The Savannah Bananas announced a 32-city tour schedule, as they’ll embark on a summer 2023 World Tour, playing under Banana Ball rules.
The Bananas are truly a phenomenon, eschewing the rules and norms of baseball to present a popular experience that reaches well beyond a traditional MiLB audience, thanks to some savvy social-media chops and plenty of imagination.
The Bananas have operated in two different modes for the past few years, playing under summer-collegiate rules for the Coastal Plain League as a purely amateur endeavor while launching Banana Ball exhibitions in the offseson. Starting in 2023, the Bananas will play every game with the rules of Banana Ball. Rules that include a two-hour time limit, no stepping out, no bunting, no walks, and foul balls caught by fans are outs.
Team founder Jesse Cole explained Banana Ball during a podcast interview with Jesse Goldberg-Strassler and Kevin Reichard as the recipient of the 2021 Ballpark Digest Editor’s Choice Award. You can watch the video here.
Here is the lineup for the 2023 World Tour:
- February 17, 18 – West Palm Beach, Florida – Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
- February 22, 23 – Daytona, Florida – Jackie Robinson Ballpark
- February 25, March 2 – Savannah, Georgia – Grayson Stadium
- March 4 – Jacksonville, Florida – 121 Financial Ballpark
- March 10, 11, 13 – Savannah, Georgia – Grayson Stadium
- March 17 – Sugar Land, Texas – Constellation Field?
- March 24, 25 – Montgomery, Alabama – Riverwalk Stadium
- March 31 – Scottsdale, Arizona – Scottsdale Stadium
- April 1 – Peoria, Arizona – Peoria Sports Complex
- April 6, 7, 13, 15, 18 – Savannah, Georgia – Grayson Stadium
- April 21 – Charleston, West Virginia – Appalachian Power Park
- April 26 – Savannah, Georgia – Grayson Stadium
- April 29 – Tampa Bay, Florida – Steinbrenner Field
- May 11, 13, 15 – Savannah, Georgia – Grayson Stadium
- May 5, 6 – Kansas City, Kansas – Legends Field
- May 19 – Las Vegas, Nevada – Las Vegas Ballpark
- May 26 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
- May 29 – Tulsa, Oklahoma – OneOK Field
- June 2 – Nashville, Tennessee – First Horizon Park
- June 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19 – Savannah, Georgia – Grayson Stadium
- June 23, 24 – Birmingham, Alabama – Regions Field
- June 30 – Indianapolis, Indiana – Victory Field
- July 3 – Akron, Ohio – Canal Park
- July 7, 8, 17 – Savannah, Georgia – Grayson Stadium
- July 12 – Kannapolis, North Carolina – Atrium Health Ballpark
- July 14 – Durham, North Carolina – Durham Bulls Athletic Park
- July 21, 22 – Rancho Cucamonga, California – LoanMart Field
- July 25 – San Jose, California – Excite Ballpark
- July 27 – Fresno, California – Chukchansi Park
- July 29 – Sacramento, California – Sutter Health Park
- August 3, 5, 30 – Savannah, Georgia – Grayson Stadium
- August 9 – Trenton, New Jersey – Trenton Thunder Ballpark
- August 11, 12 – Staten Island, New York – Siuh Community Park
- August 14 – Hartford, Connecticut – Dunkin’ Donuts Park
- August 16 – Brockton, Massachusetts – Campanelli Stadium
- August 18 – Portland, Maine – Hadlock Field
- August 25 – Des Moines, Iowa – Principal Park
- September 1, 2, 4 – Savannah, Georgia – Grayson Stadium
- September 8, 9 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Franklin Field
- September 14 – Syracuse, New York – NBT Bank Stadium
- September 16 – Cooperstown, New York – Doubleday Field
Remember: this is an exhibition series. Playing at Hadlock Field doesn’t mean the Bananas will be playing the Portland Sea Dogs. But no matter–it’s great fun and a fan-friendly experience, making for a nice off-day event for any team–MiLB, indy or summer collegiate.
Image courtesy Savannah Bananas.
RELATED STORIES: Savannah Bananas departing Coastal Plain League; will focus on Banana Ball year-round