History of Banana Ball
Banana Ball started as a rule set tried by the Savannah Bananas in 2020 and grew into a six-team touring league. Here is how it happened.
2016
- The Savannah Bananas are founded in Savannah, Georgia.
2020
- The first official game is played under the Banana Ball rule set.
- The Party Animals arrive as the touring rival to the Bananas.
3 games on record. See the 2020 season.
2021
- A one-city World Tour stop in Mobile, Alabama takes Banana Ball outside Savannah for the first time.
5 games on record. See the 2021 season.
2022
- The Bananas leave the Coastal Plain League and become a full-time professional Banana Ball team.
- ESPN launches the "Bananaland" series, following the team on its first seven-city spring tour.
21 games on record. See the 2022 season.
2023
- The Bananas go on a 114-game tour.
- The Firefighters are announced as the third Banana Ball team.
- Banana Ball is inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
84 games on record. See the 2023 season.
2024
- The Banana Ball Championship League (BBCL) is announced.
- The Texas Tailgaters join as the fourth team.
95 games on record. See the 2024 season.
2025
- The first Banana Ball game in an NFL stadium is played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
- The Loco Beach Coconuts and the Indianapolis Clowns are added, making six teams.
- The Firefighters and the Texas Tailgaters headline their own tours for the first time.
114 games on record. See the 2025 season.
2026
- The BBCL begins, with all six teams touring and more than 180 games on the schedule.
- The Texas Tailgaters beat the Savannah Bananas 2 to 1 in the October 10 playoff final to win the first BBCL title. Source
195 games on record. See the 2026 season.
Source: bananaball.com history, checked Nov 12, 2026, written in our own words. See also the rules history.