Who are the Savannah Bananas? Everything to know about the exhibition baseball team.
The Savannah Bananas are one of the hottest tickets in town wherever they go.
And if you wanted to see them this season, good luck. All remaining Bananas games for the 2023 season are sold out with the exception of the final two games − but the presale lists for those games are full, requiring those who want tickets to join a waitlist.
The final game of the season is Sept. 16 at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York.
So why are fans filling up stadiums to see the Bananas? Here's everything you need to know.
Who are the Savannah Bananas?
The Savannah Bananas are an exhibition baseball team based in Savannah, Georgia. Think of them like the Harlem Globetrotters, but for baseball. Their home games are played in Savannah, but they also travel the country, entertaining fans in their "world tour."
The team plays their own version of the game called "Banana Ball," which aims to speed the game up and make it more exciting.
However, a Bananas game offers a lot more entertainment than just baseball.
There are pregame and postgame parties featuring a pep band, cheerleaders, a male cheerleading squad called the "Man-Nanas" and a "Nanas" dance team comprised of senior-aged women.
There is also entertainment between innings that includes player dance routines, stunt displays and a salute to the "banana baby" of the game, which involves a newborn baby in a banana suit, according to the Savannah Morning News, part of the USA TODAY network.
How did the Savannah Bananas get their start?
The Bananas were founded by Jesse and Emily Cole in 2017 and almost went bust before they hit it big.
According to the Savannah Morning News, the Coles "slept on the floor of a roach-infested rental house, survived on a $30 weekly grocery allowance and racked up a million dollars in debt."
The Bananas were originally a collegiate summer league amateur team that existed from 2016 to 2022. The team played in the Coastal Plain League, a wood-bat league for college players with 14 teams in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and North Carolina.
The Bananas were members of the league since the team's inception in 2016, and have won three Petit Cup championships, in 2016 and back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, according to the Savannah Morning News.
In August 2022, the team announced they would discontinue their collegiate amateur summer league team to play their unique version of baseball, called Banana Ball, year-round.
Savannah Bananas origin story: What to know about the wackiest team in baseball
What is 'Banana Ball'?
"Banana Ball" is baseball but with nine rule changes, all with the intent of speeding up play.
The game is scored with teams tallying points for innings won instead of runs scored. According to the Bananas' website, if you win the inning, you get the point.
Other rules include prohibiting mound visits, as well as stepping out of the batter's box between pitches and bunting.
Perhaps the most popular rule is one where a batter is out if they hit a foul ball and a fan catches it.
Aside from the game, "Banana Ball" also features a number of hijinks, including dancing base coaches and umpires and hitters wielding flaming bats.
Bananas are back: Everything you need to know about the Savannah Bananas' 2023 season
Who do the Savannah Bananas play?
The designated foil team for the Savannah Bananas is the Party Animals.
The Party Animals are the Bananas' partner touring team. The Bananas play their home games and most of their away games against the Party Animals, similar to the relationship between the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals.
However, the Bananas also play other challengers on the road, from independent pro minor league teams to international teams.
At the conclusion of their 2023 Banana Ball World Tour schedule, the Bananas will have played 70 games in 33 cities in 21 states across the country, including 30 games in Savannah.
Where do the Savannah Bananas play?
The Bananas play their home games at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia. The stadium's capacity is 4,000 people, according to the Bananas' website.
The Bananas typically play road games in minor league baseball stadiums.
While the team has not yet played in major league ballparks, owner Jesse Cole told the Savannah Morning News that was a very strong possibility in 2024.
Cole also said several teams, including the Boston Red Sox, have expressed interest in the Bananas playing in their stadiums.
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How can I get Savannah Bananas tickets?
While tickets for the 2023 season might be hard to come by, there is good news: The Bananas will announce their 2024 schedule in October of this year, which is when the interest lists will open up, according to Carson Bowen, the Bananas' ticket experience director.
According to the Bananas' website, tickets are $25. However, tickets are also available on resale sites, such as Vivid Seats and StubHub, at a hefty markup.
You can join a waitlist for remaining 2023 tickets on their website.
Contributing: Nathan Dominitz and Adam Van Brimmer, Savannah Morning News
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are the Savannah Bananas? What to know including tickets, schedule
