What Is Banana Ball? The Savannah Bananas Breaking the Internet!

Looking for a fresh, fast-paced take on baseball? Then, you need to learn more about this unique sport known as Banana Ball. So, what is Banana Ball actually? It’s a revolutionary new entertainment format of baseball created by the Savannah Bananas franchise in 2016.

“Yep, it’s breaking the internet! Their more than 7.5 million followers, and 737k subscribers on YouTube. Should I mention more?”

This exciting variant features quicker games, wacky rules, and constant on-field antics to create an engaging fan experience for all ages. From dancing players to mid-inning costume contests, Banana Ball focuses on wild fun over stuffy tradition.

It’s America’s pastime reimagined with shorter innings, unlimited foul balls, and sprinting to first base.

With games wrapped up in just 2 hours, Banana Ball maintains the energy of exhibition contests with competitive spirit. 

Check out more about this hilarious Major League Baseball alternative in this article.

What Is Banana Ball?

Banana Ball is an entertaining and unique take on baseball pioneered by the Savannah Bananas organization. This new baseball format has quickly become renowned for its:

• Unconventional rules
• Fan-friendly approach
• Entertainment format that diverges from traditional baseball

This exciting new take on the game provides an entertainment format that breaks from the standard baseball rules.

In a Banana Ball game, you’ll find yourself immersed in an atmosphere of pure fun and excitement. The Savannah Bananas have made it their mission to create an experience beyond the norm. From the moment you enter the stadium, you’ll be welcomed with engaging antics like:

• Dancing players
• In-game promotions
• Opportunities to interact with the team

A standout aspect of Banana Ball is the shortened game duration. Unlike traditional baseball games that can drag on, Banana Ball games usually wrap up in around 2 hours. This keeps you engaged and entertained the whole time.

• Banana Ball also uses simplified rules that enhance enjoyment. For example:
• Batters have a limited pitch count, keeping the action fast-paced
• There’s a continuous batting order, allowing more players to participate and showcase their skills.

The History of Banana Ball

You’ll surely find it interesting to learn about the origins and evolution of this unique and fast-paced sport, banana ball. The history of banana balls can be traced back to the Savannah Bananas. It’s a team in the Coastal Plain League (CPL).

Introduction 2016

The idea behind the banana ball game was to address the lower attention spans of baseball fans and create a more engaging and entertaining experience. Sounds cool, right?

If digging to the root, in 2016, the Savannah Bananas introduced the banana ball as a new style of play within the CPL. This innovative format took inspiration from exhibition games and professional baseball but added its own twist.

As mentioned, their goal was to make the banana sport thrilling and, at the same time, ensure a shorter, unlike long baseball match.

So, they crafted the rules of the banana ball that way. In a nutshell,

• Shorter innings
• Limited pitching changes
• Focus on constant action

Anyway, in their first year, the Savannah Bananas finished at the top of the CPL West Division standings. And I must mention they secured home-field advantage in the playoffs.

They also went on to win the division championship series and advance to the Petitt Cup finals, where they defeated the Peninsula Pilots to claim the title.

The Bananas were voted as the league’s top organization.

Year Two (2017)

Another year of glory! The Savannah Bananas repeated their success by again being named the Coastal Plain League’s organization of the year.

World Tour (2021)

Yes, Banana Ball’s history has gone beyond America’s borders, too! In 2021, the Bananas took their game globally by introducing the “World Tour”, performing in packed stadiums across various cities in the country.

“I can still remember the first day of the World Tour at Mobile, Alabama. There were more than 7000 banana ball fans.”

Transition to Banana Ball (2022)

The next year, after the 2022 summer league schedule, the team announced they would be moving to exclusively play Banana Ball going forward.

ESPN+ premiered a docuseries entitled Bananaland, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the franchise.

Surpassing the Majors (2023)

And finally, as per their official movement, in 2023, the tour expanded significantly, with over 80 games scheduled in 33 different cities across 22 U.S. states.

They even played against various international teams, including the Aussie Drop Bears.

“With over 7.5 million followers on TikTok, the Bananas has managed to build a larger social media audience than any Major League Baseball team.”

Rules and Gameplay of Banana Ball

If you’re eager to learn the banana ball gameplay, you first start by understanding the rules of the sport.

Before jumping into the section note this, the Savannah Bananas have taken a bold approach, deviating from traditional baseball rules to create a thrilling and unconventional experience.

For instance, the rules in the Banana Ball League are designed to provide maximum freedom and excitement for both players and fans. So, they are a bit break-free. I doubt if an old-school baseball player or fan will appreciate it.

Anyway, let’s jump into the rule detail:

Score Rules: Banana ball scoring is different from baseball. It’s like instead of runs, games are won by points. Hence, the team that scores the most runs in an inning earns 1 point.

However, that’s not applicable for the last inning, where all runs count as 1 point. This adds many strategic movements in the game, as teams aim to maximize their scores in each inning.

Time Limit Rules: Another interesting rule in banana ball baseball is the time limit. The sport doesn’t have the chance to make you feel bored for long hours.

There’s a two-hour time limit, with no new inning starting after 1 hour and 50 minutes have elapsed.

Batting Rules: Batters in banana balls have to adhere to specific rules (Sounds similar to baseball batting?)

Firstly, they can’t step out of the batter’s box. If they do, it results in an automatic strike. Bunting is also prohibited, leading to an automatic ejection.

Steal Base Rules: In addition to the batter rules, the banana game features first base stealing. Hitters are permitted to try stealing first base at any time during their turn at the plate, even on pitches that get by the catcher or are thrown wildly by the pitcher.

