From kicklines to stunts to snacking on a piece of pizza in the batter’s boxes, the Savannah Bananas set out to make baseball more entertaining by twisting the classic rules and traditions we’ve come to know — a game for the fans, by the fans and with the fans. Banana Ball.
In 2015, Savannah, Georgia, found itself without a baseball team for the first time in over 90 years. The city yearned for baseball, so later that year, the Coastal Plain League (CPL), a collegiate summer league, announced Savannah’s newest team would begin play in 2016. Following a team naming contest, the Savannah Bananas came to life with a logo, colors and a new home at Grayson Stadium.
After finding success in the CPL, owner Jesse Cole and his team decided to spice the game up. Experiments with the format of Banana Ball began in 2018, and the first official game of Banana Ball was played in 2020. From then until 2022, the team participated in the CPL and the new Banana Ball League. Starting in the 2023 season, the Banana Ball Championship League was created and the Savannah Bananas began playing there exclusively. Their opponents consist of Party Animals, the Firefighters, the Visitors, and the Texas Tailgaters. Since the first season of Banana Ball, the Savannah Bananas have sold out every single game.
How does this style of play differ from baseball? Banana Ball’s rules promote entertainment and fun for the whole family. The games have a two-hour time limit and end, regardless of whether the players make it through nine innings. Games are won by the team that scores the most points. One point goes to the team that scores the most runs in each inning, except for the final innings where every run counts. Batters are allowed and encouraged to steal first base at any point in the at-bat. This game moves fast because there are no batter timeouts or mound visits. The game is highly engaging for the fans because foul balls they catch in the stands count as an out, and fans are even allowed to challenge plays.
Dancing is a central theme of the league; it is far more than a sporting event, it is a performance. The games feature dancing players, umpires and coaches who will wow you with unprompted breakdancing. Owner Jesse Cole attends every game in a shockingly bright yellow tuxedo. Mid-game, it’s common for the whole team to break into choreographed dances featured in popular music videos that energize the entire stadium.
Banana Ball gained traction through circulation in the media. The team is highly active on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. The Savannah Bananas’ Instagram has a whopping 3.8 million followers, which is extraordinary for a minor league team. Banana Ball has been featured in ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CNN 10, Sports Illustrated and aired live on YouTube and ESPN.
Banana infielder Jackson Olson has been a driving force in gaining popularity for this team. He is known as the Greatest Showman for this team and is often seen performing dramatic lip syncs to popular songs as he navigates the crowd during a game. He was a key factor in promoting Banana Ball to younger audiences on social media.
This past summer, Banana Ball went on a national tour, visiting 40 cities across 25 states. They played in sold-out football stadiums and historic venues such as Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. This tour drew record crowds and was streamed on national broadcasts. The league is on the rise, and there is discussion about expansion. The commissioners are planning on adding two new teams in the 2026 season.
While some may claim this is not real baseball and does not allow the players to grow and find further success, Banana Ball is not trying to replicate Major League Baseball — it’s building on something entirely new. It is rekindling a love for the game and creating a memorable experience for fans through a quirky style of play. Banana Ball allows everyone to go out and enjoy the love of the game.
