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 variation emphasizes entertainment and a fast-paced game, incorporating dance routines, comedy, and fan interaction. While the games are unscripted and competitive, they resemble a live action show. The team is made up of former minor league and college players with occasional appearances from former MLB players. The Savannah Bananas and their Banana Ball format have gained significant popularity for its departure from traditional baseball.

September 22, 2015: Savannah Sand Gnats Left for Columbia

On September 22, 2015, the South Atlantic League's Savannah Sand Gnats departed for Columbia, South Carolina, paving the way for a new team in Savannah.

2016: Bananas Name Revealed

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

2016: Inaugural Season Success

In 2016, the Savannah Bananas finished their inaugural season as the first seed in the CPL West Division. They won the CPL West Division championship and the Petitt Cup after defeating the Peninsula Pilots.

2016: Team Founded and Championship

In 2016, the Savannah Bananas team was founded and Grayson Stadium became its home ballpark. They also won the Petitt Cup championship.

2016: Second in Attendance

In their inaugural 2016 season, the Savannah Bananas ranked second in average attendance among 160 summer collegiate teams, as reported by Ballpark Digest.

2017: Organization of the Year

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

2018: Began Playing Exhibition Games

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

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

June 26, 2020: Official Banana Ball Game

On June 26, 2020, the Savannah Bananas played their first official game with Banana Ball rules.

2021: One City World Tour Announcement

In 2021, the Savannah Bananas announced their first "world" tour called the One City World Tour, traveling to Mobile, Alabama, and selling out both nights.

2021: Signing of Dakota Albritton

In 2021, the Savannah Bananas signed Dakota Albritton, known as "Stilts," recognized as the "World's Tallest Baseball Player."

2021: Petitt Cup Championship

In 2021, the Savannah Bananas won another Petitt Cup championship in the Coastal Plain League.

2022: Focus Shift to Banana Ball

After the 2022 summer league season, the Savannah Bananas announced they were folding their collegiate amateur team and only playing Banana Ball.

2022: National Television Debut

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

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2022: Expanded World Tour

In 2022, the Savannah Bananas expanded their "world" tour to include six more cities across four states, totaling a 14-game tour with all games sold out. They also introduced the "Challenger Series".

2022: Petitt Cup Championship and Transition

In 2022, the Savannah Bananas won their third Petitt Cup championship. After this season, they transitioned entirely to exhibition games against partner touring teams.

2023: TikTok Following Milestone

As of 2023, the Savannah Bananas had over six million followers on TikTok, surpassing any MLB team.

2023: Jocelyn Alo's First Game

In 2023, Jocelyn Alo became the first woman to play for the Savannah Bananas, participating in one game.

2023: Moved Entirely to Exhibition Games

In 2023, the Savannah Bananas moved entirely to playing exhibition games against their partner touring teams, marking a shift in their operational model.

2023: Expanded World Tour

The 2023 "world" tour for the Savannah Bananas was expanded to over 80 games. It began on February 17 in West Palm Beach, Florida and included games against various challenger teams and their first international opponent, the Aussie Drop Bears.

2023: Banana Ball World Tour Attendance

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

2023: ESPN Agreement Returned

The agreement between Savannah Bananas and ESPN returned in 2023 with one game on ESPN2 and two others on ESPN+.

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April 2024: Expanded TV Coverage

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

2024: Jocelyn Alo Signs Contract

In 2024, the Savannah Bananas announced that Jocelyn Alo had become the first female member of the team, and signed a one-month contract.

2024: 2024 World Tour

In 2024, the Savannah Bananas' "world" tour kicked off in Tampa, Florida, on February 8 and included games at five MLB ballparks, concluding with a cruise to The Bahamas.

April 26, 2025: Largest Attendance

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

2025: Expanded TV Agreements

In 2025, the Savannah Bananas announced expanded TV agreements, including a 10-game agreement with ESPN to be simulcast on Disney+ and ESPN+. Games would also stream on Stadium and Bally Sports Live. Agreements with The Roku Channel, The CW, and TNT Sports (TruTV and HBO Max) were also announced.

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2025: Expansion to NFL Stadiums and Signing of Kelsie Whitmore

In 2025, the Savannah Bananas announced they would play games in three NFL stadiums and 17 MLB stadiums. They played their first NFL stadium game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. On April 26, they played at Clemson University's Memorial Stadium. They also signed Kelsie Whitmore.

2025: TikTok Milestone

In 2025, the Savannah Bananas had more than 10.5 million followers on TikTok, more than MLB's official account.

2025: Games at Coors Field and Televised by ESPN

In 2025, the Savannah Bananas played two Banana Ball games against the Firefighters at Coors Field in Denver on August 9-10. The August 9 game was televised by ESPN. The August 10 game showcased the Firefighters' first win at an MLB stadium.

2026: Banana Ball Championship League Announcement

For 2026, the Bananas announced that the Banana Ball Championship League (BBCL) would play in 75 stadiums in 45 states in front of over 3.2 million fans.

2026: Games at Coors Field

The Savannah Bananas will play two games against the Indianapolis Clowns at Coors Field in Denver on August 14-15, 2026. Tickets will again be available via a lottery.

August 9-10, 2025: Games at Coors Field

On August 9 and 10, 2025, the Savannah Bananas played two games of Banana Ball against the Firefighters at Coors Field in Denver. The attendance of more than 50,000 fans was the highest of any MLB stadium in the Bananas history.