Savannah Bananas#"Banana Ball" rules

Following the departure of the South Atlantic League's Savannah Sand Gnats for Columbia, South Carolina, on September 22, 2015, the Coastal Plain League (CPL) announced Savannah as its newest team to begin play for 2016. On February 25, following a name-the-team contest, the Bananas name, logo, and colors were officially revealed by the team.{{cite web | url=http://www.coastalplain.com/press/savannah_baseball_announces_team_name_and_unveils_logo/ | title=Savannah Baseball Announces Team Name and Unveils Logo | publisher=Coastal Plain League | date=February 25, 2016 | access-date=February 25, 2016 | archive-date=September 2, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902012628/http://www.coastalplain.com/press/savannah_baseball_announces_team_name_and_unveils_logo/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://savannahnow.com/sports/2016-02-25/savannahs-new-baseball-team-bananas | title=Savannah's new baseball team: The Bananas | publisher=Savannah Morning News | work=SavannahNow.com | date=February 25, 2016 | access-date=February 25, 2016 | archive-date=May 15, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515191621/http://savannahnow.com/sports/2016-02-25/savannahs-new-baseball-team-bananas | url-status=live }}

In 2016, the Bananas ended their inaugural season as the first seed in the CPL West Division, earning home-field advantage for the first two games of the playoffs. In game one, the Bananas beat the Asheboro Copperheads, 3–2, with the first walk-off in franchise history. The Bananas then defeated the Forest City Owls, 2–0, to win the CPL West Division championship and advance to the Petitt Cup Championship. Game one of the championship was played at Grayson Stadium, where the Bananas defeated the Peninsula Pilots, 8–4. The team traveled to Hampton, Virginia, where the Pilots' 4–3 win in game two forced an all-or-nothing game three. The Bananas took home the Petitt Cup after a 9–7 win in game three.{{Cite web |url=https://thesavannahbananas.com/bananas-win-cpl-championship/ |title=Bananas Win CPL Championship |website=The Savannah Bananas |date=August 17, 2016 |access-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-date=August 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823022851/https://thesavannahbananas.com/bananas-win-cpl-championship/ |url-status=live }} The Bananas were named the league's organization of the year in both 2016 and 2017.

In 2018, the team created the alternative "Banana Ball" rule set and played its first intra-squad exhibition game using the new format. As the format became more popular, the team played its official game with Banana Ball rules on June 26, 2020, while playing away games under the standard CPL rules. The owner noted that this distinction, where the Bananas were effectively two different teams playing with two different rules, confused fans who might not know what to expect when they came to a game. In 2020 the Savannah Party Animals debuted as the opponent in Banana Ball games, similar to the relationship between the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals. Unlike Globetrotter exhibitions, the teams are more even and the Bananas do not win all games. Following the 2022 summer league season, the Bananas announced they were folding their collegiate amateur team and only playing Banana Ball, both in Savannah and on the road as a barnstorming team.

In August that year, ESPN+ released a miniseries about the team called Bananaland.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Dave |title=New series 'Bananaland' to debut Friday |url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/new-series-bananaland-to-debut-friday/40934499 |website=WJCL |access-date=24 August 2022 |language=en |date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824000926/https://www.wjcl.com/article/new-series-bananaland-to-debut-friday/40934499 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Luter |first1=Carianne |title=Bananaland: Savannah Bananas get original series on ESPN+ |url=https://www.news4jax.com/features/2022/08/19/bananaland-savannah-bananas-get-original-series-on-espn/ |website=WJXT |access-date=24 August 2022 |language=en |date=19 August 2022 |archive-date=August 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823022847/https://www.news4jax.com/features/2022/08/19/bananaland-savannah-bananas-get-original-series-on-espn/ |url-status=live }} {{As of|2023}}, the team has over six million followers on TikTok, more than any MLB team.

