Latest news with #Bananas
Chicago Tribune
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Tourism agency issues ap-peel to lure Bananas team
Jimmy Nelson is asking the Savannah Bananas – please, with chocolate syrup and a cherry on top – to come to Northwest Indiana when the Banana Ball Championship League monkeys with its 2026 schedule. 'The hottest sports ticket in the country has got to be the Savannah Bananas,' said Nelson, director of sports for the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in Hammond. He was at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center in Porter Friday morning to shoot video asking the Bananas to play in Gary. It's just one of many stops for Nelson and his video team. Nelson had posters with corny sayings for participants to hold: 'NWI thinks UR A-PEEL-ING!' 'I'm head over PEELS for you!' 'Let's go nuts (crossed out) bananas.' 'It would be bana-nice to meet you!' That afternoon, Nelson was with Lake Station Mayor Bill Carroll at Riverview Park to get another video clip. He has similar video clips with mayors in Valparaiso, Portage, Crown Point, Gary and Whiting so far. If you're not familiar with the Savannah Bananas, think Harlem Globetrotters but for baseball, not basketball. The team's antics delight fans. It's not just playing a game; it's about entertaining the fans. 'I'm a total banana,' said yellow-clad Dawn Bettag, of Porter, after the video shoot. 'I would love to take my son to the RailCats stadium to see them,' she said. Bettag's daughter, who does marketing for Indianapolis events, told her about the team. Kim Rubens, of Porter, showed up in her duck flotation device. She's a true baseball fan, having seen three ballgames in person in the three days before Friday's video – the Cubs on the north side, the White Sox on the south side and the RailCats in Gary. 'Camping is just ducky,' the fun-loving teacher believes, explaining the inflatable ring around her waist. She drops off ducks on campers to spread the Jeep trend to more wacky – quacky? – vehicles. 'I like the entertainment, all the little stuff they have on the screen, the races going on,' at ballgames, Rubens said. Curt Lesnick, of Porter, wore a bright yellow print shirt and yellow shorts. He found out about the video shoot Thursday night and wanted to participate. 'They look like a very interesting group, and I'd love to see them,' he said. Nelson is a fan of the Bananas, but he's also a fan of the attention and dollars the team would bring to Northwest Indiana. They usually travel with about 200 people for a four- to five-day visit. Nelson won a ticket lottery to see the Bananas play at Rate Field in Chicago on Aug.15. He's trying to get the video done by then so he can present it to Savannah Bananas CEO and owner Jesse Cole. 'He does everything on video,' Nelson said. The Banana Ball Championship League has four teams, but there will be six next year, Nelson said. That gives him hope that the RailCats stadium could be suitable. It has 6,100 seats and could accommodate 8,000 with a little effort, compared to the 5,600 seats at Clemson, the team's home base. Nelson said another stadium in Northwest Indiana is possible in a few years, too. Why not dream big and try to lure the team to make Indiana its permanent base? It worked for Indianapolis when it lured the Colts from Baltimore, after all. Nelson wants as many people as possible to attend the Aug. 1 RailCats game, where the last video shoot will take place. The video is a gamble. The Bananas might come, they might split. But even if they don't find Northwest Indiana to their taste, the video won't just slip on a banana peel and fall. It will have served another purpose. It will have brought Northwest together for something fun, Nelson said.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
78-year-old Red Sox legend records out, rips off shirt in game at Fenway Park
For the second year in a row, Boston Red Sox legend Bill 'Spaceman' Lee suited up for the Savannah Bananas at Fenway Park. This year, it got a little wilder. The 78-year-old Red Sox Hall of Famer took to the mound with two outs in the sixth inning of Sunday's game between the Bananas and The Firefighters. Lee faced one batter and threw four pitches before inducing a fly out to left field to end the inning. Advertisement After celebrating with his Bananas teammates, Lee turned back to the mound and stripped, whipping his jersey and undershirt to the mound. Lee, now shirtless, stopped for an interview as he walked off the field. 'No, it never gets old here,' Lee said about pitching at Fenway. 'This is my house. You don't hit in my house. This is my team, my town. I'm just gonna say goodbye to New England, because I'm going to Canada to see mom.' You can watch Lee's appearance on the Bananas YouTube page. Lee is one of the most colorful and timeless personalities in Red Sox history. Nicknamed 'Spaceman,' Lee played 10 seasons in Boston, making one All-Star team in 1973. Advertisement As the Bananas announcer declared to the crowd, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Lee's appearance in the 1975 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Lee's one-batter cameo came in the second of two games for the Bananas, a popular exhibition team that tours the country playing under a unique set of rules called 'Bananaball.' They're like the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball. In 2024, Lee made a similar appearance, recording an out during a one-batter outing at Fenway Park. This weekend's series featured a number of surprise appearances. Four different Red Sox champs suited up for the Bananas, including Jackie Bradley Jr., Matt Barnes, Keith Foulke and Brock Holt. Advertisement The game on Saturday also featured a surprise performance by 2000s pop-punk band The All-American Rejects. More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
New York Post
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
The Savannah Bananas are having a wild summer. How much are tickets now?
