The greatest show in minor league baseball embarked on a tour this past summer for the first time. The Savannah Bananas visited Massachusetts in August, and here is what you need to know.
First and foremost, they are awesome. Their unique brand of minor league baseball includes a whole bunch of entertainment. And the team always looks great, too in their bright yellow uniforms. Back in October of 2022, the Savannah Bananas announced they were bringing their banana ball on tour. This would bring the ballclub to 33 cities in 20 states over the course of the 2023 summer.
“The 2023 world tour will be the most mind-boggling, exhilarating, craziest, and fun thing that has ever happened in sports,” said Bananas head coach Tyler Gillum, in a press release issued by the club. Forty players from the team are part of each tour stop.
The Massachusetts Stop
The Savannah Bananas rolled into the Bay State on Wednesday, August 16. They played at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton. Here, they played against the Party Animals. Who are the Party Animals? Glad you asked.
“In most cases, the Bananas face off against the Party Animals, another touring team also owned by (Jason) Cole,” The Guardian explained in their recent profile of the team. There are other one-off games on the schedule where the team plays other minor league professional teams.
Bananaland
This past August in Brockton, New England sports legends made an appearance and participated in the extravaganza. This included Johnny Damon stepping to the plate. Then, in the sixth inning former quarterback Doug Flutie came out to the pitchers mound. He would arrange a huddle before throwing a few passes.
The rise of “Banana Nation” is a truly fascinating story. The team owner, Jesse Cole (who also owns the aforementioned opponent, Party Animals) is also the founder of Fans First Entertainment. Cole began his career behind the scenes in minor league baseball with the Gastonia Grizzlies in North Carolina.
To build anticipation and start to get a peel for what fans are in for, here are a few fun facts you need to know about the Savannah Bananas going on tour in 2024.