In 2021, the team signed Dakota Albritton.[https://www.wjcl.com/article/bring-out-the-stilts-savannah-banana-player-goes-viral/35896848 Bring out the stilts! Savannah Banana player goes viral. Zimmer, Amy. WJCL News. March 22, 2021.]{{cite web |last=Rudy|first=Brett |date=June 9, 2024 |title=The Savannah Bananas Peel into Fenway Park |url=https://baseballismy.life/savannah-bananas-peel-into-fenway-park/ |website= |location= |publisher=Baseball Life |access-date=April 25, 2025}} Nicknamed "Stilts" and dubbed the "World's Tallest Baseball Player" and the "Tallest Pitcher in the World",{{cite web |last=Burkhart |first=Richard|date=June 11, 2024 |title=Going Bananas: Sold-out stint at Fenway a bucket list item for Savannah Bananas owner, players |url= https://www.savannahnow.com/story/entertainment/events/2024/06/11/bostons-fenway-park-morphs-into-savannah-banana-land-and-fans-eat-it-up/74044600007/ |website=www.savannahnow.com |location= |publisher= |access-date=April 25, 2025}}{{cite web |last=Wharton |first=David |date=May 16, 2022 |title=Meet the Savannah Bananas, who've captivated fans and MLB. 'We exist to make baseball fun' |url= https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-05-16/savannah-bananas-baseball-revolution-mlb-rules |website= Los Angeles Times|location= |publisher= |access-date=April 26, 2025}}{{YouTube|id=vP7EYIftU5s|title=I Challenged the World’s Tallest Pitcher}} Albritton stands 10-feet 9-inches tall and plays the field, bats and pitches all while on stilts.{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Alan |date=June 5, 2023 |title=The Savannah Bananas Take Banana Ball on Tour |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2023/06/photos-savannah-bananas-banana-ball/674292/ |website=www.bostonglobe.com |location= |publisher=The Boston Globe |access-date=April 26, 2025}} Albritton is the most recognized player on the team.{{YouTube|id=gsKCBleZHWo|title=Reluctant Tryout to Fan Favorite: Dakota "Stilts" Albritton's Savannah Bananas Journey }}

In 2023, Jocelyn Alo became the first woman to play for the Bananas, getting an at bat in one of their games. In 2024, the team announced that Alo had become the first female member of the Bananas, and signed a one-month contract.{{Cite web|url=https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/ou/former-ou-softball-star-jocelyn-alo-becomes-first-woman-to-sign-with-savannah-bananas-baseball/article_f47bfa3c-03fa-11ef-83bf-c7d21d09a7dc.html|title=Former OU softball star Jocelyn Alo becomes first woman to sign with Savannah Bananas baseball team|first=Mason Young Tulsa|last=World|date=April 26, 2024|website=Tulsa World}}

File:Savannah Bananas mascot.jpg

The Bananas announced their first "world" tour called the One City World Tour, where they traveled to Mobile, Alabama, and sold out both nights in Hank Aaron Stadium, with a combined crowd of over 7,000 fans.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-29 |title=Savannah Bananas bring their 'One City World Tour' to Mobile |url=https://www.wkrg.com/sports/wkrg-sports-overtime/savannah-bananas-bring-their-one-city-world-tour-to-mobile/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=WKRG News 5 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629172242/https://www.wkrg.com/sports/wkrg-sports-overtime/savannah-bananas-bring-their-one-city-world-tour-to-mobile/ |url-status=live }}

The Bananas added six more cities across four different states to the tour, creating a 14-game "world" tour in which all games were sellouts.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-10-19 |title=Savannah Bananas World Tour sites unveiled {{!}} Ballpark Digest |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/10/19/savannah-bananas-world-tour-sites-unveiled/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629173744/https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/10/19/savannah-bananas-world-tour-sites-unveiled/ |url-status=live }} While the majority of Banana Ball games feature the Bananas versus the rival Party Animals, the Bananas introduced a "Challenger Series" in which they play against a different opponent. The first such series was played May 5–6 against the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball and saw each team win one game.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-09 |title=Savannah Bananas deliver a dance party to Legends Field |url=https://www.thepitchkc.com/savannah-bananas-deliver-a-dance-party-to-legends-field/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=The Pitch |url-access=limited |language=en-US |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629193110/https://www.thepitchkc.com/savannah-bananas-deliver-a-dance-party-to-legends-field/ |url-status=live }}