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. Somehow, the Savannah Bananas keep outdoing themselves. The wildly entertaining team known for viral stunts — like batters fishing on stilts, catchers on beanbags, umpires showing off surprisingly impressive dance moves — upped the ante this summer and invited 2000s emo mainstays All-American Rejects to perform an in-game concert at Fenway Park. Lead singer Tyson Ritter worked his way from the packed stands to the field to deliver abridged versions of their hits 'Move Along,' 'Dirty Little Secret' and 'Gives You Hell' while the Bananas danced and clapped in the background. '[Banana ball] takes everything dull or overly subtle about baseball and smashes it underfoot, while dancing to a pop song,' The Post shared in a gleeful op-ed. Other fun bits they've pulled off these past few months include a hoppy suitcase race, lip-synced walks to the plate, choreographed 'Drake and Josh' dances and an on-field appearance by the endlessly catchy Fitz and the Tantrums (seriously, check their Instagram Reels and you won't be able to leave the page for hours). What other tricks does the rule-breaking, fun-loving club have up their sleeve later this summer? While we can't say for sure (although we have our fingers crossed that 78-year-old pitcher/former Red Sox star/semi-regular Banana Ball player Bill 'Spaceman' Lee takes the mound again), all we know is the best way to find out is live. New Yorkers are in luck, too. On Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14, the Savannah Bananas are headed to the Bronx for a pair of games at Yankee Stadium against their rival, The Firefighters. Want to be there? At the time of publication, the cheapest tickets for a game at Aaron Judge's home field is $102 including fees on Vivid Seats. Their other games at stadiums all over the country have seats starting anywhere from $169 to $951 including fees. For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about how to see the Savannah Bananas live in 2025 below. All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation. Savannah Bananas 2025 tickets A complete calendar including all game dates, opponents, and links to the cheapest tickets available, broken up by month can be found below. July 2025 game dates Ticket prices start at The Visitors vs. the Bananas Thursday, July 10 at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, GA $410 (including fees) The Visitors vs. the Bananas Friday, July 11 Grayson Stadium in Savannah, GA $442 (including fees) The Visitors vs. the Bananas Saturday, July 12 at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, GA $294 (including fees) Party Animals vs. the Bananas Friday, July 18 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO $180 (including fees) Party Animals vs. the Bananas Saturday, July 19 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO $279 (including fees) Texas Tailgaters vs. the Bananas Saturday, July 26 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA $255 (including fees) Texas Tailgaters vs. the Bananas Sunday, July 27 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA $219 (including fees) (Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn't noted, will include additional fees at checkout.) Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here. August 2025 August 2025 game dates Ticket prices start at The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Friday, Aug. 1 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD $169 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Saturday, Aug. 2 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD $319.15 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Saturday, Aug. 9 at Coors Field in Denver, CO $423 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Sunday, Aug. 10 at Coors Field in Denver, CO $366 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Friday, Aug. 15 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL $302.21 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Saturday, Aug. 16 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL $376.90 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Thursday, Aug. 21 at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, GA N/A The Firefighters Bananas Friday, Aug. 22 at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, GA N/A The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Saturday, Aug. 23 at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, GA N/A Texas Tailgaters vs. the Bananas Friday, Aug. 29 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA $267 (including fees) Texas Tailgaters vs. the Bananas Saturday, Aug. 30 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA $308 (including fees) September 2025 September 2025 game dates Ticket prices start at The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Friday, Sept. 5 at PETCO Park in San Diego, CA $255 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Saturday, Sept. 6 at PETCO Park in San Diego, CA $266 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Saturday, Sept. 13 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY $141 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Sunday, Sept. 14 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY $102 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Friday, Sept. 19 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA $793 (including fees) The Firefighters vs. the Bananas Saturday, Sept. 20 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA $951 (including fees) Texas Tailgaters vs. the Bananas Friday, Sept. 26 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX $332 (including fees) Texas Tailgaters vs. the Bananas Saturday, Sept. 27 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX $353 (including fees) All-American Rejects tour schedule 2025 Love AAR just as much as the Bananas? This is your moment. The '00s hitmakers have shows at venues all over North America — they've even played a few unconventional gigs in backyards and bowling alleys along with Boston's famed ballpark — these next few months. That includes a concert opening for the Jonas Brothers at East Rutherford, NJ's MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 10. To find the one that makes the most sense for you, you can review All-American Rejects' complete 2025 calendar here. About the Savannah Bananas After forming in 2016, the 'exhibition barnstorming baseball team' made a name for themselves by embracing 'exhibition' and 'barnstorming' while halfway ditching 'baseball.' The team now plays banana ball which has quirky rules like fan-caught foul balls counting as outs, games not being allowed to exceed two hours in length and batters stealing first base. Yet, still, that's barely scratching the surface of the innovative game's showmanship. Simply put, we recommend following Savannah's Instagram to see what hijinx the entertaining team is up to. Savannah Party Animals As you may have noticed, most games will find the Bananas squaring off against their cherished rival, the Party Animals. Also based out of Savannah, the team is evenly matched with the Bananas. 