History of Savannah Bananas in Timeline

The Savannah Bananas are an exhibition baseball team known for their unique brand of baseball called "Banana Ball." This version of baseball prioritizes entertainment and fan engagement through choreographed dances, comedic acts, and fast-paced gameplay. Resembling a baseball version of the Harlem Globetrotters, the Bananas deliver an unscripted and competitive show. Their teams are comprised of former minor league and college players, occasionally featuring MLB veterans as guest players, ensuring a blend of skill and entertainment that draws large crowds nationwide.

September 22, 2015: Savannah Announced as New CPL Team

On September 22, 2015, following the departure of the Savannah Sand Gnats, the Coastal Plain League (CPL) announced Savannah as its newest team, set to begin play in 2016.

2016: High Attendance and League Records

In 2016, during their inaugural season, the Savannah Bananas achieved high average attendance, ranking second among summer collegiate teams. They averaged 3,659 fans per game, totaling 80,504 fans and breaking the Coastal Plain League single-season attendance record.

2016: Bananas Name and Logo Revealed

In 2016, on February 25, following a name-the-team contest, the Bananas name, logo, and colors were officially revealed by the team.

2016: Inaugural Season and Petitt Cup Victory

In 2016, the Savannah Bananas concluded their inaugural season as the first seed in the CPL West Division. They won the CPL West Division championship and the Petitt Cup Championship after defeating the Peninsula Pilots. The Bananas were also named the league's organization of the year.

2016: Team Founding and Championship Win

In 2016, the Savannah Bananas were founded with Grayson Stadium as their home ballpark and won their first Petitt Cup championship as a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League.

2017: Organization of the Year Award

In 2017, the Savannah Bananas were named the Coastal Plain League's organization of the year for the second consecutive year.

2018: Banana Ball Exhibition Games Begin

In 2018, the Savannah Bananas began playing exhibition games outside of the Coastal Plain League season, using the Banana Ball format.

2018: Creation of Banana Ball Rule Set

In 2018, the Savannah Bananas created the alternative "Banana Ball" rule set and played its first intra-squad exhibition game using the new format.

June 26, 2020: Official Banana Ball Game Debut

On June 26, 2020, the Savannah Bananas played their first official game using Banana Ball rules, while continuing to play away games under the standard CPL rules. The Savannah Party Animals debuted as the opponent in Banana Ball games.

2021: Second Pettit Cup Championship

In 2021, the Savannah Bananas competed as a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League's (CPL) West division, where they won their second Petitt Cup championship.

2021: Dakota Albritton Signs with the Team

In 2021, the Savannah Bananas signed Dakota Albritton, nicknamed "Stilts", who is known as the "World's Tallest Baseball Player" and plays on stilts.

2022: Focus Shift to Banana Ball

Following the 2022 summer league season, the Savannah Bananas announced they were folding their collegiate amateur team and only playing Banana Ball, both in Savannah and on the road.

2022: National Television Debut on ESPN

In 2022, Banana Ball made its national television debut through a six-game agreement with ESPN. One game aired on ESPN2, and the remaining games were shown on ESPN+.

2022: Third Petitt Cup Championship and Transition to Exhibition Games

In 2022, the Savannah Bananas won their third Petitt Cup championship in the Coastal Plain League. Following the 2022 season, the team transitioned entirely to exhibition games, adopting the Banana Ball format and moving away from being a collegiate summer team.

2023: Miniseries Release and TikTok Popularity

In 2023, ESPN+ released a miniseries about the Savannah Bananas called Bananaland. Additionally, the team gained over six million followers on TikTok.

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2023: Jocelyn Alo's First Appearance

In 2023, Jocelyn Alo became the first woman to play for the Savannah Bananas, getting an at bat in one of their games.

2023: Continued ESPN Coverage

In 2023, the Savannah Bananas continued their agreement with ESPN, with one game airing on ESPN2 and two others on ESPN+.

2023: Transition to Full-Time Exhibition Games

In 2023, the Savannah Bananas moved entirely to exhibition games against their partner touring teams, the Party Animals, the Firefighters, and the Texas Tailgaters.

2023: Banana Ball World Tour Attendance

In 2023, the Savannah Bananas recorded over 500,000 total fans in attendance on their Banana Ball World Tour.

April 2024: Expanded TV Coverage on Stadium and Bally Live

In April 2024, the Savannah Bananas announced that 19 games would air on Stadium and Bally Live, significantly expanding their television coverage.

July 2024: Agreement with ESPN

In July 2024, the Savannah Bananas announced a five-game agreement with ESPN, including three games on ESPN and two on ESPN2 as part of ESPN8 The Ocho.

August 2024: Agreement with TNT Sports

In August 2024, the Savannah Bananas announced an agreement with TNT Sports to exclusively air five games on TruTV.

2024: Jocelyn Alo Joins Savannah Bananas

In 2024, Jocelyn Alo officially became the first female member of the Savannah Bananas, signing a one-month contract.

2024: Banana Ball "World" Tour

In 2024, the Savannah Bananas "world" tour began at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on February 8 and ended eight months later at LoanDepot Park in Miami, followed by a cruise to The Bahamas called "Bananaland at Sea".

April 26, 2025: Record Attendance at Memorial Stadium

On April 26, 2025, the Savannah Bananas drew their largest attendance, with 80,000 spectators at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

June 23, 2025: Updated list of Disabled, Inactive and Suspended Players

June 23, 2025, the disabled list, inactive list, and suspended list were updated.

2025: Expanded ESPN Agreement

In 2025, the Savannah Bananas announced a 10-game agreement with ESPN, where all 10 games will be simulcast on Disney+ and ESPN+, along with airing on ESPN or ESPN2. Two additional games will air only on ESPN+ and Disney+ and one game in July will air on The CW.

2025: Expansion to NFL Stadiums

In 2025, the Savannah Bananas announced games in 40 cities, including three NFL stadiums and 17 MLB stadiums. Their first NFL stadium game was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.