The "world" tour was expanded to over 80 games,{{cite web |url=https://thesavannahbananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-Final-Schedule-scaled.jpg |title=2023 Banana Ball World Tour Schedule |website=thesavannahbananas.com |accessdate=August 14, 2023 |archive-date=August 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815025227/https://thesavannahbananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-Final-Schedule-scaled.jpg |url-status=live }} with the team implementing their new exhibition-only status. The tour was scheduled to start at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in Florida on February 17 and end seven months later at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-01 |title=Savannah Bananas 2023 tour: Schedule, tickets and more to know about baseball's most entertaining team |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/savannah-bananas-schedule-tickets-2023-baseball/we46qflx4zt7kecktms94y3x |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-us |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629193105/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/savannah-bananas-schedule-tickets-2023-baseball/we46qflx4zt7kecktms94y3x |url-status=live }} The tour also includes numerous challenger games against teams such as the Charleston Dirty Birds, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, Florence Y'alls, The MLB Players Alumni Association, and a rematch with the Kansas City Monarchs. Additionally, the Bananas played their first international opponent, the Aussie Drop Bears, a team from Australia featuring professional and collegiate players.{{cite news |url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-bananas-welcome-aussie-drop-bears-in-first-ever-international-challenger/44134885 |title=Savannah Bananas welcome Aussie Drop Bears in first-ever International Challenger |first=Amy |last=Zimmer |website=WJCL (TV) |date=June 9, 2023 |accessdate=August 14, 2023 |archive-date=August 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823022855/https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-bananas-welcome-aussie-drop-bears-in-first-ever-international-challenger/44134885 |url-status=live }}

The "world" tour kicked off its 2024 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on February 8 and ended eight months later at LoanDepot Park in Miami, followed by a trip on a cruise ship to The Bahamas called "Bananaland at Sea".{{Cite web |last=Stroh-Page |first=Caitlyn |title=Savannah Bananas are taking 'Banana Ball' to the sea. What to know about the cruise |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/local/2023/10/09/savannah-bananas-cruise-departs-from-miami-in-2024-how-to-get-tickets/71117933007/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Savannah Morning News |language=en-US}} The tour also included 5 other MLB ballparks: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.; Minute Maid Park in Houston; Fenway Park in Boston; Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia; and Progressive Field in Cleveland.{{Cite web |last=Stroh-Page |first=Caitlyn |title=MLB parks, a third team — and a cruise! What's coming for the 2024 Savannah Bananas World Tour |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/local/2023/10/05/savannah-bananas-2024-schedule-mlb-locations-bananaland-cruise-info/71074183007/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Savannah Morning News |language=en-US}}

The Savannah Bananas announced they would play games in 40 cities in 2025, including three NFL stadiums and 17 MLB stadiums. Their first NFL stadium game was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, where they played in front of a sold-out crowd of 65,000. On Saturday, April 26th 2025, the Savannah Bananas and the Party Animals played a game in front of 81,000 people at Clemson University's Memorial Stadium, home of the Clemson Tigers. [https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/savannah-bananas-sell-out-game-at-65000-seat-raymond-james-stadium-home-of-nfls-tampa-bay-buccaneers/ Savannah Bananas sell out game at 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium, home of NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

In their inaugural 2016 season, the Savannah Bananas ranked second in average attendance among 160 summer collegiate teams, as reported by Ballpark Digest.{{Cite web |last=Reichard |first=Kevin |date=2016-08-15 |title=2016 Summer Collegiate Attendance by Average |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2016/08/15/2016-summer-collegiate-attendance-by-average/ |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=Ballpark Digest |language=en-US}} They averaged 3,659 fans per game across 22 regular season home games, with 17 sellouts, totaling 80,504 fans and breaking the Coastal Plain League single-season attendance record. Including postseason games, they hosted 91,004 fans with 18 total sellouts. This also set a record for the highest average attendance in the history of Grayson Stadium.