'I think there are some guys that are obvious fits for the Bananas, and some guys that are obvious fits for the Party Animals,' coach Nate Fish told Savannah Now following team tryouts. 'We need the games to be really competitive. We can't load up one team. It's not like the (Harlem) Globetrotters and the (Washington Generals). The games aren't scripted. The games are highly competitive. Anyone can win. We have to take a look at balance to do that.' Savannah Bananas 2025 roster Who are the stars that make up the Bananas squad? Great question. You can find the team's colorful players (complete with fun facts) right here. Fun events for the family in 2025 Get yer wholesome entertainment here! We've got five shows that are guaranteed fun for the whole family below. • 'The Price Is Right Live' • 'Wheel of Fortune Live' • Jerry Seinfeld • Monster Jam • Blue Man Group Want to go to a concert instead this year? Check out our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. Prefer some good ol' fashioned comedy? Click here to see our favorite comedians on tour this year. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
Business Upturn
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
How to watch Savannah Bananas Fenway Park game: Everything you need to know
By Bhavya Rai Published on July 5, 2025, 12:38 EDT The Savannah Bananas are continuing their exciting and fun World Tour, and this time they're heading to one of the most famous baseball stadiums in the country, Fenway Park in Boston. This is a big event for the team, as they bring their unique and entertaining version of baseball, called Banana Ball, to more fans across the country. The game at Fenway Park will happen on Saturday, July 5, and it's extra special because it will be shown on national television on ESPN. This means people all over the country can watch the game from home. It's a big moment for the Bananas as they continue to grow more popular and reach new audiences. So far, this tour has taken the Savannah Bananas to six other Major League Baseball stadiums. These include loanDepot Park, Truist Park, Kauffman Stadium, Angel Stadium, Great American Ball Park, and Nationals Park. Now, Fenway Park becomes the seventh major stadium on their list, showing just how far the Bananas have come. This won't be the first time the Bananas have played at Fenway. They were there last June and played in front of a sold-out crowd. They beat their longtime rivals, the Party Animals, and made a huge impression on fans. That game also featured special appearances by former Red Sox players like Jonathan Papelbon, Jonny Gomes, and Mitch Moreland, who joined in the fun. Fans are excited to see what surprises the Bananas will bring this time. With their reputation for wild stunts, dance routines, and surprise celebrity guests, the upcoming game at Fenway is sure to be full of unforgettable moments. The best part? You don't have to be in Boston to watch, just tune in to ESPN or stream the game online and enjoy the show. Where to watch the Savannah Bananas today: TV channel and live stream details for the Fenway Park game TV channel: ESPN ESPN Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+ The Savannah Bananas' exciting game at Fenway Park on Saturday will be shown live on ESPN. The action will be called by Josh Talevski and Biko Skalla, who will guide viewers through all the fun and wild moments Banana Ball is known for. If you prefer to watch online, you can stream the game on both Fubo and ESPN+. Fubo is a live TV streaming service that gives you access to channels like ESPN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and over 200 others. The best part is that Fubo offers a free trial for new users, so you can try it out before committing to a subscription. Just keep in mind that certain plans, taxes, and fees may apply. Savannah Bananas vs. Firefighters start time Date: Saturday, July 5 Saturday, July 5 Time: 7 p.m. ET The Savannah Bananas and their rivals, the Firefighters, will kick off a two-game weekend series starting at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 5. Both games will be played at the legendary Fenway Park in Boston, making it a special event for fans and players alike. What makes this Saturday even more exciting is the addition of a one-hour pregame show called Banana Ball Live . This show will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at everything that goes into Banana Ball, from the fun moments and wild rules to the team's unique style of play. It's also the first time that the ESPN family of networks will air a pregame show for a Banana Ball game, showing just how much the sport and the team have grown in popularity. Savannah Bananas TV schedule 2025 Date Time (ET) TV/Live stream Venue City July 5 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+ Fenway Park Boston July 26 7 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+ Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia Aug. 1 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+ Camden Yards Baltimore Aug. 2 7 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+ Camden Yards Baltimore Aug. 9 9 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+ Coors Field Denver Aug. 15 8 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+ Rate Field Chicago Banana Ball rules Every inning is worth one point. The team that wins the inning gets the point for that inning. In the last inning of the game, every run counts. A new inning cannot be started after two hours of game time. A hitter cannot step out of the box. If a hitter does step out, a strike will be added to the count. A hitter is not allowed to bunt. A hitter is allowed to attempt to steal first base on any pitch of an at-bat. There are no walks. If a pitcher throws four balls, every defensive player on the field must touch the ball before it becomes live. A hitter can advance to as many bases as possible. Catchers and coaches are not allowed to visit the mound. If a fan catches a foul ball, the catch results in an out. If the game is tied at the end of the time limit, the Showdown Tiebreaker will decide which team wins the game. Each team is allowed to challenge one ruling on the field (fair/foul ball calls, force/tag play calls and catch play calls). Fans will also have the ability to challenge one ruling during the game. The Golden Batter Rule allows a team to send any hitter to bat in any spot in the lineup. It can only be used once per game.
