Citizens Bank Park goes to be completely rocking on Saturday for baseball — however not for the Phillies. While the Phils are up in Queens to face the Mets, the Savannah Bananas are making the Bank their house park on Saturday.
You could have heard of the Savannah Bananas, a larger-than-life novelty baseball staff, or seen clips of them on social media. Here’s every thing it is advisable to know forward of their go to.
The Bananas don’t play by conventional baseball guidelines. They put on kilts and carry out choreographed dance routines throughout the sport, particularly their 3-2-2 dance, which is available in the third inning, second batter, second pitch. The Bananas even have the world’s tallest pitcher, a person who performs on stilts. The umpire dances, they’ve obtained a Dad Bod Cheerleading Squad and a senior citizen dance staff. This isn't your customary baseball sport.
The Bananas are at all times altering their routines, making every sport a singular expertise by itself, however they do nonetheless play baseball. The walk-ups and post-run celebrations are a few of the most energetic components of the sport.
The sport at Citizens Bank Park is bought out, however there are tickets obtainable on the secondary market.
» READ MORE: Philly native Ivan Traczuk grew up at the Vet, beat most cancers, and now helps the Savannah Bananas go viral
The Savannah Bananas have been beforehand a school summer time league staff, based in 2016. They performed in the Coastal Plain League. To draw followers to the ballpark, they named the staff the Savannah Bananas, and as soon as they obtained there, they shocked followers with dancing gamers, the senior citizen dance staff, and all-you-can-eat concessions (not getting these at the Bank, sorry, guys). The experiment was so successful that the faculty summer time league staff was discontinued in 2022, and the staff dedicated full-time to “Banana Ball.”
A number of athletes got here up via the summer time league staff, together with Beau Sulser, who made main league appearances with the Pirates and Orioles; Cade Marlowe, who performed with the Mariners; Brett Wisely (Giants); Braden Shewmake (Braves, White Sox); and Rylan Bannon (Orioles, Braves, Astros).
The Savannah Bananas even have had former MLB gamers and different celebrities make shock visitor appearances throughout their video games, like John Cena, former Phillie Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes, and Johnny Damon.
Will there be a particular visitor at the Bank on Saturday? There are loads of choices, from present and former Philly athletes to native celebrities.
» READ MORE: Meet the Savannah Bananas earlier than they take over Citizens Bank Park
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During most of their video games, the Savannah Bananas play the Party Animals, the Washington Generals to their Harlem Globetrotters. Unlike the Generals, the Party Animals do sometimes win. But the Party Animals are the comparably less-silly counterpart to the Bananas, and tour round the nation to be their main adversary.
The Bananas have just a few different opponents, like the Firefighters, however primarily play the Party Animals and can play them on Saturday.
Savannah Bananas merchandise shall be obtainable at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, and likewise is available online, the place you should purchase Bananas, Party Animals, or Firefighters jerseys, T-shirts, and extra.
The Bananas name themselves a “barnstorming” baseball staff. Barnstorming is when a staff travels round and performs house video games at a wide range of cities and venues, as an alternative of simply sticking to its house metropolis. The Bananas have traveled to Tampa, Fla., Las Vegas, Nashville, Oklahoma City, and different cities in 2024.
