The Savannah Bananas — the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball — are coming to Milwaukee in 2023
The Savannah Bananas, who achieved viral fame for their unique take on baseball and fan-engaging exhibitions, will be barnstorming the country on their "World Tour" in 2023, with two dates at Franklin Field near Milwaukee on Sept. 8-9.
Traveling in a limited capacity outside of Georgia before now, the Bananas are expanding to a 33-city, 21-state tour through 2023.
"We've heard from over 150 cities at this point," said yellow-tuxedoed owner Jesse Cole. "Major league teams, numerous Triple-A ballparks, pretty much every area of the country had reached out, excited to try to bring us to their communities."
Related: The Harlem Globetrotters are coming back to Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum — on New Year's Eve, naturally
Logistically, the Bananas aren't yet equipped to play in big-league ballparks, but the 4,000-seat venue in Franklin (which serves as home to the Milwaukee Milkmen) offers a perfect fit for the team's pregame and in-game shenanigans. The Bananas usually travel with another squad that serves as its foe, the Party Animals, but this stop will feature Milkmen players as opponents.
The professional travel version of the Savannah Bananas play a competitive, unscripted version of baseball that includes a number of rule alterations — including any foul ball caught by a fan resulting in an out.
"Banana Ball" exhibitions also emphasize speed. There's a two-hour time limit, no mound visits, and batters can't leave the batter's box once they enter. Batters can't bunt, but they can steal first base. When a player walks, he's invited to keep sprinting around the bases until every player on defense touches the ball. Extra innings also features a pitcher, catcher and one fielder, and the batter must try to round the bases before he's tossed out.
The Bananas craze has generated interest in a TV show and book, among other ventures.
There's also a great deal of dancing.
Tickets are not yet available, but fans can sign up for a presale.
JR Radcliffe can be reached at (262) 361-9141 or jradcliffe@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.
Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Savannah Bananas bringing baseball 'World Tour' to Milwaukee in 2023
