The Savannah Bananas Bring Zany Baseball—But Is It Over the Top?

Georgia-based exhibition team the Savannah Bananas has become a social media hit for its wild, circus-like baseball antics—think choreographed pitching dances and fans catching foul balls for outs. Some hail them as reviving interest in baseball’s “fun” side; others find it gimmicky or stale after the first few innings. A new opinion piece in Defector argues the Bananas’ act becomes tedious, overshadowing actual competitive tension. That’s because stunts like slow-motion umpire fights or stilted batters keep things comedic but remove real stakes. Bananas supporters counter that they’ve drawn new audiences—especially families—delivering a show rather than a classic ballgame. Traditionalists aren’t fully impressed, seeing the shtick as more novelty than sport. Regardless, ticket sales remain strong, underscoring the appetite for an alternative to standard baseball fare.