In 2015, couple Jesse and Emily Cole moved to Savannah, GA, with their goal to revive the empty minor league baseball Grayson Stadium. The Cole’s created their own team, the Savannah Bananas, developing their own set of rules, which led to the global sensation ‘Banana Ball’. The team has taken off, piling up over 10.5 million followers on TikTok and playing in venues across the country. 

‘Banana Ball’ is the organization’s fast paced take on baseball. Teams compete to win an inning by scoring the most runs, and the team who wins the most innings in a two hour time limit wins the game.

“I saw a lot of Savannah Bananas games and tricks online, and they caught my attention,” Doug Ferguson, JHS varsity baseball team head coach, said.

Despite playing in large football stadiums like the Superdome in New Orleans and Kyle Field (home of the Texas A&M Aggies), the Bananas still play in minor league stadiums, including Grayson Stadium where they started. Playing in big venues has led to their fame.

“The games are more fast-paced and exciting, which I like a lot more than regular baseball,” Ayden Santelli, sophomore who went to a Savannah Bananas game in Miami, said. 

Other ‘Banana Ball’ rules include no bunts, no walks and batters can steal first base. A bunt is when a player half-swings the bat to gently tap the ball and a walk is when the batter is allowed first base automatically due to the pitcher throwing poorly. These unusual regulations seem right at home in an environment where surprises are part of the fun.

“My favorite rule is that if a fan catches a foul ball, it counts as an out,” Santelli said.

It’s not just the unique rules that have fans hooked, it’s also the entire experience that you get from a game. The lively energy is everywhere, with unexpected sights keeping fans entertained throughout the night. 

“There were a lot of different costumes, like players on stilts and in cowboy hats,” Santelli said. 

The Savannah Bananas’ commitment to entertaining their fanbase is evident before the game even starts. There’s a festival-like atmosphere that includes a player and band parade, a ‘Chief Potassium Enthusiast’ who explains the rules and a lot of player appearances.

“The games are full of energy and there’s never a dull moment,” Luke Fowler, freshman baseball player, said.

The first official ‘Banana Ball’ game was played on June 26, 2020 against the Party Animals. The two so-called rivals played each other for several years, until the Firefighter joined them in 2024. The final team to join was the Texas Tailgaters, who play home games all around Texas.

“Whatever’s normal, do the exact opposite,” Jesse Cole, manager and owner of the team, says going into every game.

The Savannah Bananas are bringing a new energy to the world of baseball that is unmatched by a regular league. Their emphasis on entertainment has changed the way many people think about the game. In ‘Banana Ball’, all two hours are full of action.

“The Savannah Bananas make baseball so unorthodox… that’s what’s so exciting about them,” Ferguson said.