Honoring a Legacy
The Savannah Bananas, a professional baseball franchise based in Savannah, Georgia, burst onto the scene in 2016 with a brand of play they call Banana Ball. Founded by entrepreneur Jesse Cole, the team quickly became known for its high‑energy performances, fan‑interactive rules and a style that blends comedy with competition.
Cole has taken the concept further by launching the six‑team Banana Ball Championship League, a touring circuit that showcases the same fast‑paced, fan‑first approach. The league’s growing popularity has drawn comparisons to the historic Negro Leagues, whose teams were celebrated not only for skill but also for entertaining audiences across the country.
Central to the Bananas’ mission is a partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. Museum president Bob Kendrick has worked closely with the club to highlight the legacy of African‑American baseball pioneers. In 2022 the team visited the museum, an experience that sparked a renewed collaboration and inspired the revival of the Indianapolis Clowns, a storied barnstorming squad known for its comedic yet competitive play.
The Indianapolis Clowns, originally formed in the 1930s, are being resurrected to honor the spirit of the Negro Leagues and to educate newer fans about their contributions. Former MLB star Jackie Bradley Jr., who toured the museum with the Bananas, praised the initiative as a powerful way to connect past and present generations of baseball lovers.
The Negro Leagues, founded in 1920, were renowned for a faster, more aggressive style of play and for pioneering integration breakthroughs that eventually reshaped Major League Baseball. After disbanding in the early 1960s, the leagues received official recognition when MLB elevated them to Major League status in 2020. Today, the Savannah Bananas and their expanding league continue to carry forward that heritage, bringing historic teams back to the field and keeping the story alive for fans across the United States.