So, a match can be unpredictable at times and keeps both players and fans on the edge of their seats.

Sprint (Walks) Rules: In banana balls, walks are called ‘sprints.’ When a batter is walked on four pitches, they are permitted to sprint around the bases while the defense sequentially throws the ball to each player except the pitcher. This allows the batter to potentially advance as far as they can until the ball is live again.

An important rule to remember is that in Banana Ball, the ball is not considered live again until every defensive player has touched it. This frequently allows the batter-runner to safely reach second base.

Mound Visits: To ensure the spirit of freedom and speedy gameplay, banana ball rules don’t allow mound visits. This keeps the game moving and ensures that the focus remains on the players and their performance.

Foul Ball Rules: If a ball is caught by fans, it’ll be counted as out in the banana ball. It’s surely a fan sport as they can directly impact the game.

Tiebreakers Rules: Ties are broken by a “showdown tiebreaker,” an abbreviated extra innings format with specific rules for each showdown round, including home runs ending the game. By the way, there’s a long story about baseball tiebreakers, too.

Challenges: Teams can challenge calls by the umpires, but only until they lose a challenge. Fans can also make one challenge per game. It’ll be reviewed by the broadcast team.

Exciting World Tours in Banana Ball!

As mentioned earlier, the Savannah Bananas have organized exciting worldwide tours featuring their signature brand of baseball entertainment. These tours are a wise approach to increasing the popularity of the sport to new audiences. Let’s take a look at their achievements:

World Tour 2022

The 2022 Banana Ball World Tour visited 7 cities, selling out each stop. The tour was chronicled in a 5-part documentary series called Bananaland, now streaming on ESPN+.

World Tour 2023

The highly anticipated 2023 Tour reached even more fans. I’ve seen the schedule was packed with over 80 games in 33 cities across 22 states.

They started in West Palm Beach in February and finished with a special game at the historic Doubleday Field near the Baseball Hall of Fame in September.

Large crowds gathered at venues like Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, which can accommodate over 14,000 spectators.

You can watch a few of the past games on the Bananas’ YouTube channel (BTV) and ESPN+.

Premiere Night (2/17/2023): The 2023 Banana Ball World Tour began with their popular “Premiere Night” event on February 17th. Check out a sneak peek of the season night.

YouTube Streams: Not all broadcasts are reserved for paid users. Certain tour games were streamed live on YouTube. I’ve seen a few of them. Memorable streams included “Savannah Bananas vs. Party Animals in Iowa.”

The Banana Ball League: Teams and Competition

You might be wondering, such crowds and hyped leagues must have tons of teams in field action. Well, the reality is unfair.

Banana Ball League Rosters:

• Savannah Bananas: The Savannah Bananas are a marquee club in Banana Ball.
• Party Animals: The Party Animals comprise another official Banana Ball League team.

How To Watch the Banana Ball Sport?

Want to watch Banana Ball? You’re in luck! You can catch the action on YouTube with live streams and recorded matches.

YouTube Live Streams

Thankfully, Savannah Bananas broadcasts many of their matches live on YouTube. You can watch them for free on their official channel.

YouTube Recordings

Besides, even if you miss the live showdown, you can always find them as recorded videos. I’m sure you’re gonna live the trend and laugh at the trend.

Banana Ball World Tour

Just like baseball, watching banana ball matches live on the playground is much more exciting. You should taste the experience at least once. It’s different.

Banana Ball Ticket:

Fans can purchase Banana Ball tickets through the official website. Available options include;

• Single game seats
• VIB Meet
• Greet passes
• Multi-game membership bundles

Membership packages come in 5-game, 10-game, and full-season options, granting access to all-you-can-eat ballpark fare like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, popcorn, chips, cookies, water, and soda.

There are several seating choices offered, such as;

• General Admission
• Right field decks
• 1st/3rd Base Porch Areas

“Note that all home matches in Savannah for 2023 are currently sold out. For those hoping to attend future games, joining the waitlist or checking the Road Tour schedule for locations outside of Savannah are recommended.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Players Are on a Banana Ball Team?

The number of athletes in a Banana Ball club, particularly the Savannah Bananas, isn’t set by the rule. It depends on the year and match. However, a typical Banana Ball lineup has around 25 to 30 players.

This includes both position players and pitchers. As with most baseball teams, Banana Ball rosters feature a blend of catchers, infielders, outfielders, designated hitters, and pitching staff.

What Is the Average Duration of a Banana Ball Match?

The average duration of a banana ball match is approximately 2 hours.

Can You Play Banana Ball on Any Type of Surface?

Banana ball is still in its early days. So, yes, you can play Banana Ball on any type of surface, just like baseball!

Are There Any Age Restrictions to Participate in a Banana Ball?

There are no age restrictions to participate in Banana Ball! But most of them are between 18 to 23 years old.

Are Banana Ball Games Scripted?

So, because of the extremely wild behavior of dance, many people wonder if banana ball games are scripted. But Jared Orton confirmed in a press brief that they aren’t scripted or predetermined.

Is the Savannah Bananas a Minor League Team?

Not necessarily. All Savannah Bananas players are from minor league teams. Actually, they allow mainly college and university students to join the crew.

Who do the Savannah Bananas play against?

In most cases, the Savannah Bananas play against the Party Animals.

Is There Any Banana Ball Salary for the Players?

Not yet; those college fellows only play for fun and fame. But they do get rewarded in other ways, like sponsorship or endorsements.

Conclusion

I know I’m the culprit for taking so long. But I just don’t want to lack any information that may help you. Hopefully, the article served you more than what you came to know. So, next time someone asks you, “What is banana ball,” make sure to shower them with your knowledge.

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