Syracuse, N.Y. — Banana ball is coming to Central New York.
The Savannah Bananas 2023 “world tour” will conclude with stops at Syracuse’s NBT Bank Stadium on Sept. 14, 2023, and in Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, on Sept. 16, 2023.
The Bananas, self-described as a “World Famous Baseball Circus,” play an unconventional style of baseball designed to make the games more fun.
Rules include a two-hour time limit, batters are not allowed to step out of the box, no bunting, no mound visits, walks are sprints, batters can steal first base, and if a fan catches a foul ball, it’s an out.
The Bananas’ antics went viral, attracting millions of followers on social media.
The Bananas were featured this past summer on their own ESPN+ documentary series called “Bananaland.”
The Bananas roster includes former college and pro standouts and some former Major League Baseball players joining the fun. Former MLB All-Star pitcher Bill “Spaceman” Lee made regular appearances for the Bananas last season at age 75. Jonny Gomes, Jake Peavy, Jonathan Papelbon and Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench have all made appearances with the team as well.
The Bananas played at Savannah’s Grayson Stadium and also in Alabama, Florida and Kansas City, Kansas, last season, packing ballparks where ever they played. They are now taking their antics coast-to-coast.
Tickets for the Bananas’ appearances in Syracuse and Cooperstown are not on sale yet.
According to the Bananas’ website, tickets go on sale approximately two months before a selected city’s game day.
For Syracuse, that will be on July 14, 2023. For Cooperstown, the date is July 16, 2023.