There’s no crying in baseball. If you’re a Savannah Banana, you’re bound to laugh, dance, and put on a show on the field. The Savannah Bananas came to New York over the weekend as part of their 2025 Banana Ball Tour.
The Bananas painted the Bronx yellow as they took over Yankee Stadium for a 7:00p.m. matchup on Saturday and a 3:00p.m. matchup with the Firefighters on Sunday afternoon.
Prior to hitting the field, they visited the set of The Tonight Show on Wednesday to catch up with host Jimmy Fallon.
Bananaland is like a moving circus; it’s packed up and taken on the road. The Bananas set up a merchandise tent, a stage, a Dunkin’ Donuts concession stand, and various team-themed blowups for people to take pictures with at the park across the street from the stadium. The Dad-Bod cheerleaders put on a show on stage prior to the game, interacting with the fans.
Recently, the Bananas have been bringing out special guests to participate in the game on the field. While in San Diego, they brought out renowned ballroom dancer Derek Hough. In Chicago, they brought out Chance the Rapper. New York was no different. The Bananas welcomed special guests all weekend long, starting with Big Time Rush and Joe Torre on Saturday. On Sunday, the Bananas challenged a call, and the ‘umpire’ turned out to be New York Giants legend Eli Manning. Their final guest of the weekend was longtime Yankee Nick Swisher. Swisher stepped up to the plate for the Bananas in the latter half of the game.
Yankee Stadium has a longstanding tradition that began in the 1990s, it’s the “roll call”. The bleacher creatures, located in right field, perform chants for the Yankees’ starting lineup. This is done until each player acknowledges the group. This time, Bald Vinny, the Dad-Bod cheerleaders, and the band took over the section and performed the roll call Savannah Banana style.
The Savannah Bananas could be compared to the Harlem Globetrotters, but better. They play a style of baseball called ‘Banana Ball’, otherwise known as the fastest game of baseball. The rules are different; there’s choreographed dancing happening on the field while the game is live, and players are walking around on stilts. The possibilities are endless, and the game is fun for everyone, from the players to the fans in the stands.
Banana Ball was established in 2015 by Jesse Cole in Savannah, Georgia. While the beginnings of a startup team were rough, the popularity has taken the world by storm. Having toured the United States playing in minor and major league stadiums, they’ve brought the circus on the road for over 200 games. The Bananas grew from one team into four, now hosting The Firefighters, The Party Animals, and The Texas Tailgaters. Not your typical baseball team names, but that’s what Banana Ball strives to be; different from anything you’ve ever seen before.
It’s not a roster; it’s a cast of characters. The Savannah Bananas have the man in the yellow tuxedo. His name is Jesse Cole, and he’s the owner and founder of the league. Their umpire is known for his dancing, and his name is Vince Chapman. Their first base coach, Maceo Harrison, will breakdance at the drop of a hat. Dakota Albritton stands at ten feet tall on stilts, something he wears while playing. Reese Alexiades wears a red cape in the outfield and at the plate. Each player on the field has their own quirks and signature antics that add to the excitement Banana Ball brings.
The Bananas performed choreographed dances to two songs, paying homage to New York. Annie the musical’s “It’s a Hard Knock Life” and the Beastie Boys “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”. Choreographed or not, the Bananas were showing off their moves.
Why is the game of baseball different in Banana Ball? Well, the rules are tweaked to suit the entertainment factor. For starters, there are eleven rules to be followed to play Banana Ball. Win the inning and you get the point, two-hour time limit, no stepping out, no bunting, batters can steal first, no walks allowed, no mound visits allowed, if a fan catches a foul ball it’s an out, showdown tiebreaker, the Banana Ball challenge rule, and the golden batter rule.
Some of those rules are pretty straightforward. As for rule 9, that’s where it gets interesting. Rule 9 states that if the game is tied after the two-hour time limit or 9 innings are completed, they enter a showdown. Three rounds where the hitter must score. Round 1: Pitcher, catcher, and one fielder versus one hitter. Round 2: Pitcher, catcher versus one hitter. Round three: Pitcher, catcher, and one fielder versus one hitter with the bases loaded. The Bananas and the Firefighters took advantage of these rules on Sunday and forced a showdown. Still tied at 3 apiece, the two teams entered a showdown and advanced to round two before the Firefighters emerged victorious.
When the Savannah Bananas aren’t on tour, they’re at Historic Grayson Stadium, otherwise lovingly referred to as Bananaland. The experience is second-to-none, they offer an all-inclusive experience of all you can eat at the concession stands, a variety of banana flavored drinks, and the opportunity to sign the wall right field.
The Bananas have used their social media platforms to cultivate an active and growing presence amongst the fans. After all, it’s not about the game. Scores are being kept of course, but the ultimate goal is to create a memorable experience for everyone in attendance. People might not remember the score or who beat who, but they’ll remember every moment of excitement that may not even have been a homerun or a diving catch, rather a choreographed dance, or a moment of karaoke.
New York got to experience its share of Banana Ball, and it was one for the history books. A sold-out crowd of 49,000 [each] invaded Yankee Stadium for a thrilling weekend of baseball and entertainment at the ballpark. As fans left the stadium, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” was blasting from the speakers in typical Yankee fashion.
