“We were told it would fail. People said they would never come to it because it’s not real baseball. We’ve been criticized every step of the way. But you know what I remember, what I focus on is the fans that love it.”
–Jesse Cole, Banana Ball owner, excerpted from ESPN interview
The Banana Ball game I attended, almost exactly one year ago, was sold out. That’s a given, the Bananas always sell out. They even sell out football stadiums.
There is a limited supply of games during a season or “tour” (their term). Banana Ball teams only visit cities for one to three days, then they’re gone for the rest of the year. They also make tour stops in smaller cities. Both of which give Banana Ball games the feel of special events, which in turn, drive up interest and demand.
Fans filled Angel Stadium and kept it filled until the end of the game, which isn’t difficult to do since Banana Ball games are two hours long, max. Compared to Major League Baseball, the pace of play is much quicker. The time spent between pitches is extremely short, without the need of a pitch clock.
Highlights from the game–correction–the “show” (also their term, used very deliberately) included the following:
–Players are allowed to modify and have fun with their uniforms: cut-off sleeves, bandanas, backward caps, cowboy hats, even a cape.
–Players perform group dances and songs several times throughout the game.
–Trick plays in the field are encouraged. There were a few botched trick plays during our game, but they are nonetheless encouraged.
–Umpires make calls with flair. The home plate umpire danced throughout the game and busted out a dance routine to “Stanky Legg” after calling out a batter on strikes. The man was clearly having too much fun.
–Celebrities and former hometown athletes make surprise entrances into the game. Ham Porter from the movie The Sandlot came up to pinch hit in our game. His face looked the same!
–In addition to the baseball itself, there are dances, sing-alongs, and diverse other entertainments and gimmicks throughout. They help kill the downtime and also add to the fun.
Banana Ball brings back the joy of baseball or anything else you played as a kid, just for fun, on a voluntary, unorganized basis, and without adult intrusion.
It’s not for everyone, such as the purists, traditionalists, and grumpy, old grandfathers who only like things the way they were, back in the good old days.
The baseball game itself was competitive and the Bananas beat the Firefighters that night, 5-3. But that wasn’t the main takeaway. The game wasn’t primarily about which team won or which players performed well.
The emphasis was and always is on fans. The Banana Ball owner and the Banana Ball marketing are very clear about that. And for the express sake of the fans, Banana Ball prioritizes fun, energy, and entertainment.
I had a good time and enjoyed the show. In retrospect, I’m glad I went and experienced the spectacle, first-hand. I made the right decision.
“What makes us different. We are not your typical baseball team. We take chances. We bend the rules. We challenge the way things are ‘supposed’ to be…”
–From the Savannah Bananas website
The Savannah Bananas are doing something different and are injecting fun and new life into an old game. I love that spirit and am trying to embody it more, myself. I could take some cues from the Bananas.
Leave a Reply