History of Savannah Bananas in Timeline

The Savannah Bananas are an exhibition baseball team renowned for their unique brand of baseball called "Banana Ball." Emphasizing entertainment, fan engagement, and a fast-paced style, their games feature comedic routines, dance numbers, and interactive elements. While drawing comparisons to the Harlem Globetrotters, the Bananas maintain a competitive spirit with unscripted games. The team comprises former minor league and college players, with occasional appearances from ex-MLB athletes. They are considered a barnstorming team based out of Savannah, Georgia.

September 22, 2015: South Atlantic League's Savannah Sand Gnats left for Columbia, South Carolina

On September 22, 2015, The South Atlantic League's Savannah Sand Gnats left for Columbia, South Carolina, which created an opening for a new baseball team in Savannah.

2016: Savannah Bananas Name, Logo and Colors Revealed

In 2016, after a name-the-team contest, the Coastal Plain League (CPL) announced Savannah as its newest team and the Bananas name, logo, and colors were officially revealed on February 25.

2016: Inaugural Season and Petitt Cup Championship

In 2016, the Savannah Bananas ended their inaugural season as the first seed in the CPL West Division, won the CPL West Division championship, defeated the Peninsula Pilots to win the Petitt Cup, and were named the league's organization of the year.

2016: Team Founding and First Championship

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's (CPL) West division.

2016: Second in Attendance Among Summer Collegiate Teams

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

2017: League's Organization of the Year

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

2018: Begin Exhibition Games

In 2018, the Savannah Bananas began playing exhibition games outside of the CPL season under 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 format, marking a significant change in their approach to baseball.

June 26, 2020: Official Game with Banana Ball Rules

On June 26, 2020, the Savannah Bananas played its official game with Banana Ball rules, while playing away games under the standard CPL rules, which led to fan confusion.

2021: Inaugural "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 in Hank Aaron Stadium with a combined crowd of over 7,000 fans.

2021: Signing of Dakota Albritton

In 2021, the Savannah Bananas signed Dakota Albritton, nicknamed "Stilts", who plays the field, bats, and pitches all on stilts, becoming the team's most recognized player.

2021: Second Championship

In 2021, the Savannah Bananas won their second Petitt Cup championship.

2022: Folding of Collegiate Amateur Team

After 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 as a barnstorming team.

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 others on ESPN+.

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2022: Expanded "World" Tour and Challenger Series Introduction

In 2022, the Savannah Bananas expanded their "world" tour to six more cities across four different states, creating a 14-game tour with all sellouts. They also introduced a "Challenger Series" against different opponents, including the Kansas City Monarchs.

2022: Third Championship and Move to Exhibition Games

In 2022, the Savannah Bananas won their third Petitt Cup championship. They also transitioned entirely to exhibition games against partner touring teams, marking a shift away from the Coastal Plain League.

2023: TikTok Following Exceeds MLB Teams

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

2023: Jocelyn Alo's First Game

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

2023: Over 500,000 Fans on Tour

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

2023: Expanded "World" Tour

In 2023, the Savannah Bananas expanded their "world" tour to over 80 games, starting at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in Florida on February 17 and ending at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York seven months later. The tour included challenger games and their first international opponent, the Aussie Drop Bears.

2023: Move Entirely to Exhibition Games

In 2023, the Savannah Bananas moved entirely to exhibition games against their partner touring teams.

2023: Continued Broadcast Agreement with ESPN

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

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April 2024: Expanded TV Coverage Announced

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

2024: Jocelyn Alo Signs One-Month Contract

In 2024, Jocelyn Alo became the first female member of the Savannah Bananas, and signed a one-month contract with the team.

2024: Start of 2024 "World" Tour

The Savannah Bananas kicked off their 2024 "world" tour season 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. The tour included five other MLB ballparks.

April 26, 2025: Largest Attendance Record

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

2025: Expanded TV Agreements

In 2025, the Savannah Bananas announced a 10-game agreement with ESPN, simulcast on Disney+ and ESPN+, and agreements with The Roku Channel, The CW, and TNT Sports to air games on TruTV and HBO Max, including the Banana Ball Tour Championship.

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2025: Expanded Tour and Stadium Games

In 2025, the Savannah Bananas announced games in 40 cities, including three NFL stadiums and 17 MLB stadiums. They played their first NFL stadium game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, and a game at Clemson University's Memorial Stadium. In August, they signed Kelsie Whitmore, a professional woman baseball player.