When Baseball Goes Bananas, You Get Banana Ball!

BY: MADELYN DIBIASE / STAFF WRITER

The Savannah Bananas team put on a show for their spectators by dancing in between innings during their game at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. (Photo: SB Nation)

Players dressed in vivid yellow uniforms run out of the dugout. They take the field, and start… dancing??? Those players are the Savannah Bananas. A baseball team owned by Jesse Cole with the motto of “Fans First, Entertain Always”. There is only one catch, they don’t play baseball – they play Banana Ball.

Banana Ball is a more lively and captivating version of baseball. The game is packed with invigorating energy, keeping fans on the edge of their seats at all times. Banana Ball emphasizes playing the game continuously with little breaks as possible, just to keep the action going and the game exciting. With the inclusion of dancing and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it trick plays, there is never a dull moment. 

The Savannah Bananas were founded in 2016, originally as a college team playing in their summer league, by Jesse and Emily Cole. The Coles’ only rule was to always put the fans' needs first. The college team was a member of the Coastal Plain League, but in order to take the team to its fullest potential, they became an independent team and left the league in 2022. Now, in the year 2025, the Coles are developing their own league, called the Banana Ball Championship League.

Jesse appeared on CNBC recently for an interview with Squawk Box to talk about the past, present and future of the Bananas. In this interview, he reiterated the importance of the fans to the dynamic of a growing sports league. He sets the league apart from the MLB in saying that he believes more in gaining a fanbase, as opposed to customers. 

Cole’s business approach is not the only thing that sets him apart from MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred. He is rarely seen outside of his yellow tuxedo and yellow top hat. This unusual yet vibrant fashion statement is, of course, a nod to the Bananas. The outfit is his whole personality, and according to the Squawk Box interview, he owns nine yellow tuxedos in total! Even if he is not playing Banana Ball, he is definitely still a banana in his own way.

The Bananas started gaining popularity through their fun gimmicks and dancing on TikTok, which sets them apart from any other baseball team. The team’s antics easily went viral on the app, where they take viral social media trends and merge these with banana ball. These videos attract millions of views, and make them beloved by fans. The genius of pairing trends with a sport is a testament to why the Bananas are so popular.

The players on the Savannah Bananas are taking the world by storm in the way they contribute to the team. They don’t just supply outs, hits, or runs, but they chip in with energy, dancing, and trick plays. These elements excite the fans and bring them the recognition they deserve for doing things no baseball team would ever think to do. 

Each player has their own personality and uniqueness, comparable to a character in a show or movie. Utility player Dakota Albritton is no exception. He plays every game ON STILTS! Pitchers have to pitch to his strike zone and he has to run the bases while standing at 10’9” with his stilts on. Pitcher Kyle Luigs has pitched a flaming baseball before. How’s that for a 99 mph heater? Outfielder Robert Anthony Cruz makes outfield fly ball catches while landing a backflip. So, not only are they contributing on the statistical side of the game, but they are making sure to put on a show, following the “fans first” mentality set by their owner. 

The game also contains unique rules that no baseball team has ever set in place. Some of these crazy, never-before-seen rules include but are not limited to: No bunting (which results in an ejection from the game), batters have the ability to steal first base, outs against the team if a foul ball is caught by a fan, and the game MUST end after two hours. Cole set these rules in place to “eliminate the boring parts and then get the fans more involved,” as stated on his LinkedIn.

Banana Ball isn’t just limited to the Savannah Bananas. There are five other teams, also created by Cole, as he develops the Banana Ball Championship League. These teams are the Party Animals, Firefighters, Texas Tailgaters, and announced on Oct. 9, the Loco Beach Coconuts and Indianapolis Clowns. 

The 2025 Banana Ball tour was the league’s biggest yet. The Texas Tailgaters made their debut in Albuquerque, New Mexico on May 24, but that was only the beginning. This year, the league sold out various iconic CFB, NFL, and MLB stadiums, such as Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, Raymond James Stadium, and Yankee Stadium. 

All six teams will be embarking on the 2026 Banana Ball tour, bringing the phenomenon to 45 states for fans all across America to see. The future is bright for the Savannah Bananas and for banana ball as a sport, but not as bright as those vivid jerseys and Jesse Cole’s yellow tux.