Banana Ball antics delight Kansas City fans, with nod to Negro League history
Kauffman Stadium went bananas over the weekend. And it had nothing to do with the team that usually plays there.
The Savannah Bananas returned to Kansas City on Saturday, May 30, for the first of two games of Banana Ball against the Indianapolis Clowns. Saturday also marked the first time the Clowns headlined a game at a major league stadium, since they were the designated home team for the Saturday match.
The team has taken the world by storm since 2018, playing baseball in the most unorthodox ways imaginable in professional stadiums across the country.
The K had a sold-out crowd Saturday, where fans got to see everything from dances in between pitches, a Clowns player who could bend his arms in unfathomable ways and fans dressed in poop costumes playing musical chairs.
What’s better: Banana Ball or the major leagues?
One obvious difference between Major League Baseball and the Banana Ball League is the antics in between. MLB tends to be against foolishness at times, while Banana Ball can get very unserious.
Kids and adults at the matchup leaned more toward the unserious side of baseball. Jack Thomas, an 11-year-old fan donning a banana costume, came to the ballpark with his mom, Michelle, for their third-ever Banana Ball game. They both agreed that the Savannah Bananas’ style of play is something they’d prefer to watch over regular MLB.
“It’s a ton of fun to even be there. They don’t even have to interact with you, (and) you’re still gonna have a smile on your face while watching them,” Jack said.
Some families came from beyond the KC area to catch the banana madness. The Conrad family traveled three hours from Omaha, Nebraska, citing the league’s family-friendly nature.
“I think that they draw in the kids because they bring in the singing and dancing. They just make it more entertaining for the kids by putting on a show and doing more interactive things for families,” said Kaitynn, who was with her daughters, Amelia and Riley. “They obviously pack the stands, so they just make it more fun for the families.”
Last year’s game was star-studded for Royals fans. Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon all played for the Bananas in last year’s match. But big name Royals alumni sat out Saturday’s game.
On the other side, Ryan Howard, a former National League MVP and World Series champion with the Philadelphia Phillies, was the third base coach for the Clowns. The Florissant, Missouri, native had some company on his side, when a performer juggling bowling pins performed near him late in the game.
The Savannah Bananas did have a Missouri native on the bump to start the game. Noah Niznik is an Imperial, Missouri, native who played his college ball at Southeast Missouri State University. He had a scare in the second inning when a line drive nearly clipped his head. He stayed in the game, but surrendered a three-run homer that allowed the Clowns to win the inning.
Kansas City museum helped launch Indianapolis Clowns
This series between the Bananas and the Clowns in KC has more significance that might not be apparent at first glance. The Indianapolis Clowns originated from the Negro Leagues in the 1930s. They were essentially the Harlem Globetrotters of the league. At one point, MLB legend Hank Aaron played for the squad.
In a partnership with Kansas City’s Negro League Baseball Museum, the Bananas helped revive the Clowns, adding them to the six-team Banana Ball League. It was only right that Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro League Baseball Museum, helped begin the game with an old-fashioned “play ball!” Earlier in the week, both Bananas and Clowns players visited the 18th & Vine District museum to learn more about the league’s history.
The Clowns made sure fans understood the importance of its teams’ history, as Kansas City is considered by some the birthplace of the Negro Leagues. The team threw things back to the 1930s, honoring former Clowns players while putting on a performance pregame. Their pregame segment was even broadcasted in black and white to pay homage to that era.
Major League Baseball fans may have recognized a familiar face on the field. Jackie Bradley Jr. was the starting center fielder for the Clowns. Bradley Jr. is a former World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox, and last appeared in the MLB with the Royals in 2023.
“It’s an absolute honor to don the same jerseys as the players that come before us. They’re the reason why we’re able to play this game,” Bradley said. “That was the main reason for me coming and playing Banana Ball. It was a lot that went into this, and I’m so glad to be a part of this, and hopefully continue it.”
Bradley credits his teammates for helping him adjust his game from professional baseball to Banana Ball. He also said that despite any demeaning thoughts people may have about the league, he believes their style of play is making an impact on fans.
“We’re having a good time. Our fans are having an amazing time,” he said. “There’s amazing talent here up and down the board. Whether it’s entertainment, baseball players or just true athletes. We’re changing peoples lives and trying to put some smiles on people’s faces.”
And as whimsical and lighthearted Banana Ball can be, someone still has to lose by the ninth inning. Bananas player Kyle Jackson was the team’s golden batter, a rule that lets either team send any player to hit at any point of the game once.
With one out left, Jackson hit a fly ball to Joe Gray Jr. in center field to end the game, giving the Clowns a win in their first ever headlining game in a major league stadium. Gray was sporting a cowboy hat when he caught the final out, cause that’s just what happens in Banana Ball.
