I must admit that I’m a little bit late to the party when it comes to the Banana Ball World Tour, originally known as Savannah Bananas baseball. In fact, my first mention of them here on the blog was in the last part of a three-part series called “On the Brain,” where I was talking about the impending 2027 MLB owners’ lockout.
It’s an easy, tidy little analogy to say that Banana Ball is essentially “the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball,” but it is so much more, as this segment from 60 Minutes explains:
Saturday night, Sierra and I attended a Banana ball World Tour game at Comerica Park featuring the firefighters versus the party animals. 
It rained for essentially the entire game last night, and while I’m sure there were a few no-shows due to the weather, the overwhelming majority of this crowd stayed until the very end of the show.
Here are some observations I made—ROBservations, if you will—about the Banana Ball experience:
Phred went to the Banana Ball game on Friday night, so Sierra and I watched the broadcast on Roku TV. I have to say that the broadcast actually focuses more on the actual game and addresses the side attractions a bit differently. But the truth is, when you’re attending a Banana Ball game live, there is so much going on—singers, dances, mascots, and players literally in hanging out in the field of play while action is happening—that the actual baseball game almost becomes a lower priority.
Banana Ball is a much, much more family-oriented event, designed to naturally attract families to the ballpark. I tend to curse like a sailor (or at least a British or Irish person), and there were definitely moments where I tried to catch myself from swearing too much because I knew there were children all around me.
Jesse Cole, the owner of the league, has said over and over again that his number one focus is the fan experience, and you simply cannot leave a ball game without feeling that it is entirely about the fans and their entertainment.
Sierra made a great point late in the game last night. Somewhere in the seventh or eighth inning, she said to me, “You don’t see the players in this league getting bent out of shape about anything. They don’t have attitudes. They’re not getting upset about bad calls or blown plays.”
This isn’t to say the players don’t care—quite the contrary. The vibe I got was that, and this probably stems right from Jesse Cole himself, the players are there to put on a show and entertain the fans. It’s not like going to Disney World and seeing a cast member walking around in a sour mood; that just ruins the experience. These guys genuinely embrace the showmanship.
Weathering a literal downpour together actually seemed to heighten the sense of community. In a crowd of 41,000, I didn’t notice any obnoxious drunks; people were having a couple of those Banana Ball beers, but everyone was just there to legitimately have a good time. If this were a standard MLB game with that kind of weather, they would have delayed or postponed it outright. Instead, the ground crew only came out once or twice to throw down some quick-dry around home plate and the mound, and the crowd simply refused to leave. People were determined to have a good time in spite of the elements.
That points to a bigger truth: fun is contagious. When you see the players, umpires, band, and thousands of fans around you singing, clapping, and cheering, you can’t help but get swept up in it—even if you’re a bit starchy.
If you were to transport an MLB executive or player into the stands to see what all the fuss is about, a few things would instantly shock their system. First, there’s music playing literally the entire game while players are batting. Second, the pre-game and post-game energy is unreal—like the “Party Animals” band playing out in the fenced-off main plaza leading up to Woodward Avenue. And lastly, the use of tech: handing out LED wristbands for the light show made me realize just how poorly the Tigers utilize Comerica Park’s own LED capabilities during a normal home stand.
Banana Ball is baseball for people who get bored during the traditional MLB experience. Baseball pure may turn their nose down at the game, but the week successes undeniable. In Detroit alone, over 200,000 fans entered a lottery, hoping to score tickets to this weekend‘s games. Banana Ball is a masterclass in putting the fans first, and baseball would do well to take notes before 2027 rolls around.
Rebuilding a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Having crossed the 1,000-day milestone, I’m now charting the territory beyond. The mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.
Today’s post is inspired by the WordPress Daily Prompt. While I’ve taken the topic in my own direction for the Road beyond 1,000 Days, you can find more responses to today’s prompt HERE.
Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like 👍, comment and subscribe below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media and check out my recent posts!
- ROBservations: The Gospel of Banana Ball
- Dorothy was right
- From Late Bloomer to Going For It: Lessons in Confidence and Timing
- Forgive and…Remember
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – And What It Means Now
Featured image by Your Favorite Blogger.
The article “ROBservations: The Gospel of Banana Ball” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob
Leave a Reply