CINCINNATI — It's "Banana Ball" time! The Harlem Globetrotters of baseball are coming to Cincinnati this weekend as the Savannah Bananas host two sold-out games at Great American Ball Park.
If you're one of the thousands of fans who got tickets, or you're just wondering what the excitement is all about, we've got you covered with some of the basics.
What to expect if you're attending
The "show," as the Bananas put it, starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, but there's a lot to do before then. Fans can arrive earlier to pick up merch at the plaza as early as 11 a.m. both days. There's also a "Before the Peel" show at 3 p.m. before the gates at Great American Ball Park officially open at 4:30 p.m.
At 7 p.m., the Bananas kick off action against the Texas Tailgaters (another team in the Banana Ball Championship League). The game has a two-hour limit, so you can guarantee you'll be out of the park not too long after 9 p.m.
What makes a Savannah Bananas game unique
For starters, it's a completely different experience than most competitive baseball. Banana Ball has its own set of rules (which we break down a few paragraphs below this), and, like they say, is more akin to a show than a game.
Every game, players perform choreographed dances to popular songs. You've probably seen clips on TikTok of players lip-syncing and dancing on the field and out in the stands. They'll perform silly music videos and goofy walk-ups throughout the game.
@thesavbananas Replying to @halestorm1993 If only… 😉 #savannahbananas #baseballboys #baseball #ceilings #fypシ #trending #reels #parody #musicvideo #mlb #ceilingslizzymcalpine ♬ original sound - Musiccc
You'll also see the 3-2-2, which is a dance before the second batter of the third inning sees their second pitch.
Similar to a bat flip or end-zone celebration, teams playing Banana Ball put together big celebrations after scoring a run.
And, of course, the teams have their own flair. The Bananas will play in kilts, they have a player who exclusively plays on stilts and they have their own breakdance coach. The umpire for their games also dances before all strike outs.
The Banana Ball rules
Watch a video breakdown of the rules in the player below:
In addition to the two-hour limit, fans will see a lot of rules you don't often witness during typical baseball games.
For starters, only one point will be awarded every inning. While teams can score multiple runs in an inning, the team that scores the most runs in that inning gets just one point. The only exception to the rule is the last inning, where every run counts as a point.
Hitters also can't step out of the batter's box or bunt. If they step out of the box, it's an automatic strike. If they bunt, they're ejected.
If a pitcher throws a wild pitch or the ball passes the catcher, any hitter can try to steal first base.
Walks are also not as simple as they may be in most baseball games. If a pitcher throws four balls, it becomes a race, with the hitter running the bases and trying to get as far as they can while every defensive player on the field (aside from the pitcher and catcher) must touch the ball before it becomes live.
To keep things moving, there are no mound visits in Banana Ball. Both teams are also given only one challenge per game, designated for a fair/foul ball call, a force/tag play call or a catch in the outfield or infield.
Both teams can also replace any batter with the best hitter in the lineup once a game with the "golden batter" rule.
Keeping the fans involved in the action, the Bananas allow a fan challenge. One person designated as the fans' representative can decide at any time to challenge a play. Also, if a fan catches a foul ball, that's an out.
If the game is tied at two hours, there is a "showdown tiebreaker." They start with round one, where a pitcher, catcher and one fielder face off against a hitter. If a hitter scores, it's one point. If they get out, it's zero points. In round two, only a pitcher and a catcher face a hitter. Then, a third round will see a pitcher, catcher and fielder against one hitter with the bases loaded.
It's unlikely, but if somehow the game is still tied, they'll keep repeating round three until there's a winner. If someone hits a home run at any point in the tiebreaker, it's a walkoff win.
Keep the rules on hand by downloading their guide here.
