BROCKTON — A few months after tickets immediately sold out upon availability, 6,000 fortunate fans at Campanelli Stadium didn’t need to resort to TikTok videos to experience the first-ever performance of “Banana Ball” in Massachusetts on Wednesday night.
As part of its World Tour, the internet-sensation Savannah Bananas baseball team brought their viral theatrics to the City of Champions, where they lost to their rival Party Animals, 3-2, at the home of the Brockton Rox. The Party Animals won on a home run in the Bananas’ version of extra innings, called a “showdown.”
It didn’t come before yet another dazzling show for the packed attendance, though, as the team — more focused on entertainment than baseball itself — brought smiles and laughter like no other could to a crowd loaded with children of all ages. Dances, unique rules to the game, constant fan interactions, local fan-favorite celebrity appearances, and frequent celebrations charmed fans all night, hardly allowing anyone the sour taste that fans can leave with after a loss in a traditional game.
That kind of impression is exactly what Bananas owner Jesse Cole — who grew up in Scituate — hoped for out of the team’s first trip to his home state.
“It’s my life’s passion,” he said. “It’s special. Growing up here in Scituate, a fan of the Red Sox, playing in this area – now to see a sold-out crowd. … We’re just making baseball fun, and it struck a chord. It’s great to kids lining up early, so fired up to meet some people they look up to in our players.”
The Bananas brought out just about all the stops that they’ve used in their unique version of baseball to build a large social media following, but perhaps none are more important than the connection they form with the Bananas community throughout the night.
It started with their typical parade through a pathway of fans before they were allowed in the stadium, encouraging a synchronized sing-along to “Hey Baby” by DJ Ötzi. Lucky parents and kids were brought onto the field for unique mini-games during the transition between every half-inning. Donuts, necklaces and t-shirts were thrown to attendants, Cole and the players often went into the crowd, and hundreds of autographs were signed.
Considering the idols he had as a kid, it’s a meaningful experience to provide for Bananas player Maceo Harrison. He’s been on the team since 2018, and this crowd was as energized as any he’s come across.
“It’s very electric … they’re loving it, they’re eating it up,” Harrison said. “At the end of the day, we’re going to sign all of these guys’ jerseys, balls, bats – whatever they need. It’s amazing (to do) because I would think back to when I was little and how I would look up to people and if I would ever meet them.”
That experience especially extends to 10-year-old Mark “Swaggy” Lane of Mansfield, who continued an experience of a lifetime through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Lane, who has an extremely rare form of epilepsy, flew down to Georgia the week prior to sign a one-day contract with the Bananas and take part in all of the theatrics. It was the first of just two wishes he made. The Lanes have a non-social media household for the kids, but Lane fell in love with the clips his mother, Aprill, showed him.
The Bananas showed that love right back Wednesday night when players saw him in attendance, and brought him back to the dugout even though his “wish” concluded.
“A couple years ago they became our favorite TikTok page, and it’s become his dream to be a Savannah Banana,” Aprill Lane said. “It’s been pretty incredible. They have thought of every detail.”
Everything in between was simply entertainment that fans can’t get anywhere else.
Any double hit, or run scored, was followed by either team’s entire roster bombarding the field for a celebration. Teams frequently interrupted play with organized dances, many of which umpire Vincent Chapman joined in for. The “tallest hitter in baseball” came out to bat on stilts, and his 10-foot stature took the field at first base midway through. Former Red Sox World Series champion Johnny Damon drove in a run in his lone at-bat for the Bananas, and former Boston College Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie pitched.
None of that even includes the different rules, which allowed one fan to challenge a call at first base and another to catch a foul ball for an out – in turn helping Flutie get out of a jam. Players often attempted stealing first base like they’re allowed to as well.
“We hope to put on the greatest show they’ve ever seen on a baseball field, and we hope they had the most fun they’ve ever had at a baseball game,” Cole said. “This was a good fit to come up here.”