Go to a Savannah Bananas game if you ever get the chance while you are visiting Savannah, Georgia.
What are the Savannah Bananas you ask? Think the Harlem Globetrotters, meets the Three Stooges, meets baseball. That is the best as I can describe it.
I first learned about the Savannah Bananas when I read the book Profit First. The owner, Jessie Cole, who prances around the games in a bright yellow tuxedo, was featured in the book.
After reading the book and having my then fiancé, Kirke, read that part, we decided that we would make an effort to attend “a game.”
With our daughter being interested in attending Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), we traveled there often.
Our first trip was in the fall of 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, the team was not playing any games, as it only plays a summer league schedule. We stopped by one day to see Historic Grayson Stadium, as we both are HUGE baseball fans and love the history of the game.
At the conclusion of our exploration, we stopped by the front office to see if they would be willing to open up the store and let us pick up some souvenirs. The staff members inside were very welcoming and opened the store for us to get a couple of items. Once we finished, we headed home that day and we discussed getting tickets almost all the way up I-95 going back to Wake Forest (the town where the University USED to be).
When we got home, I called the next day and the season tickets were sold out but they had some 10 game packs left. We bought four tickets and looked forward to heading down.
Seating is general admission so you must arrive by 5pm before a 7pm game to get in line. While you are waiting, there will be entertainment, I promise!
You will see “Yellow Tux Jesse” strolling through saying hello and shaking hands. You will also see a parade lead by the Banana Band followed by the players. The you will see something you have never seen before.
A group of older men dressed in bright yellow and wearing other costumes will appear. These are the cheerleaders also known as the “Dad Bod Dance Squad!” But there is more!
They are followed by the Savannah Nanas, a group of ladies over the age of 70 that are the dance team. You will see them performing throughout the evening.
And that is all before you walk in the gate.
Before the gates open, take your ID to the tent and get a wristband so you can purchase beer and drinks. Most people do that before they even walk in the door.
One of the cool things is that your $20 ticket will get you not only into the game, but also free food including hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chips, water, coke, sprite and a cookie. Again, all of that is part of the ticket so no more paying $10 for a hot dog like you do at a Major League Baseball game.
The countdown begins and the gates open and the mass of people dressed in yellow and green (think baby bananas) pile into the stadium, grab some food and find a seat.
It is not unusual to see celebrities at the game too. Our first game we saw Paula Dean and actually got her to take a photo with Kirke.
With music blaring from the speakers, the energy builds and Mark Ediss, also known as “Shark On The Mic” begins to warm up the crowd from the “Shark Tank,” or as you and I would know it, the press box.
About 30 minutes before the game starts, a pre-recorded piece from Shark goes through the history of Grayson Stadium. It is very interesting and Shark ties it to the music of the period when he talks about different points in the stadium’s existence.
After official introductions of the Mananas (aka, the Dad Bod Dance Squad) and the Grananas, the show starts with thumping music, a couple of bits and then introduction of the players.
Then we have to throw out the first pitch, er, first banana. A local honoree is invited to the pitcherz’ mound and blindfolded. Then Jessie tosses a banana while the honoree gets on their hands and knees to find the banana with the help of the crowd. If you remember the kids game of “hot and cold” then you know how to play. The crowd cheers when the honoree is getting closer and boos when the honoree gets further from the banana. After the banana is found, then the honoree throws that banana from the pitchers’ mound to the catcher.
Then comes the Lion King moment with the official banana mascot of the evening. A child under the age of one (and the waiting list is about 4 months long on this from devoted parents) is dressed in a banana suit. I can only imagine how bad that banana suit smells but I digress. The child is then brought to home plate with all of the Bananas players on their knees and the child is held up a la Lion King while the crowd cheers and the sounds of the main title theme from the Lion King blares through the speakers. Sometimes a kick line will breakout!
During Coastal Plains League games, the games are a typical nine inning game with games between each half inning and entertainment throughout.
The real treat is when they are playing “Banana Ball!” Here are some of the highlights:
- If a fan catches a foul ball, the batter is out.
- No walks allowed. On ball four, the batter begins to run and can run as far as he can before all nine players for the bananas touch the ball. This is pretty amazing when you watch the catcher throw the ball from the plate to the left fielder. That is something you would NEVER see in MLB.
- There is a two hour time limit on the game. No matter where the game is, it is over after two hours. Wouldn’t it be nice if MLB could figure out a way to make that happen?
- There is no bunting.
- Batters cannot step out of the batters box and go through a routine like MLB players do.
- There are no mound visits if the pitcher gets in trouble.
Again, these are just some of the rules and the first time you see it, it will drive you nuts if you are a traditional baseball fan. You can see many of their antics on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Before you say, “That’s not real baseball,” let me tell you that 7 former Bananas players were drafted in the 2022 MLB draft. These kids are good players. They also have a fun personality and the organization accentuates fun at every opportunity.
They also have FANTASTIC customer service. Every time we go to a game, staff members will greet us by name. When they have a chance to over deliver, they do it.
We have so much fun going to games, we are on the season ticket waiting list and we still get our ten game package every year. When we can’t attend the game, we donate our tickets to the local boys and girls clubs so that kids that might not normally be able to go, get the opportunity.
If you get the chance, go to a Savannah Bananas baseball game!