A sellout crowd packed Kauffman Stadium Friday night to get a glimpse of one of the most “a-peeling” teams in baseball.
This crowd wasn’t at The K to see the boys in blue. The Royals are playing on the road this weekend. These baseball fans were all about seeing a bunch of guys dressed in bright yellow uniforms playing baseball like the Harlem Globetrotters play basketball.
The Savannah Bananas took on the Firefighters (another team that has dance numbers in their playbook) in a game that was closer to a slapstick vaudeville act than a stodgy MLB game. The Bananas have become a worldwide sensation over the course of a few years. The team refers to their style of play as Banana Ball.
The barnstorming Bananas have plenty of talented athletes who can play a pretty good game of baseball while adding their entertaining antics to turn it into Banana Ball, but they got some help Friday night from some players who are familiar to Royals fans. Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas, all members of the Royals’ 2015 World Series Championship team donned the yellow uniforms to get in on the fun.
More Banana Ball is in store at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday when the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters in front of another sellout crowd.
See photos of Banana Ball at The K.
A member of the Savannah Bananas’ Dad Bod Cheer Squad rips their shirt before a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas dancing base coach Maceo Harrison, performs a backflip while warming up during practice before a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas outfielder Ty Jackson (7) shimmies while practicing a dance routine with teammates before a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas utility player Dakota Albritton (14) poses for a photo with five-year-old Gracyn Marx of South Dakota during VIB fan access before a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas designated runner Malachi Mitchell, wearing multiple necklaces and bracelets, signs a baseball glove during VIB fan access before a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole wears a yellow suit while walking on the field during practice before a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas players practice a dance routine before a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Former Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer practices a dance routine with Savannah Bananas players before a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Terri Engroff, left, and her twin sister Toni Marengo wear banana-themed attire as they attend a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas extra hitter Alex Ziegler (10) balances a ladder during a pregame activity before a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas pitcher Kyle Luigs (14) throws a pitch in the seventh inning during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Former Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon, introduced as the golden batter, smiles after striking out in the eighth inning during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Former Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer surprises fans during a dance routine with Savannah Bananas players during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Former Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas lifts his cap to fans before batting in the sixth inning during a Banana Ball game at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Former Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer bats in the third inning during a Banana Ball game between the Savannah Bananas and the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas utility player KJ Jackson (4) flashes a peace sign and sticks out his tongue while sliding into third base during the second inning of a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Former Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer surprises fans during a dance routine with Savannah Bananas players during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Former Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon is introduced as the golden batter in the eighth inning during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas shortstop Ryan Cox (6) slides into first base in the eighth inning during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas utility player KJ Jackson (4), left, and Firefighters outfielder Noah Bridges (9) perform a dance to “Breaking Free” from High School Musical during the eighth inning of a Banana Ball game at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Firefighters utility player Mason Maxwell catches a pop-up with his bare hand in the eighth inning during a Banana Ball game against the Savannah Bananas at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
A batch of Cabbage Patch Kids dolls dressed in Savannah Bananas attire resembling players on the team are seen in the dugout during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas players sing during the seventh-inning stretch as fans wave their phone flashlights along to music during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
The Firefighters perform a dance routine in the eighth inning after tying the game during a Banana Ball game against the Savannah Bananas at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas pitcher Zack Phillips (29) throws a pitch in the eighth inning during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas utility player KJ Jackson (4) sticks out his tongue as he runs to third base in the fifth inning of a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Former Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer surprises fans during a dance routine with Savannah Bananas players during a Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas players celebrate after defeating the Firefighters during a Banana Ball game at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas players celebrate after defeating the Firefighters during a Banana Ball game at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 11:21 PM.
Emily Curiel, is a visual journalist at The Star. With a broad scope of coverage, Curiel navigates subjects including breaking news, sports, features and long-form narratives. She is a first-generation graduate from San Francisco State University and a native of Los Angeles.
