Baseball is a national sport, no doubt! But it can be tedious as hell unless something unexpected happens. Like the time Wil Brennan accidentally killed a bird!
Other than that, the sport is governed by strict rules, professionalism, and serious spectators expecting their favorite team to win. At the same time, the long duration of the games disintegrates the initial excitement.
Then came a team that was so unhinged, so unserious, that they completely redefined the essence of baseball. The Savannah Bananas are an amateur team now becoming an exhibition baseball group based in Savannah, Georgia.
The team was founded in 2016 as a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League’s (CPL) West division and has subsequently won three Petitt Cup championships in 2016, 2021, and 2022.
After all serious professionalism, the team was so done with the game’s format. After 2022, the franchise owner Jesse Cole abandoned the rules of the major baseball league and quite literally created a quirky version of baseball.
And thus, the Savannah Bananas totally transformed into an exhibition team, conducting Banana Ball tours and attracting a myriad of spectators. But what makes these specific games so entertaining? Why are people flocking in to see this game? Why is the field so chaotic? Let us decode the secret behind the banana.
What Does Banana Ball Mean?
The Savannah Bananas team entirely embraces its identity, putting the banana at the locus.
The team reenergized the standard rules of baseball and converted the whole game into a form of entertainment. The bizarre and quirky rules enthrall the spectators while the players struggle to keep up with the shenanigans.
Cole told the Los Angeles Times–
“We looked at every boring play, and we got rid of it.”
Every year, the team participates in the Banana Ball— a game where the rules are made up, but the sportsmanship is still intact…well, most of the time. After 2022, the team conducted its first-ever Banana Ball tour, traveling for a spectacular performance across the states.
People gather in huge numbers for the ever-so-entertaining matches in the Banana Ball.
What Is the Banana Ball Rule?
Starting February 2023, these are the official nine rules of the Banana Game–
Rule 1 – OUT: When the audience catches any foul ball, then it is counted as an “OUT.”
Rule 2 – STRIKE: If a batter steps out of the box between pitches.
Rule 3 – POINT: If the team wins an inning, they secure a point.
Rule 4: No player must walk. When the umpire calls BALL FOUR, the batter must sprint while the defense takes action. The player can keep running until the ball is thrown to every fielder and outfielder.
Rule 5: While running, the batters can steal the first base on a passed ball or wild pitch. The batter can score regardless of the count.
Rule 6: BUNT RULE: No bunting is allowed. If the player bunts, they are automatically out of the game.
Rule 7: MOUNT RULE: No one is allowed for mount visits, including the manager, coach, catcher, or other player.
Rule 8: SHOWDOWN TIEBREAKER: For the extra innings, the defense gets one pitcher, one catcher, and one fielder. The batter must touch the bases before throwing the ball home for an out.
Rule 9: TIMING: The Banana Ball will strictly last for only 1 hour 50 mins. No new innings will start after that.
How Are the Savannah Bananas Changing the Rules of Baseball?
The Savannah Bananas come with only one purpose– to entertain the legion of spectators. The whole performance includes dance numbers, mascot performances, and more. The whole point of the exhibition game is to put on an entertaining match.
The aforementioned rules make the game so much more exciting as the players hustle to abide by these rules.
The Banana Ball remains unbothered by the traditional essence of the American sport and rather incorporates a protocol that guarantees the utmost fun time.
What are your thoughts on these quirky rules? Do you find the Banana Ball entertaining? Who is your favorite Savannah Banana player? Let us know in the comments section below.
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