The Savannah Bananas peeled into Boston, blending baseball with wild antics and entertainment. From long tosses over the Green Monster to umpiring with flair, this team is redefining the game and leaving fans ripe with excitement!
Assuming you’ve never heard of the Savannah Bananas, let me introduce you to the most entertaining team in baseball.
The Bananas have turned the game of baseball on its head with their unique blend of athleticism and showmanship, playing a version of the game known as Banana Ball. This team isn’t just about winning – it’s about creating unforgettable experiences for fans with outrageous antics, innovative rules, and a carnival-like atmosphere. From players on stilts to dancing umpires, the Savannah Bananas are redefining what it means to play—and watch—America’s favorite pastime.
This past weekend, they sold out Fenway Park, playing for 37,000 screaming fans.
While it is true that Bill “Spaceman” Lee and three Boston Red Sox World Series champions took the field – Jonathan Papelbon (2007), Jonny Gomes (2013), Mitch Moreland (2018) – the players and staff from the Savannah Bananas, Party Animals, Firefighters, and umpires were the real talent.
Here are the stories of several remarkable individuals who play a significant role in this phenomenon.
Jesse Cole, the Mastermind & Owner of the Savannah Bananas
The Birth of Banana Ball
Starting as a collegiate summer team, the Savannah Bananas evolved into a phenomenon. Jesse Cole, the owner of the Bananas, shared insights into the team’s early days and his vision for its future.
“In 2018, I wrote down in my idea book Rules to a Game. At that point, we called it Showball. If you win an inning, you get a point. No bunting. No walks. Showdowns. It had many of the rules that we came today with Banana Ball,” Jesse shared. “Back in 2018, I saw a vision of a faster game where all the boring parts of baseball were eliminated because we were watching fans leave games early. Even in selling out games in the Coastal Plain League in college summer ball, fans were still leaving games early, and I knew that’s a problem with the game.”
The Journey to Fenway
Playing at Fenway Park was a dream come true for Jesse and the Bananas. He recalled how this opportunity came about.
“Out of nowhere in 2022, I got a phone call from the Red Sox, and I’ll never forget. It was Tim Zue, the CFO, and he talked about what it would take to get the Bananas to play at Fenway. I was blown away because that’s always been a dream of mine. I’m like, ‘Oh, we need to talk about it.’ In my mind, I was like, ‘Whatever you want, we’re in. We’re ready.’ But yeah, he called us because the idea of bringing us to a Major League stadium was something that was talked about, and he was one of the first calls we received.”
What’s Next for the Bananas?
The Savannah Bananas’ tour includes playing at six Major League Baseball parks this year, with Fenway being their second stop. Always thinking ahead, Jesse shared his vision for the future.
“As our team knows and our staff knows, I do share the vision for 2026, but I haven’t shared it truly publicly yet. But we have a big goal. We’ve added a third team. We’re going to keep bringing Banana Ball to more people at bigger venues and see where this can go.”
Jesse’s vision and dedication to reinventing the baseball experience are truly inspiring. His innovative approach has not only revived interest in the game but has also created a unique, entertaining spectacle that resonates with fans of all ages. The Savannah Bananas’ journey from a collegiate team to playing at Fenway Park is a testament to the power of vision and perseverance.
Ethan Skuija, the Long Thrower for the Savannah Bananas
The Long Toss Feat
The World Record Long Toss was set by Glen Gorbous in 1957 at 445 feet 10 inches, and Savannah Bananas pitcher, Ethan Skuija, wants it.
Ethan isn’t just a normal baseball player. His diverse background includes playing in various leagues worldwide and studying Astrophysics and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Ethan at Fenway Park, shortly after he performed an incredible feat – throwing a baseball over the iconic Green Monster – 310 feet away and 37 feet 2 inches tall. Did he top the record? Maybe not with that throw, but Ethan certainly has his sights set on breaking it.
The Long Thrower
When asked about his extraordinary throw, Ethan explained that he and Party Animals “teammate” Dylan Porter are known for their long toss abilities.
“I am the long thrower. Me and my teammate Dylan Porter, we’re the long toss guys. We’ve been waiting for this moment all year. It’s actually really funny because Jackie Bradley Jr. has a viral clip of him throwing the ball over the center field wall that I actually just recreated as well.” That throw cleared the centerfield wall at 390 feet easily.
