Banana Ball is a separate league of Baseball that focuses primarily on putting fans first in all that they do. It is different from Baseball in the sense that the games are shorter, the plays, while extremely similar, are not entirely the same, as well as smaller teams/number of teams and smaller stadiums.
Banana Ball was founded officially in 2018 by Kerry Cole and his son Jesse Cole. The Savannah Bananas, the big team in this league, had been playing for around two years at that point in time. In that two-year period, according to Biko Skalla, the team had already broken barriers of what those watching could have ever imagined. They had broken records between 2016-2018, showing fans across the country what their team was about and getting more and more people to come to their games.
This was around the same time Jesse Cole began the brainstorming process with his father, coming up with a way to make the game even more engaging; thus, the birth of the Banana Ball League, which is constantly improving and changing for the fans. Their stadiums are constantly packed, selling out tickets to the point where there is now a waitlist for those who want tickets. This has led to bigger stadiums being used, such as college (American) Football stadiums that sit a larger crowd being used so the Banana Ball teams can fit more fans. While it is still the same number of innings as a normal baseball game—nine (9) innings total—the game time is much shorter (from 3-4 hours per typical game down to 2), packed full of singing, dancing, challenges, and other forms of entertainment. This is all for the pleasure and comfort for the fans.
Because of this new way of playing a once dull sport, more fans who once didn't care for baseball have now found a way to thoroughly enjoy the game. No longer is the game an eternity to get through, with many walks or outs and hardly any games in between to keep the fans on their toes. Instead, with Banana Ball, there is never a dull moment as was the intention. To make this game so fun, it really relies on the players, the staff, and, most importantly, the fans.
Banana Ball relies on nine rules to make the game what it is:
Every inning counts. What does this mean? Well, whichever team can score the most runs in an inning gets a point for that inning. Whichever team can reach five (5) points first wins the game. The inning will end once the home team takes the lead or at least three runs are recorded for the home team.
The game last for two hours. What does this mean? If they have not finished all nine (9) innings before the two (2)-hour limit, the game is over. They will not start another inning if it passes a two (2)-hour limit. However, if neither team has reached at least five (5) points, there will be a "Showdown Tiebreaker" (see rule seven (7) for explanation).
A player cannot step out of the batter's box. Why? If a player were to step out of the batter's box, that player is given a strike. As the rule goes in a normal baseball game, three (3) strikes and you are out.
No bunting. Why can't a player bunt? Literally, per the official rules, they say bunting sucks (it does). If a player is to bunt, they are ejected from the game.
The batters are allowed to steal first base. What? Why? To make things more fun of course! Well that, and if there is a pass ball (if a catcher cannot hold onto a ball or any ball not successfully caught) or a wild pitch at any point during the at-bat, the batter can attempt to steal first base.
No walks are allowed. What does this mean? In a usual game of basball, four (4) balls (pitches thrown that don't enter the strike zone, either too high or too low) results in a walk. In this league, however, this results in a sprint. In a sprint, the batter can take off sprinitng to first while the catcher attempts to throw the ball to each defensive player on the field. While this is happening, the batter/runner can attempt to take as many bases as they wish before the ball is alive (after every defensive player touches it). The ball is not required to be touched by the catcher or pitcher.
Showdown tiebreak is one (1) on one (1). What does this mean? Okay, this one is a bit longer and more difficult to explain. To start, each team must pick one (1) pitcher and one (1) batter to face off against the other. This makes it so the defensive team (the team on the field) have just the pitcher and the catcher on sight rather than a full team. If a batter is to hit the ball, they have to score and make it home in order to receive a point. If the ball is in play, the pitcher can chase the ball and hopefully make it to the catcher in order for the play to stop, resulting in no point for the running batter. If a batter is walked (because walking is allowed in these circumstances), they can take second base and the batting team can pick another batter to hopefully score. The first team to make it to five (5) points wins. If the score is still tied, the first team to keep the opposing team from scoring will win.
Mound visits are not allowed. Why? Simple, mound visits take up too much time.
If a fan catches a foul ball, that counts as an out. Simple as that. If a ball flies foul into the stands and a fan catches it, the batter is out and returns to the dug out. This once more helps involve fans more in the game.
As of 2025, the Banana Ball league has grown. There are four teams now involved in this league: the Savannah Bananas, the Party Animals, the Firefighter, and the Texas Tailgaters. (I will post separately on each team if wanted.) They all have skilled players who can perform trick balls (throwing a ball while doing a backflip for example), singing, and well skilled dancers to keep the game alive.
Overall, Banana Ball is centered around the fans so they have the best experience possible. They want their fans to be the center versus how normal baseball teams opperate.
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