The Savannah Bananas aren’t your typical baseball team.
Their version of the game can most accurately be described as a Harlem Globetrotters take on baseball. They call it “Banana Ball” and it features all sorts of off-the-wall rules, like the ability to steal first base and tiebreaker called the ”showdown” in which the batter and pitcher square off with no other fielders on defense.
Banana Ball rule No. 8 is a doozy, and it made for a fun scene on Tuesday night. The rule states that if a fan catches a foul ball on the fly, it counts as an out. With two outs in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s game in Kannapolis, N.C., Dustin Baber ripped a line drive into foul territory past third base, where a fan was able to snag it with their glove.
Couldn't write up the last out of the game any better than this 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 12, 2023
Banana Ball Rule #8: If a fan catches a foul ball, it's an out. pic.twitter.com/Bdjg20MCZX
It was an impressive play under any circumstances, but under Banana Ball rules, it also counted as the final out of the game.
The Bananas used to play in the Coastal Plains League, a college wood-bat summer league, but were best known for their offseason Banana Ball exhibitions. Those wacky games became so popular that this year, after winning the CPL championship last season, the team decided to leave the league and play Banana Ball all year round. In addition to playing games in Savannah, Ga., at the nearly 100-year-old Grayson Field, the Bananas also tour the country, playing games against the Party Animals (their in-house foil) as well as against independent league teams. But good luck seeing them in a town near you. Tickets for their entire summer tour are sold out.
Fans loved the ending:
Ok this rules. https://t.co/QryTEQ64ai
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) July 12, 2023
This is amazing! Love what the Savannah Bananas are doing for baseball as a whole but this is next level. Fan catching the final out of a close game and then the players bring him out on the field like he’s the MVP of the game! https://t.co/jthmDlzi7S
— Ryan Smith (@Smithers53) July 12, 2023
This is the best rule https://t.co/JgcEZV7egm
— Callie (@soAUcal) July 12, 2023
thats it. road trip time https://t.co/0YnPwG5ySJ
— Tony X (@soIoucity) July 12, 2023
This is pretty awesome. https://t.co/RTgbb1L6vp
— Roy Lang III (@RoyLangIII) July 12, 2023
Look at the smile on that fan!
— El Jefe 🌵🏴☠️ (@Jeff_Brunson) July 12, 2023
That’s what it’s all about.
So pure! https://t.co/NUqIQGpHwD