Other Long Throw Feats
Ethan’s long throw talent isn’t limited to Fenway Park. He has performed similar feats at various other stadiums – most recently Minute Maid Park, home to the Houston Astros.
“We actually went out after the game and were like, ‘All right, let’s just go for it, see what happens.’ We each threw a couple of balls out. It’s our main performing content. We’ve done LSU, obviously at home in Savannah. Albuquerque is probably my biggest one. I think I threw a ball about 450 feet in Albuquerque.”
Maintaining Arm Health
Despite the impressive distances, Ethan remains confident about the health of his arm.
“Honestly, throwing I think it’s what keeps my arm healthy. This is why I can go out and pitch, go out and throw. It’s stuff I’m used to. It’s stuff that I love. It’s fun.”
Goals for the Future
Ethan has his sights set on making history by throwing a ball out of every Major League park.
“Now that you’ve done it in two Major League stadiums, do you have a goal of throwing a ball out of every Major League park?” I asked.
“Absolutely,” Ethan confirmed.
Dakota “Stilts” Albritton, The World’s Tallest Baseball Player
The Origin of Stilts
At a Banana Ball game, it’s impossible to miss Dakota “Stilts” Albritton, who towers at 10′ 9″ on stilts.
Dakota’s journey with stilts began at a young age, stemming from his natural affinity for balance and coordination.
“I was 10 years old and as a kid, I always had weird talents. I could ride a unicycle forwards, backwards, upstairs, downstairs, just anything that took a little bit of balance and good coordination. I was normally pretty good at it,” Dakota recalled. “I got a pair of stilts for Christmas, and the first time I hopped on them, I ran across my yard and back. I realized this wasn’t something I needed to practice every evening. So, I put them up for 10 years and never used them for anything. Then, in 2021, I brought them out for the first time to the Bananas tryouts and Jesse Cole loved it. We’ve been creating smiles with the stilts ever since.”
The Challenges of Playing on Stilts
Playing baseball on stilts is no easy feat. Dakota explained some of the hardest aspects of this unique style of play.
“Definitely the hardest challenge on the stilts is not being able to stand still. When I’m in the box, I’m constantly having to stay moving with not just my upper body but my whole body. I’m having to go from my front foot to my back foot. That plays a big role in having to learn new timing and approach,” Dakota shared. “On the mound, I’m constantly having to move as well. I hit, pitch, play first—everything. I can do it all.”
The Strike Zone and Fielding
One of the most curious aspects of Dakota’s game is how it affects the strike zone and fielding.
“I’m swinging a 33 inch 30 ounce baseball bat. That means the pitcher has to throw it from my knees to my numbers, and my real knees, not the stilt knees,” Dakota explained. When asked about fielding, he humorously added, “A bad hop for you is a great hop for me. It’s got to take a pretty good hop for me to field it. I’ve got a glove that’s about that long that Wilson made for me. I’ve been practicing at first base with it. The day is going to come when I get a good play at first base.”
Playing in Major League Stadiums
This year marks the first time the Savannah Bananas are playing in Major League stadiums, a milestone that Dakota finds surreal.
“I feel like I’m in a dream right now and I hope I don’t ever wake up from the dream. Once the game’s over tomorrow, I will not be able to remember half of it. It’ll be a movie to me. It’s crazy. It’s hard to explain,” Dakota said.
Vinny Chapman, The Dancing Umpire
The Path to the Bananas
Vinny’s love for baseball started early, and he began umpiring during his sophomore year in high school. He has umpired numerous youth World Series games and high school baseball in Texas. His journey to becoming the Dancing Umpire, however, started in 2008 when he began dancing for fun between innings at youth games. His energetic dance moves quickly gained attention, and in 2015, a video of him dancing went viral, garnering over 12 million views.
“I went viral in 2015 and appeared on Ellen Degeneres’ show. The Bananas saw me and reached out on Facebook Messenger, and the rest is history.”
Umpiring for the Savannah Bananas
I asked Vinny how umpiring for the Savannah Bananas differed from his previous experiences.
