You've probably seen them all over social media, but on Valentine's weekend, the Savannah Bananas slid off your screen and into a sold-out stadium of 10,823 at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers.
If you couldn't tell by their dancing umpire, Dad Bod Cheer Squad: The Man-nans, or their wild performances. The Savannah Bananas are not your average baseball team. They say their team "makes baseball fun," but the game isn't exactly America's pastime.
See, they play Banana Ball.
A quirky spin-off of traditional baseball — but without what they call the "boring plays" and with dancing. They show off their choreographed moves every game, you may have seen them bust a move to Rihanna's "Disturbia" on Saturday. But they truly do it all — you name it, they've danced to it. Every game they have a 3-2-2, that stands for 3rd inning, second batter, second pitch. These in-game pre-pitch dances combined have more than 300 million views on TikTok.
The Rules
While the game may look lawless, Banana Ball has a strict set of rules to keep the energy going.
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2 Hour Time Limit:
Long drawn-out games are a big no-no. This "early to bed" rule keeps players and spectators on their feet. So, no new inning can start after an hour and 50 minutes, unless there is a tie (see rule No. 9)
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Every Inning Counts:
Each inning is worth one point. Instead of adding up the number of runs, one point is given to the team with the most runs that inning. Only in the final inning does every run count.
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No Stepping Out:
If a batter steps out of the box, it's a strike!
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No Bunting:
Bunting in regular baseball is where a batter taps the ball without swinging the bat. The Bananas hate bunting. If you bunt in Banana Ball, you'll be thrown out of the game.
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Batters Can Steal First:
Batters can steal first base. In fact, they're encouraged to. If a wild pitch is thrown, hit it or take off!
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No Walks Allowed:
The Bananas are big on running. So, once the umpire calls "ball four," the hitter has to take off to first and try to get to as many bases as possible before the batter can be tagged out.
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No Mound Visits:
This just delays the game, and nobody wants that.
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Fans Are Players:
If a fan catches a foul ball, it's an out!
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1-on-1 Showtime Showdown:
If a game is tied after 2 hours or nine innings, it goes into a one-on-one showdown between the pitcher and the batter with only one fielder. Only one out is allowed. If the batter gets out or scores, the other team gets to hit. Plus, if the ball is in play, that one fielder has to grab it and stop the batter from rounding the bases and scoring one point. The showdown doesn't stop until a team scores unanswered.
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The Banana Ball Challenge Rule:
In Banana Ball, each team can challenge one ruling. The coach of each team will have a challenge prop that they must throw on the field before the next pitch for the play to be challenged. The play will be reviewed by the broadcast and will be replayed to the Umpire Field Chief, who will make the call. If the call is overruled, the team will keep a challenge for later in the game. If the call is upheld or is inconclusive, they lose their challenge for the rest of the game. Fans also have the chance to challenge a rule once a game. Before the game, fans will choose one person to represent them. If the fan representative chooses to challenge, the fan will shoot off confetti and hold up a sign to make it official.
- The Golden Batter Rule: Once a game, a team can send any hitter in their lineup to bat at any spot on the field. The goal? To get your best hitter to hit when the game is on the line.
Now, you've heard from us about how the game is played, but how would a Banana describe this kind of hype?
The Hype of Banana Ball
These players are found around the country, some are baseball icons in their own right, others ... not so much. Every Banana is different, but they all have a "Troy Bolton" side (someone who can play AND perform). So how did they get their start? Singing in the theater, playing the old-fashioned game? Or both?
While every game is absolute madness, these guys have some moments that are near and dear to their wild hearts. So, what's considered "crazy" to a Banana?
The name of the game may be "Banana Ball," but the Savannah Bananas can't play alone. That's where the Party Animals come in with their trademark mascot, "Pharty."
The Bananas also play the "Firefighters," who were added in 2024, and the "Texas Tailgaters," their newest addition, added to the world tour this year.
But the Party Animals are their main rival. They square up for the first few months of their eight-month world tour for 2025. While it can be all fun and games, when it comes to competing--these teams aren't messing around.
Desperation
You may be thinking about now, "How on earth did this start?" Or, "Who was crazy enough to think this up?"
The answer comes down to one simple fact: anything can be done out of desperation. Savannah had been home to minor league baseball for 90 years. When that left, the owners had to get crafty to make people pay attention. In their first few months of playing the traditional game, the Savannah team only sold a handful of tickets. If that wasn't a big enough obstacle, in January 2016, just before their first game, the team had over-drafted their account. Owners Jesse and Emily were forced to sell their home for the team to keep going.
Then everything changed on Feb. 25, 2016, when the name that changed the game was announced.
The Savannah Bananas Were Born
The name change got the team national recognition, and while it wasn't all positive, people were talking about them at last. With all the new attention, the Savannah Bananas sold out their opening night, and they've kept that ball rolling. The Bananas have sold out every single game since their first season, over 200 and counting.
In 2022, the Bananas left the Coastal Plain League to create a league of their own, where baseball was more fast-paced, entertaining, and, above all, fun. They've gone on to add the Party Animals, Firefighters, and Tailgaters, but one day, they could have a full league.
While the trick- plays, fast-paced game, and dancing may be enough to reel you in, all of this goes toward a cause. The team is referred to as "Bananas Foster," a nonprofit called Bringing Families Together, celebrating the foster care community. After learning about the need for foster families, Owners Jesse and Emily decided to become a licensed foster family.
Today, along with touring, they use their platform to get people involved by collecting donations, getting volunteers, and educating people about becoming foster parents.