Savannah banana players
The team’s wacky bunch of characters includes the world’s only dancing umpire who twirls and twerks on every strike-out call and the world’s tallest pitcher, standing at 10-feet tall while skillfully balanced on stilts. The Banana Nanas and the Man-Nanas (a senior citizen dance team aKnown for its cobblestone streets, oak trees draped in Spanish moss and quaint downtown area, Savannah, Georgia, is home to a diverse community of students, creatives, and, perhaps most notably, a maverick baseball team from Savannah, Georgia famous for its unique blend of sports and entertainment. The Bananas fill stadiums across the country, and will be coming to Eugene, Oregon next year. However, the label “baseball team” may not be wholly accurate. The team peels away the traditional rules of baseball, transforming each game into an alluring experience for both players and fans, whether or not you are a baseball enthusiast. The Savannah Bananas have garnered local and national attention for the creation of Banana Ball — a breakout game of theatrics. The rise of Banana Ball has since led to the creation of the Banana Ball Championship League, consisting of other uniquely performative teams such as the Loco Beach Coconuts, the Indianapolis Clowns and the Party Animals. These teams compete against each other each season, representing diverse cities around the nation.
For those without a lick of interest in sports, being dragged to a baseball game on a Saturday afternoon might sound dull, begrudging or even painful. However, the Savannah Bananas reject the rituals of traditional baseball games — they do not play, they perform, entertaining those who love the game and people who are unfamiliar with the sport. You think you know ball? Think again. The Savannah Bananas games feel more like Broadway shows, consisting of vibrant characters, beloved traditions, dramatic entrances and choreographed dances, captivating seas of bright yellow stands with their elaborate antics and celebrations.
nd a dad-bod cheerleading squad, respectively) are also a part of the game’s routine, allowing a wide range of groups to participate in the exciting phenomenon.
Perhaps their most celebrated tradition — cemented in Banana Ball history since the league’s very first game in 2016 — is ritually honoring each night’s appointed Banana Baby. The players will drop to one knee, raise their arms to the center of the circle and wiggle their fingers as the opening theme from “The Lion King” blares through the stadium. In the middle of the circle, the chosen child bundled in a banana costume is hoisted into the air, and slowly panned around while facing the stadium as fans erupt in cheers and hollers. The beloved worship is one of the key moments in the game, giving one lucky baby possibly the greatest backstory of all time and carrying on the decade-long tradition.
Most famously, the players are known to perform choreographed dances each game, making their grand entrances to music ranging from Taylor Swift, One Direction, Carly Rae Jepsen and other iconic artists. “When you hear ‘Wrecking Ball’ by Miley Cyrus, you don’t want to miss what happens next,” their website warns. Baseball has never sounded more ap-peeling.
If you know nothing about baseball, do not be swayed away from this unique experience. Banana Ball is a simpler and shorter version of the sport, and the games are mainly focused on entertaining the fans, rather than the game itself. Sure, there are many traditional aspects of the game, but in between innings, the players put on a show, and the game lasts two hours maximum. They are short and memorable — perfect for casual fans. In Banana Ball, games are won by points instead of runs, there are no mound visits, the game ties after nine innings are broken and, most notably, foul balls caught by fans are considered outs, drawing the audience into the game. The members of the team — all former professional baseball players — lean heavily into the show, confident and carefree, making the games genuinely riveting.
In recent years, the Savannah Bananas have exploded in popularity, accumulating over 11 million followers on TikTok and earning praise from news outlets like CBS News, ABC News and People. If you are ever in need of a laugh, dive into the rabbit hole of videos on their official TikTok, @thesavbananas, and find memorable moments such as a player confidently strutting down the field to Rihanna’s “Breaking Dishes,” the entire team performing elaborate coordinated internet dances and dramatic lip-sync music videos to popular songs in the rain. In September, the team appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” as surprise guests, interrupting Fallon’s monologue with a well-rehearsed flash mob — rip-away suits, cartwheels and pyrotechnics included — even dragging the popular host into the chaos. The Savannah Bananas have become a global phenomenon, and their legacy is only growing.
Luckily, we Oregonians have an opportunity to see the Bananas in action in June of next year. They will be playing in Eugene on June 27-28, 2026, but the time to get tickets is now! Visit the team’s website to join the ticket lottery list before it closes on Oct. 31. The Savannah Bananas changed the game — literally — traveling the country, playing ball and entertaining fans. Whether you are able to score tickets or not, Banana Ball is a sport worth watching.
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