“I would say the fun we have makes it different. In normal baseball, umpires aren’t supposed to show anything towards ourselves. We’re not supposed to be noticed, and out here we are noticed. We’re having fun, making people happy. Normal baseball can be boring,” Vinny explained. “We play from February to October, 94 games, every single weekend. I don’t have time to do normal games anymore.”
Keeping the Skills Sharp
With such a busy schedule, Vinny manages to maintain his umpiring skills throughout the season.
“It’s a challenge. It’s a lot of work. I do three games a weekend. But it’s muscle memory, I believe. I don’t do much stretching because I know if I stretch then I’ll probably pull something.”
Reactions from the Umpiring Community
Vinny’s transition from traditional umpiring to his role with the Bananas has garnered mixed reactions.
“I think it’s a love-hate relationship. There’s a lot of people that love what we do, and some purists of baseball that don’t think we should do it. You’re not going to please everybody, but at the end of the day, we’re selling out 38,000 seats, so I believe we’re doing something right.”
Mat Wolf, Blazing On-Field and Off-Field as a Firefighter
Balancing Two Careers
Mat Wolf’s journey into baseball with the Savannah Bananas is as unique as the Bananas themselves. As a fourth-generation firefighter, Mat spends most of his days at Oklahoma City Fire Station 5. He started playing for the Bananas in 2016, blending his knack for baseball with his love for entertaining people.
The Birth of The Firefighters
The Firefighters team, consisting of individuals with connections to firefighting, was introduced as a new addition to the Banana Ball lineup in 2024. Mat shared how he got involved.
“Obviously, they’re wanting to add a few more teams this year. So one of the teams they picked was Firefighters. And maybe being a fireman back home in Oklahoma City, I was one of the first ones to get over.”
Although Mat is the only active firefighter on the team, many players have ties to the profession. For example, Christian Dearman, a former Banana, has a father who was a firefighter in Miami. The head coach is also a firefighter from Corpus Christi.
A Unique Team with a Unique Mission
The Firefighters bring their own flavor to the game, honoring fire departments in every city they visit. Mat explained their mission and what sets them apart from other teams.
“We just try to honor the fire departments, especially any fire department city that we’re in. We’re wanting to honor those guys. That’s a big piece of who we are and our brand. We bring tricks just like everybody else does to Banana Ball and a good time, just in a different way.”
Competitiveness and Entertainment
Despite the entertaining nature of Banana Ball, the competitive spirit is very much alive. Mat emphasized that while the team aims to entertain, their competitive drive is essential to their performance.
“We got to remember that all of us are competitive. We’re here to put on a show, but we’re all competitive. So when we go to play, this is 100% I want to get a hit. And then we’re trying to bring that entertainment aspect to the fans when we see fit. We’re playing two parts, but for us, this doesn’t work if it’s not competitive. That’s what drives us all—that competitive nature. That’s what makes it fun for the guys to play.”
Mat’s dual role as a firefighter and a baseball player highlights the incredible balance between service and passion. His involvement with the Savannah Bananas and The Firefighters showcases the spirit of teamwork and dedication, whether it’s fighting fires or entertaining thousands of fans at a baseball game.
The Future of Banana Ball
The Savannah Bananas have truly revolutionized the game of baseball, bringing a unique blend of entertainment and competition to fans across the nation.
Fenway Park was jam-packed at 3 PM, four hours before the 7 PM game. Off-field and on-field festivities kept the crowd entertained the entire time, with trick catches, trick throws, and halftime shows between every half inning.
The music blared until the last out, and not a single fan left early, even as the Bananas lost 4-1 to the Party Animals. But nobody cared. The fan experience was unlike any other.
We can only hope Major League Baseball teams take notice. Because at Fenway, it might normally be the home of the Red Sox, but for one day, it was all yellow.
Brett Rudy is a trailblazer in the world of baseball. As the founder of Baseball Is My Life and co-founder of Charity Hop Sports Marketing, he’s dedicated to elevating the sport and supporting the athletes who play it. With a passion for making a difference, Brett has created successful philanthropic initiatives like Charity Wines and 100 Innings of Baseball for ALS. He’s also the mastermind behind the Corked Bat Collection, Cooperstown Classic at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Winterball for Toys for Tots. When he’s not working to improve the game, Brett can be found playing outfield in the Boston Metro Baseball League, living and breathing the sport he loves.