The Savannah Bananas’ league is growing, and they want to expand their roots and bring Banana Ball to Nebraska.
Banana Ball, the alternative exhibition baseball league similar to basketball’s Harlem Globetrotters, features unique rules designed to increase fan engagement and enjoyment. The Banana Ball League, launched by Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole in 2020, now features four additional teams alongside the Bananas that travel around the world.
With the Men’s College World Series taking place in Omaha, Bananas infielder Jackson Olson said he wants to bring Banana Ball to Nebraska.
“We should start the World Series off with a Banana Ball game,” Olson told Hurrdat Sports. “Can you imagine that? Let’s play Thursday. Come on, what are we waiting for? Let’s go.”
Millard South graduate and former Nebraska pitcher Kyle Perry is currently a member of the Savannah Bananas. Olson said that Perry has been a great addition to the team.
“He’s awesome, he’s awesome,” Olson said. “I think he was a baseball purist. Obviously when these guys come from these big colleges, big schools, have really good track records, they come in and they’re skeptical a little bit at first, but he’s really embraced it and become one of our stars. So it’s really cool.”
As the sport has continued, its popularity around the world has increased drastically. Vince Chapman, the Savannah Bananas dancing umpire, said that it’s been great witnessing the growth of Banana Ball.
“It’s wild,” Chapman said. “When I started, it was four years ago. We sold seven city world tours. There were 70,000 people. Seating from between 7,000 to 13,000 people, and now we’re selling out football stadiums that hold 75,000. We did it two nights in a row in Charlotte, and 148,000 people over the weekend.”
Chapman said that these games are a great way to spread cheer to everyone.
“It’s really cool and just kind of shows you what Savannah Bananas bring,” Chapman said. “And we bring happiness and joy to families. Not only if you’re a young kid or an old person, there’s something for everybody. And we need more positivity and positive energy in this world instead of all the negativity.”
Fan interaction is a huge part of Banana Ball. The players make up dances and other activities for those in the crowd to enjoy. Olson said that he believes this participation has helped them succeed.
“We’re bringing fans onto the field, into the game,” Olson said. “Every fan that comes to our game is going to be involved somehow. Every single one of them, they’re all going to be involved if they want to.”
Olson said that spending time talking to fans is a very meaningful part of the job.
“Seeing the interaction from fans on social media and in person,” Olson said. “It’s really special when I’ll get a comment on social media ‘Hey, I’m coming to your game, can’t wait to see you,’ and then I’ll see them in person and it’s just like a full-circle moment.”
A few years ago, Olson said that he was signing autographs after a game and was asked if he gets tired of playing. That thought stayed with him as he continued hanging out with fans and signing things.
“As the woman walked away, I almost wanted to yell to her, ‘No, I don’t get tired of it.’ You don’t, you just don’t.”
Although Olson used to play baseball, he said that he thinks he ended up in the right place playing Banana Ball.
“I think I’m in the place I’m exactly supposed to be,” Olson said. “I don’t think I would have the impact I have right now if I was playing Major League baseball.”
The Savannah Bananas will continue to travel the world and make a positive impact on people’s lives. Perhaps in the future, one of those stops will be in Omaha before the College World Series.