New York Post
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Mom, apple pie and the Savannah Bananas — America at its rollicking best
Major League Baseball is currently debating various rules changes to improve the game — when what it really needs is more players wearing capes and doing backflips. That, at least, is the lesson of the Savanah Bananas, the barnstorming team that has come up with a madcap version of baseball that's widely popular and is selling out stadiums around the country. The Bananas, or the Nanners as devotees call them, sold out Clemson University's Memorial Stadium back in April, with 81,000 in attendance. Advertisement Tickets for a couple of Nanner games at Yankee Stadium in September are selling on secondary sites at rates significantly higher than any Yankees game. Who's Yankee ace Max Fried compared to Dakota Stilts, the Bananas pitcher who bestrides the mound standing at 10 feet and 9 inches on, yes, stilts? Advertisement The Bananas and their handful of spin-off clubs have made America's pastime even more American. Banana Ball, now on what it calls a 'world tour,' is the baseball equivalent of the carnival coming to town. It taps into the barnstorming baseball tradition that goes back to the 19th century, into the antic spirit of minor-league baseball with its corny entertainment between innings, and into the showmanship of the Harlem Globetrotters. Twerking and behind-the-back catches are encouraged. Advertisement The Savanah Bananas were originally part of the Coastal Plain League, a summer league for college ballplayers. When the team's exhibition games with modified rules proved more popular than their staid standard fare, they went all-exhibition. We associate baseball with lazy summer afternoons, but there's nothing lazy about Banana Ball. It takes everything dull or overly subtle about baseball and smashes it underfoot, while dancing to a pop song. Advertisement At the end of the day, does anyone besides the true connoisseur enjoy seeing a batter try to bunt? In Banana Ball, bunting is strictly prohibited and any attempt will get the offending batter ejected from the game. Then, there are walks. Who walks in a real sport? What is this, golf? In Banana Ball, after the pitcher issues a base-on-balls, every fielder besides the pitcher and catcher has to touch the ball before the runner can be tagged out. This creates an incentive for runners to actually run out of the batter's box — and very often they reach second base. Banana Ball, correctly, views incessant and unnecessary delay as the enemy of fan engagement. Batters can't step out of the batter's box. There are no visits to the mound. Advertisement The game is timed and can't last more than two hours. (MLB has taken steps in this direction with the wondrously successful innovation of the pitch clock, but can still do more to hustle things along.) In loud and intense football stadiums, the fans are called 'the 12th man.' Advertisement In Banana Ball, the fans are literally the tenth fielder — if one of them catches a foul ball on the fly, the batter is out. 'Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America,' the French-American historian Jacques Barzun famously wrote, 'had better learn baseball.' Intellectuals aren't going to rhapsodize about Banana Ball, but it says something about America, too. Its popularity shows how much we prize speed, constant entertainment — and, oh yeah, viral moments on social media (which Banana Ball provides in abundance). Advertisement Kids, in particular, love it. Banana Ball isn't a sacrilege against the game, any more than wiffle ball or beer-league softball are. It is a popularization of baseball and an advertisement for it, demonstrating how a game that is perceived as dull and uneventful can be the occasion for rollicking fun. Advertisement We won't be arguing decades from now about who was the best Banana Ball player of this era. We can enjoy the spectacle all the same. The supposed inventor of baseball, Abner Doubleday, got much right. So who can blame him for not realizing how much the game could be enhanced by adding musical numbers and having pitchers throw from trampolines? Twitter: @RichLowry
