Cleveland is in for a treat in 2024 as the world-famous Savannah Bananas bring their “Banana Ball World Tour” to major league stadiums for the first time ever.
One of their stops will be at Progressive Field, right here in Northeast Ohio.
The Savannah Bananas will play in six MLB ballparks next year:
• Houston Astros
• Boston Red Sox
• Washington Nationals
• Cleveland Guardians
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Miami MarlinsThey now have 7.6 million followers on TikTok and 1M+ people applied for tickets in 2023. pic.twitter.com/BeI7GXhGXf
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) October 11, 2023
The Bananas recently announced their full tour schedule, revealing that they will be in Cleveland on Aug. 10 while the Guardians are on the road in Minnesota.
“Cleveland, we’re ready to rock & roll on a BIG stage,” the Bananas announced on X during their “World Tour Draft.”
This is an exciting opportunity for baseball fans in Cleveland to witness “The Greatest Show in Sports.”
2024 Banana Ball World Tour Draft
Round 7, Pick 2
Cleveland, we’re ready to rock & roll on a BIG stage😎🤘📍Cleveland, OH
🏟 Progressive Field
🗓 August 10, 2024@CleGuardians— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) October 6, 2023
The Savannah Bananas have often been compared to basketball’s Harlem Globetrotters.
They started as a collegiate summer league team but quickly gained popularity nationwide due to their unique style of baseball known as “Banana Ball.”
The team now plays exhibition games against other touring semi-pro squads like the “Party Animals.”
So, what exactly is “Banana Ball”? Well, it’s a bit different from traditional baseball. Here are some of the unique rules:
1. Games are not won by runs scored but by “points.” The team that scores the most runs in an inning gets one point.
2. There is a two-hour time limit, and no new inning can be started after one hour and 50 minutes. In the final inning, every run counts as a point.
3. Bunting and mound visits are not allowed.
4. Batters can try to steal first base.
5. Instead of “walks,” they have “sprints.” When a batter draws ball four, they are required to run as far as they can around the bases while all fielders touch the ball.
6. If a fan catches a foul ball, it counts as an out.
7. Ties are not broken by extra innings but by a special “showdown tiebreaker.”
Despite the complexity of these rules, the Bananas’ unique brand of baseball has made them a worldwide sensation.
They consistently sell out stadiums from coast to coast and have gained admiration from both fans and analysts.
Even in 2023, they made a stop at Akron’s Canal Park, packing the 7,000-seat capacity to the brim. This year, they are also set to visit Huntington Park in Columbus from May 24-26.
However, Progressive Field provides an even bigger opportunity for the Bananas as it can accommodate approximately 35,000 spectators.
