Review: Banana Ball is a blast

The Savannah Bananas know how to throw a party. 

With more dancing, fan contests, and gimmicks than actual baseball, the Bananas made a strong case this weekend at Rate Field that fun outweighs who wins and loses. That's a difficult concept for a proud sports city like Chicago to stomach. Still, Friday night I witnessed a buzz and excitement from 40,000 that's rarely seen in Bridgeport.  Did it matter that the Firemen, thanks to hitting two home runs, scored more runs than the Bananas but ultimately lost the game? 

Of course not, because while many in attendance were trying to make sense of the Banana Ball rules, there was constant energy. It starts with a pregame party held in Lot B in front of Rate Field, where the Bananas put on a talent show in place of the usual tailgates. The ballplayers are not just decent at playing baseball. Some can sing, play saxophone to R&B classics, and do backflips like one of the Jesse White tumblers. Mixed in between acts were Bananas players hitting foam baseballs into the crowd and mascots Southpaw and Benny the Bull throwing water balloons. 

The Before the Peel pre-game party is a great idea to entertain fans before the game, and from a business perspective, a brilliant opportunity to sell merchandise. The Bananas would rival some of Chicago's concert venues in terms of how they set up their merchandise tents. Many lines were so long with fans looking to buy new Bananas gear that an employee would hold a paddle, much like a Disney Imagineer, to indicate where to queue.

My only point of criticism for the entire night, and like most games at Rate Field with crowds exceeding 25,000, is how stadium operations struggles to handle the flow of people. Since the COVID-19 pandemic (2021 season), there has been little improvement in handling traffic of any kind at Rate Field, be it parking security or concessions. But once you get a drink and some food, the type of show the Bananas put on quickly makes you forget any inconveniences. 

My best attempt at describing the Banana Ball experience is like a minor league game on steroids. Before the first pitch, I watched players chuck bananas from the 500 level, aiming for fans who tried to catch the flying fruit with oversized pants. Princess Potassia and the Banana Band played the tunes. One of the hosts tried a Mike Ditka impersonation. Music was blaring over the PA system as the players warmed up to play a game and prepare for their viral moment routines, all while trying to get the 40,000 fans amped up to exceed 100 decibels. 

It works. There was a consistent buzz all night as players donned caps, raced helmets, used a crutch as a bat, and performed the famous tallest pitcher act. Inapplicable to other situations though it may be, it's still an impressive athletic feat to wear stilts, walk up a pitcher's mound and accurately throw pitches over the plate. I can't comprehend what that looks like from a batter's perspective. 

If you follow the Bananas on social media, you've seen the viral hits with player entrances and pitching dance routines. When the ball is put into play, there are many attempts at trick plays with the best coming from the first basemen who caught incoming throws behind the back or (dangerously) through the legs. Between innings, there's just incredible fan engagement with a crowd-signing competition, a battle royale between pizzerias, a fan-versus-player dance-off, and the baby race. 

The surprising part was that the quality of baseball wasn't bad! Sure, pitchers are mostly throwing fastballs to keep the action going, but it's not circus entertainers trying to play baseball. Reese Alexiades, who dons a cape on the field, played his college baseball at Pepperdine, where he had a career .864 OPS in 108 games. He spent three years playing independent ball with Ogden Raptors, and in 2023, Alexiades hit 29 home runs with a 1.105 OPS in 94 games. Now, he's one of the most popular Savannah Banana players. 

All night, as I watched the crowd to soak in the whole experience, I couldn't help but notice just how much fun the kids were having. Whether it was the dancing, mingling with players as they weaved through the stands, or screaming as loud as they could when asked by the emcee, it just felt like a much more enjoyable family experience than a typical MLB game. 

While the overall experience of Banana Ball receives two thumbs up, what made the night memorable is how owner Jesse Cole adds a local touch to each game. Halfway through, fans were treated to an unexpected concert from Chance the Rapper, who just recently released his new album. As he marched his way to home plate, rapping classics like No Problem and All Night, both Bananas and Firefighters had choreographed routines. 

After Chance the Rapper left, it was time to bring back a local legend. Recently, the Bananas had Adam Jones bat when they were in Baltimore. Last weekend, former Rockies Vinny Castilla and Ubaldo Jimenez joined the team at Coors Field. But in Banana Ball, where hitters can steal first base, AJ Pierzynski was a great choice.  

Unfortunately, Pierzynski didn't try stealing first base, and he grounded out. But to see the crowd reaction as they watched one of their favorite White Sox players take another at-bat was heartwarming.

That probably would've been plenty, but the baseball heartstrings were pulled to the point of breaking when Cole introduced the new Bananas pitcher, Mark Buehrle. 

The White Sox don't have Old Timers games like the New York Yankees. For many in the older crowd, it was a wonderful trip down memory lane, watching Buehrle deliver a pitch to Pierzynski. The business of baseball rarely allows fans the opportunity to say goodbye when they know their favorite players are leaving. There's a feeling, but seldom is there a moment when a fanbase can give a standing ovation to someone they're proud to have watched play for their favorite team. 

Through the Bananas, White Sox fans got one more chance to thank Buehrle and Pierzynski for the great times. That moment for me was well worth the price of admission, and on Saturday, the Bananas brought back Ozzie Guillen and Paul Konerko. 

I don't think the baseball purist in me would ever want to see the White Sox have a choreographed dance routine for every home run hit. However, the pregame and postgame entertainment in Lot B has me thinking that the White Sox are still not utilizing all of their available resources to put together a better fan experience. Overall, I left the stadium quite impressed by what the Savannah Bananas have put together and understand the cult-like following. It's fun and a great night of entertainment.