Savannah Bananas Bringing Unique Brand Of Baseball To Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY – After selling out Boston’s Fenway Park, Cleveland’s Progressive Field, and Washington D.C.’s Nationals Park earlier in the year, the Savannah Bananas are bringing Banana Ball to Salt Lake City and Smith’s Ballpark, home of the Salt Lake Bees.

A national sensation in recent years,  baseball’s version of the Harlem Globetrotters will be at Smith’s Ballpark on August 30 and 31 as the Bananas take on the Party Animals.

Niznik's got the smoothest slide on this side of the Mississippi 😏 pic.twitter.com/vi98hkBF6B

— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 26, 2024

About the Savannah Bananas

The Bananas play “Banana Ball”. It’s a sport the team calls the “fastest and most entertaining game of baseball.” Banana ball includes players performing choreographed dances during games, wearing kilts, extravagant walk-up introductions, and more.

The Bananas call Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia home. Grayson Stadium is also known as Bananaland.

That looked a little Mahomey 👀@DonalsonJared's behind-the-back pitch resulted in an INSANE catch from @_CoachRAC pic.twitter.com/kwzDDgLExm

— Banana Ball (@BananaBall_) August 26, 2024

Bananas games feature “all-you-can-eat hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, water, soda, popcorn, and cookies.”

Before 2022, Savannah played in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate league played in the summertime.The Bananas left the league to play “Banana Ball” year-round.

The Bananas currently field three teams, the Savannah Bananas, the Party Animals, and the Firefighters. Former MLB players Jonny Gomes, Bill Lee, and Josh Reddick have played for the Bananas.

Banana Ball Rules

The first rule to remember about Banana Ball is… THERE ARE NO RULES!!! Well, not quite. More accurately, baseball purists might not recognize the version of baseball being played. For the Bananas, the game is about the show, and the show is all about the fans.

“A game where baseball meets fun. Fans first. Entertainment always.”

These are the eleven Rules of Banana Ball. Which is your favorite?🍌 pic.twitter.com/iSxBrzxKgQ

— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) February 22, 2024

Rule 1: Win the Inning, Get the Point

Like a golf skins game where players count the holes they win instead of strokes, each Banana Ball inning counts as a point. It doesn’t matter whether a team scores 14 runs or four in an inning; the highest total in each frame wins a point.

There’s one catch, though. Every run scored in the final inning gets a point.

Rule 2: Two-Hour Time Limit

Did we mention a fan-friendly atmosphere? Anyone with dinner plans or a screaming toddler will be happy to know that no new inning can start after two hours.

Rule 3: No Stepping Out

A hitter stepping out of the batter’s box results in an automatic strike.

The wheel has spoken 🎡

After spinning the wheel of bats, @DanOberstPS had to take the big bat to the plate… And it worked 😳 pic.twitter.com/7lqmbT3HEW

— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 25, 2024

Rule 4: NO BUNTING!!!

“Bunting sucks,” reads the Banana Ball media guide. Rather than complain, they solved the problem. If a hitter bunts, they are ejected from the game.

Rule 5: Batters Can Steal First

Don’t look away because batters have a new way to reach first. The hitter can attempt to steal first base on any pitch of an at-bat.

RELATED: Savannah Bananas Announce World Tour, Stop In Salt Lake City

Rule 6: No Walks Allowed

There is no dull moment in Banana Ball, including the dreaded ball-four walk. Rather than a walk, any time a pitcher throws ball four, it becomes a sprint between the batter and the defense. The batter can advance as many bases as they want, while every defensive player on the field must touch the ball before it becomes live.

Different jersey, same KJ 🤯

Great to see him ripping his first somersault trick play in his new threads 😤 pic.twitter.com/og7TiWx2qX

— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 18, 2024

Rule 7: No Mound Visits Allowed

Know your role coach. Players play, pitchers pitch, and coaches stay where they belong, in the dugout.

Rule 8: Fan Foul Ball Catch? OUT!

Bring your gloves to Smith’s Ballpark and become part of the game. If a fan catches a foul ball, the batter is out.

RULE #8: If a fan catches a foul ball, it's an out!

Tonight we broke a season record of 62 fan caught foul balls during the 2024 season this far🤯 pic.twitter.com/tOdXDqUA4I

— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 18, 2024

Rule 9: Showdown Tiebreaker

If the game is tied following the two-hour time limit, the contest will enter a Showdown Tiebreaker. In each Showdown, the hitter must score. If they score, it’s worth one point.

Rule 10: Banana Ball Challenge

This is another chance for fans to get involved. Both teams and the crowd will have the opportunity to challenge a ruling on the field.

Rule 11: Golden Batter Rule

Once per game, a team may send any hitter in the lineup to bat in any spot.

Follow Pro Baseball With KSL Sports

Brian Preece, our sports.ksl.com insider, can give you the inside scoop. He’s your guide to Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Please take advantage of his in-depth coverage of the Bees and Beehive baseball.

You can find KSL Sports coverage of the Bees here.

Take us with you wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s Utah’s leader. You can stream live radio and video and stay updated on all your favorite teams.

Follow @bpreece24