Since their first game at Grayson Stadium in 2020, the Savannah Bananas have taken the baseball and sports worlds by storm. Their crazy in-game entertainment has wowed fans with choreography, player walk-ups, and whackiest celebrations.
One intriguing part of the rise of Banana ball is the rules for the games. On their website, a section of the page answers, “What makes us [Savannah Bananas] different?”
The statement reads, “We are not your typical baseball team. We are different. We take chances, toe the line, test the rules, and challenge the way things are supposed to be.”
The Bananas follow this motto to a tee with some of the unique rules they have created during their captivating games.
The golden at-bat rule is the first example. This rule has been circulating in the news like wildfire because there were rumors that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was exploring the idea of using it in the major leagues. Whether it will happen or not, it is one example of how their innovations to baseball rules have transcended the game.
However, the golden at-bat rule is not the only one that has been innovative within baseball. The Bananas also have a two-hour time limit for their games. This means a new inning cannot get started after two hours.
Although slightly different, the average major league baseball game has lasted less and less time over the past few seasons.
In 2024, the average MLB game was two hours and thirty-six minutes. This is shorter than the average game length in 2022, which was three hours and three minutes. The 2022 season was the last before the pitch clock was introduced into Major League Baseball.
Although these concepts of time restraint are different, the Banana’s idea of shortening baseball games has been implemented into Major League Baseball in its own way.
Savannah has also dominated social media, especially TikTok. The Bananas have 8.7 million followers on the platform, compared to 7.9 million for the MLB.
A Bleacher Report article from August describes the difference in posts between the Bananas and MLB as “organic” and full of “randomness.” Savannah’s social media has “creativity and consistency.” These attributes to their posts have created a brand that fans love to enjoy.
The golden at-bat rule and time limits being implemented and talked about by Major League Baseball, along with a thriving social media presence, are just a few ways that the Savannah Bananas have innovated and changed the way baseball is absorbed by audiences everywhere.
