Picture it: The team’s shortstop just ripped a double into left field. They’re up 3-0 in the top of the fifth.
A food vendor walks through the stands and the wind wafts the smell of hotdogs through the crowd. “Centerfield” by John Fogerty is blasting through the stadium.
It’s nine straight innings of absolute bliss, especially if your favorite team is holding onto a lead.
PHOTOS: Savannah Bananas play at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge
Then, the first baseman walks onto the field with stilts, standing 10 feet tall; the center fielder catches a fly-ball mid-back flip; and the pitcher is wearing an astronaut helmet.
It’s America’s favorite pastime with a twist.
This is Banana Ball, and the Savannah Bananas took it all the way to Baton Rouge.
Banana Ball is everything fans know and love about baseball with a lively flare. Only 11 rules govern this game, making it the “fastest and most entertaining game of baseball,” according to the Bananas’ website.
The two-hour time limit on a Banana Ball game means that there’s always something to be entertained by. Fans are captivated by crazy trick plays, iconic scoring celebrations, smooth dance moves and catchy music.
The Savannah Bananas field two independent professional teams: the Bananas and their biggest rivals, the Party Animals.
Over 10,000 fans stormed into Alex Box Stadium to witness the Bananas and the Party Animals in all of their glory. It was a sold-out show three days in a row, and fans matched the energy that the Bananas consistently strive to bring.
“The fans are always crazy, but I feel like they’re more into the game here,” Garrett Declue, a pitcher for the Animals, said about the fans at Alex Box Stadium. “Everytime I look up, I feel like the fans are actually focused on the game, which is cool. Definitely feels like a baseball town for sure.”
The fans-first mentality that the organization strives for is evident from the very beginning.
Upon walking onto the grounds of Alex Box Stadium, fans were met with bright smiles and a jazz band. Attendees packed into the outside gates, awaiting the countdown to enter the stadium. Players stood outside with the fans, signing baseballs and jerseys and taking pictures.
Fan interactions didn’t stop when the game started. In fact, they just got even crazier. From fans being allowed to challenge a Banana Ball play, to “One Less Lonely Girl” by Justin Bieber blasting in the stadium while players walk through the stands handing out roses, those occupying the stands never feel left out.
Fans having a positive experience is priority No. 1 for the organization, and that’s why these players are so passionate about what they do, and it’s most likely why they never seem nervous. Banana Ball isn’t necessarily about the outcome of the game. It’s about the joy that’s experienced throughout it.
“The more I can make it about the fans, the less nervous you actually get,” said Andy Archer, a pitcher for the Bananas. “You don’t really feel the pressure at that point, because it’s no longer about your performance. It’s about how you can serve the people that come.”
The Savannah Bananas pulled out all the stops in Baton Rouge, integrating Louisiana culture and passions into their performances.
“LSU has built such a rich baseball culture around Baton Rouge, and combining that energy with Banana Ball was the perfect storm,” said Drake Toll, the Party Animals’ broadcast entertainer.
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Garrett Delano, a pitcher for the Animals, strutted out to the mound sporting the forever iconic “Burreaux” jersey. Just seconds before delivering a pitch, he sat down into a chair and puffed on a cigar, becoming the embodiment of Joe Burrow’s championship attitude after that last game in 2019.
LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey graced the field as well. She threw out the first pitch of Saturday’s game, which counted in the Animals’ lead-off hitter’s pitch count.
The LSU Tiger Girls made an appearance, performing their viral UDA national championship hip-hop dance to “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson. A few players had cameos in the performance, none of which missed a beat.
“Callin’ Baton Rouge” by Garth Brooks played through the speakers, and like clockwork, the players watched every fan jump to their feet and sing along. Their voices serenaded a live violinist.
“It was the biggest crowd reaction of the year,” Archer said about the moment. “To get a reaction like that to that level, I got absolute chicken skin. It was one of the coolest things I had ever experienced, not just as a player but as someone who loves sports. I will never forget the way this crowd handled ‘Callin’ Baton Rouge.'”
The weekend before they landed in Baton Rouge, the Bananas were playing in Minute Maid stadium. Over 40,000 people were there to experience Banana Ball in a place that extraordinary.
But selling out an MLB stadium couldn’t even begin to compare to the energy that the organization was met with at Alex Box Stadium.
“From the Bananas to the Party Animals, this weekend was really special,” Toll said. “Selling out Minute Maid last weekend made me wonder how much juice a college venue could bring, but it topped anything I’ve seen.”
The Savannah Bananas are headed to the next stop in their 2024 World Tour, but they will undoubtedly always remember the magic that took place in Alex Box Stadium.
“This is the most energy we’ve seen, and it’s made the whole organization just embrace Louisiana,” Toll said. “Seeing fans tailgating at 8 a.m. for our show and getting to repay that with a live fiddle player nailing ‘Calling Baton Rouge,’ that mutual respect, that made the weekend feel deep.”
