Baseball fans at PNC Park witnessed something far different from a typical night at the ballpark as the Savannah Bananas brought their unique brand of Banana Ball to the Steel City. Facing off against the Texas Tailgaters, another Banana Ball team, the Bananas delivered a two-hour spectacle filled with nonstop dancing, music, comedy, and crowd engagement that….see more…
Baseball fans at PNC Park in Pittsburgh witnessed something far removed from the standard rhythm of America’s pastime as the Savannah Bananas brought their traveling circus of sport and spectacle—Banana Ball—to the Steel City. Facing off against the Texas Tailgaters, another team fully immersed in this unique style of play, the Bananas delivered a two-hour whirlwind of baseball, dance, music, comedy, and fan engagement that turned a regular ballpark evening into an unforgettable celebration.
The Savannah Bananas have become a cultural phenomenon in recent years, largely due to their reinvention of the baseball experience. Under the leadership of owner Jesse Cole, the team has transformed what can often be a slow and methodical sport into a lively, fast-paced, and wildly entertaining show. Their tour across the United States has drawn sold-out crowds in city after city, and Pittsburgh was no exception.
Banana Ball is built on a set of innovative rules designed to both speed up the game and maximize interaction with the audience. Games are strictly capped at two hours, and innings are scored differently—each inning counts as one point, and the team that wins the most innings takes the game. Fans are encouraged to participate actively, and one of the most famous rules states that if a fan catches a foul ball, it counts as an out. There are no mound visits, no drawn-out pauses, and plenty of playful antics sprinkled throughout.
From the very first pitch, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be a night of routine baseball. The players took the field not with stoic faces but with choreographed dance routines, their bats twirling like batons. The umpires joined in the fun, busting moves as they signaled strikes and outs, and the stadium echoed not only with the crack of the bat but also with laughter and music.
The Texas Tailgaters, themselves veterans of the Banana Ball format, were ideal foils for the Bananas. The matchup wasn’t just competitive; it was cooperative, with both teams clearly committed to entertaining the fans as much as trying to win. Trick plays, surprise substitutions, and even a few mid-inning costume changes kept the crowd on its toes.
One of the most talked-about moments came early in the third inning, when a Bananas outfielder made a diving catch—while simultaneously performing a moonwalk toward the warning track. Later, a Tailgaters player hit what seemed to be a routine grounder but sprinted to first base wearing a cowboy hat and waving a foam banana at the opposing dugout.
While the scoreboard reflected the competitive nature of the game—each team trading innings like rounds in a boxing match—the real score was in the stands, where thousands of fans cheered, clapped, and danced their way through the evening. Parents hoisted children onto their shoulders to catch a glimpse of the action, while groups of friends filmed every quirky moment for social media.
Banana Ball thrives on breaking down the barrier between the field and the stands, and PNC Park provided the perfect stage for this philosophy. Throughout the night, fans were pulled into the spotlight: dance contests broke out on the dugout roof, a conga line snaked through the lower deck during a pitching change, and one lucky fan was invited to call a play from behind home plate.
Perhaps the most electrifying moment came in the fifth inning, when a foul ball sailed into the stands along the first base line. A lifelong Pirates fan wearing a vintage Roberto Clemente jersey snagged it with a single hand, drawing thunderous applause. Under Banana Ball rules, that catch counted as an out, and the Bananas’ players rushed over to congratulate him as if he’d made the play himself.
Children, especially, were at the heart of the evening’s festivities. Between innings, they were invited to run the bases, throw pitches, and even briefly play catch with Bananas players. For many young fans, this was a first taste of baseball—one wrapped in joy and inclusion rather than rigid formality.
No Banana Ball night would be complete without the presence of Jesse Cole, the team’s charismatic and unmistakable owner, known for his signature bright yellow tuxedo and unrelenting commitment to making baseball “fun again.” Midway through the game, Cole addressed the crowd from the field, thanking Pittsburgh for embracing the Bananas’ mission and sharing his vision of turning every stadium visit into a memory that lasts a lifetime.
“This isn’t about replacing baseball,” Cole told the crowd. “It’s about celebrating it. We want kids to fall in love with the game, families to laugh together, and fans to leave saying, ‘I can’t wait to come back.
His words were met with cheers, and moments later, the entire stadium joined in a choreographed singalong to the Bananas’ unofficial anthem—a mashup of pop hits, complete with dance moves led by the players themselves.
The Savannah Bananas started as a collegiate summer league team in Savannah, Georgia, but have evolved into a phenomenon that transcends their sport. Their Banana Ball World Tour has seen them play in historic ballparks and major league venues, including Fenway Park, LoanDepot Park, and now PNC Park. Each stop is not only a game but a showcase of community, creativity, and a reminder that sports can be as much about joy as about competition.
For many in attendance, the experience offered a refreshing break from the traditional baseball season. With Major League Baseball games often running three hours or more and dominated by strategy, analytics, and commercial breaks, the Bananas’ two-hour thrill ride felt light, fresh, and invigorating.
When the game finally reached its conclusion, it was in true Banana Ball fashion: a dancing shortstop made a behind-the-back flip to second base, followed by an underhand throw to first for the final out. The crowd erupted, not because of the score—by then, the Bananas had narrowly edged the Tailgaters in total innings won—but because the night had been a celebration from start to finish.
Players from both teams lined the foul lines to high-five fans, pose for selfies, and toss foam bananas into the stands. Children clutched autographed balls, parents exchanged smiles, and the lights of PNC Park glowed like a carnival midway.
The Savannah Bananas left Pittsburgh with more than just another win on their traveling tour; they left with thousands of new fans, many of whom had never experienced baseball quite like this. For PNC Park, a venue steeped in history and tradition, it was a reminder that the sport is constantly evolving—and that joy, creativity, and community can coexist with competition.
As fans filed out into the warm Pittsburgh night, the echoes of laughter, music, and applause lingered. Banana Ball had done what it promised: it had turned a simple game of baseball into a shared experience, one where every swing, every dance move, and every foul ball caught by a fan felt like part of something bigger.
For the Savannah Bananas, the mission continues. For the fans who were there, the memory of that night at PNC Park will be a story to tell for years to come.