The Bananas recorded over 500,000 total fans in attendance on their Banana Ball World Tour in 2023.{{Cite web |url=https://frontofficesports.com/savannah-bananas-break-all-the-rules-to-hit-the-mainstream/ |work=Front Office Sports |title=Savannah Bananas Break All the Rules to Hit the Mainstream |date=September 24, 2023 |access-date=November 8, 2023 |archive-date=November 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108155504/https://frontofficesports.com/savannah-bananas-break-all-the-rules-to-hit-the-mainstream/ |url-status=live }} The team drew their largest attendance on April 26, 2025, with 80,000 spectators at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, a football stadium.{{Cite news |last=Hummer |first=Kris |date=April 27, 2025 |title=VIDEO: Clemson goes bananas for the Savannah Bananas |url=https://www.wsav.com/news/clemson-goes-bananas-for-the-savannah-bananas/ |access-date=April 27, 2025 |work=WSAV}}

Banana Ball made its national television debut in 2022 through a 6 game agreement with ESPN. One game aired on ESPN2, with the remaining games on ESPN+.{{Cite web |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2022/08/on-espn2-espn-this-friday-premiere-of-bananaland-original-series-live-banana-ball-games/ |website=ESPN Pressroom|title=On ESPN2, ESPN+ This Friday: Premiere of 'Bananaland' Original Series, Live 'Banana Ball' Games |date=August 15, 2022 |access-date=August 6, 2024 }} The agreement returned in 2023 with 1 game on ESPN2 and two others on ESPN+.{{Cite web |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2023/07/mas-ocho-espns-biggest-boldest-edition-of-espn8-the-ocho-returns-with-43-straight-hours-of-seldom-seen-sports-august-3-5/ |website=ESPN Pressroom|title=

Más Ocho: ESPN's Biggest, Boldest Edition of "ESPN8: The Ocho" Returns with 43 Straight Hours of Seldom-Seen Sports August 3-5 |date=July 27, 2023 |access-date=August 6, 2024 }}

The Bananas significantly expanded its television coverage for the 2024 season. In April 2024, the Bananas announced that 19 games would air on Stadium and Bally Live.{{Cite web |last=Dorsch |first=Eric |date=April 10, 2024 |title=Banana Ball games now available to stream on Stadium and Bally Live |website=WSAV |url=https://www.wsav.com/savannah-bananas/banana-ball-games-now-available-to-stream-on-stadium-and-bally-live/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |language=en-US}} In July 2024, the Bananas announced a 5 game agreement with ESPN. For the first time, three games will air on ESPN with two others airing on ESPN2 as part of the annual ESPN8 The Ocho event.{{Cite web |last=Dorsch|first=Eric|url=https://www.wsav.com/savannah-bananas/2-upcoming-savannah-bananas-games-to-air-on-espn/ |title=

2 upcoming Savannah Bananas games to air on ESPN |website=WSAV|date=July 4, 2024 |access-date=August 6, 2024 }}{{Cite web |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/07/ocho-years-of-the-ocho-espn8-the-ocho-returns-as-the-number-one-destination-for-seldom-seen-sports/ |title=

Ocho Years of the Ocho! ESPN8: The Ocho Returns as the Number One Destination for Seldom-Seen Sports |website=ESPN Pressroom|date=July 2024 |access-date=August 6, 2024 }} In August 2024, the Bananas announced an agreement with TNT Sports to exclusively air 5 games on TruTV.{{Cite web |url=https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/trutv-exclusively-televise-five-friday-night-savannah-bananas-games-starting-aug-16 |title=

truTV to Exclusively Televise Five Friday Night Savannah Bananas Games, Starting Aug. 16 |website=Warner Bros Discovery|date=August 6, 2024 |access-date=August 6, 2024 }}

In 2025, the Bananas announced a 10 game agreement with ESPN. For the first time, all 10 games will be simulcast on Disney+ and ESPN+. Other games will continue to stream on Stadium and Bally Sports Live.{{Cite web |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/04/going-bananas-espn-and-disney-platforms-set-for-a-summer-of-savannah-bananas-baseball/ |website=ESPN Pressroom|title=Going Bananas! ESPN and Disney Platforms Set for a Summer of Savannah Bananas Baseball |date=April 14, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2025 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/03/07/bally-live-rebrands-to-bally-sports-live/ |website=Sports Video Group|title=Bally Live Rebrands to Bally Sports Live |date=March 7, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2025 }}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/18/sports/banana-ball-professional-baseball-players/ |title=They had dreams of playing in the majors. Now, they're playing for the Bananas. |first=Emma |last=Healy |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=August 18, 2023 |accessdate=August 18, 2023}}

• {{official website|https://thesavannahbananas.com}}

{{Sports in Georgia (U.S. state) |state=collapsed}}

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Category:Baseball teams in Savannah, Georgia

Category:Baseball teams established in 2016

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