The Savannah Bananas are an exhibition barnstorming baseball team based in Savannah, Georgia, known for playing a unique and highly entertaining style of baseball called Banana Ball
. Founded in 2016, they initially competed as a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, winning three league championships before transitioning fully to exhibition games featuring their Banana Ball format starting in 2023
. Banana Ball emphasizes speed, trick plays, fan participation, and showmanship, with players performing choreographed dances, comedic sketches, and other entertainment throughout the game, making it a blend of competitive baseball and live entertainment
. The team is often compared to the Harlem Globetrotters but differs in that their games are unscripted and competitive
. Their home games are played at Historic Grayson Stadium, affectionately called Bananaland, which is an ad-free ballpark offering all-you-can-eat concessions and themed drinks
. The Bananas have a colorful and vibrant culture, including unique features such as players wearing kilts, a dancing umpire, and various dance teams like the Banana Nanas (senior citizen dance team) and Banana Splitz (youth dance team)
. Their owner, Jesse Cole, is known for his banana-yellow tuxedo and vision to make baseball fun and engaging. The team has gained national attention and a massive social media following, particularly on TikTok, where their in-game dances have amassed hundreds of millions of views
. Notably, the team includes unique players such as Dakota "Stilts" Albritton, who stands over 10 feet tall and plays while on stilts, and Jocelyn Alo, the first woman to play and sign a contract with the Bananas
. In summary, the Savannah Bananas are a revolutionary baseball team that combines sport with entertainment, creating a fast-paced, fan-friendly experience that has revitalized interest in baseball in Savannah and beyond
