career-defining Game 7 energy, but the kind when you’re about to experience something amazing for the first time.

I knew there would be dancing, wild physical tricks, laughs, but I was unsure how it would all be packaged up into an actual live baseball game. To avoid trying to give you the full rundown, here’s my top 5 most memorable moments:

1. A 3-year-old named Ella stepped on the field and led both teams and the entire stadium in a ‘follow the leader’ game warmup, complete with clapping, jumping jacks, and silly wiggling… while a crowd of 6,500 followed along.
2. The Bananas and Party Animals players stood in-front of their dugouts, entertaining the crowd (and themselves) with fully synchronized dances every. damn. inning.
3. Before, during and after the game, the players do everything possible to make a personal connection with all fans. Everywhere you look, there were swarms of kids lining up for autographs. If you didn’t know any better, you’d would have guessed they were meeting Aaron Judge. The fandom for the players was NEXT LEVEL.
4. A rodeo clown took the mound for an inning of relief pitching. After completing a flip out of a barrel, he proceeded to hurl pitches between his legs and behind his back, the majority thrown for strikes.
5. The quality of baseball. Don’t let the silly uniforms and on-field shenanigans fool you; these guys can play! Beyond the fun and games, you can tell they’re giving it their all to compete. In 2021 & 2022, 19 Savannah Bananas were drafted and signed by MLB teams.??

On the way out of the park, I bought a Bananas shirt and couldn’t wait to tell friends and family about what I had just witnessed.

After playing six seasons in Savannah, the Bananas embarked on a 7-stop tour in 2022 tour. The Sold Out 2023 Banana Ball World Tour is visiting 33 cities, with tickets often selling for 4x face value on the secondary market. I have no doubt that this is just the beginning of the story. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the “World Famous Baseball Circus:”

• Team up with MLB for an official event during All-Star weekend within the next two years
• Upgrade the World Tour stadium venues from minor league stadiums (~6,500 capacity) to major league (~30,000 capacity)
• Strike a deal with a major content player to bring the games and antics to households across the globe??

Banana Ball was a breath of fresh air, and I’m all-in.