The Game Making Baseball Fans Go Bananas

Summary

The Journal: The Game Making Baseball Fans Go Bananas

Episode Release Date: August 8, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza
Produced by The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

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Introduction

In this episode of The Journal, hosts Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza dive into the vibrant world of Banana Ball, a reinvention of America's beloved pastime that is captivating fans with its high-energy and entertaining approach. The episode explores how Banana Ball is transforming the traditional baseball experience, drawing large crowds, and fostering a new generation of passionate fans.

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The Birth of Banana Ball

Jessica Mendoza sets the scene by recounting her visit to a Banana Ball game at Baltimore's Camden Yards. "It was a Friday night in Baltimore. Shockingly temperate. It was the perfect night for a ball game," she describes (00:09). The atmosphere was electric, surpassing the usual baseball game experience.

Ryan Reynolds introduces Banana Ball as more than just baseball. "The phenomenon Jason was there to see wasn't the Orioles. It wasn't even really baseball. Jason was there for banana ball," he explains (00:36). Banana Ball merges the traditional elements of baseball with circus-like entertainment, creating a spectacle that appeals to a broader audience.

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What is Banana Ball?

Jessica Mendoza elaborates on the essence of Banana Ball: "Banana ball is a fast paced circus like short attention span attack on your senses. It is really all about entertainment maximization at all times" (01:03). This innovative format addresses concerns that baseball has become monotonous by injecting constant excitement and variety into the game.

Ryan Reynolds further describes the gameplay: "Banana ball is a lot like baseball. There are pitchers and batters, infielders and outfielders. But the players do more than just play ball. They wear crazy costumes, they cartwheel and dance and perform all kinds of tricks" (01:24). The infusion of performances transforms each game into a unique and engaging experience.

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Pre-Game Festivities

The pre-game activities are a significant part of the Banana Ball experience. Jessica Mendoza notes, "The pre game is a key part of the banana ball experience. There are dozens of events that can happen on the field before the game starts" (05:48). Activities range from dancing with the Banana Nanas, a senior citizen dance team, to baby crawling races, ensuring that fans of all ages are entertained long before the game begins.

Ryan Reynolds emphasizes the fan-first mantra: "That's one of their mantras, you know, that's a banana ball mantra, which is fans first" (06:16). This approach prioritizes creating a family-friendly environment, making the game accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

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The Game Experience

Once the game starts, Banana Ball maintains its high-energy vibe. Jessica Mendoza explains, "First thing you see, and it's a real jolt to your system, is a clock... that says two hours and ticks down from that" (06:45). This time limit ensures the game remains fast-paced, contrasting with the often lengthy traditional baseball matches.

Jason Gay shares his excitement: "Banana Nation. It is time" (06:39). The players, described as entertainers with baseball skills, perform tricks and stunts without compromising the competitive nature of the game. Jessica Mendoza adds, "These players are entertainers. You know, many of them are very, very talented prospects and ex prospects but they all have a little bit of show biz in them" (07:07).

The emphasis on both skill and spectacle keeps fans engaged. For example, a fantasy flip catch or a backflip by a player adds an element of surprise and delight. Jessica Mendoza highlights, "It's really a good game. It's not like just jokes and sloppy ball. It's really a good game" (08:17).

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Fan Engagement and Community

Banana Ball has cultivated a passionate and engaged fanbase. Jessica Mendoza observes, "There are some real super fans of banana ball. People who had jerseys of players, people had made homemade signs" (10:07). The team has effectively utilized social media to build its following, boasting over 10 million TikTok followers, surpassing even major teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers (11:11).

Jessica Mendoza also points out the economic impact: "Local hotels are filling up. There's an economic impact upon the host cities. People are coming from far and wide to see it" (10:44). This widespread appeal not only enhances the fan experience but also benefits the host communities economically.

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Building the Brand: Insights from Jesse Cole

Jesse Cole, the founder of Banana Ball, provides an insider's perspective on the creation and growth of the league. "After the break, we started with nothing. We were failing. It wasn't until we said, whatever's normal, do the exact opposite" (11:27). This contrarian approach led to the unique and entertaining format that defines Banana Ball today.

Jesse emphasizes the importance of fun and innovation: "We've been described as the greatest show in sports. And so it is fun and joy. That's the heart of everything" (15:28). The continuous effort to introduce new ideas and spectacles ensures that each game offers something fresh and exciting.

When asked about the authenticity of the competition, Jesse reassures listeners: "The biggest comparison we get is the Harlem Globetrotters. But the Globe charters always win... what happens on the field, you can't script someone hitting a 420ft ball. That's not that easy to script" (16:07). This commitment to genuine competition distinguishes Banana Ball from purely scripted performances.

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Business Model and Growth Strategy

Banana Ball's business model focuses on direct fan engagement and avoiding traditional revenue streams like hefty ticket fees and advertising. Jesse Cole explains, "Our tickets are 40, 50 and 60 dollars with no ticket fees, no convenience fees, no service fees" (16:41). By selling directly to fans and utilizing platforms like YouTube for live streaming, Banana Ball prioritizes long-term fan loyalty over immediate profits.

Jesse Cole also contrasts Banana Ball with major sports leagues: "We're playing the long game. We're interested in long term fans over short term profits and that's different than most businesses" (16:41). This sustainable approach has allowed Banana Ball to grow steadily while maintaining its core values of fun and fan-first engagement.

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Impact on Traditional Sports and Future Prospects

The success of Banana Ball has had a ripple effect on traditional baseball. Jessica Mendoza notes, "I don't think it can be directly attributed to banana ball, but some of the pace of play alterations that Major League Baseball has made in the last couple years... I think they have banana parts to them" (17:14). Innovations such as the pitch clock and limiting mound visits reflect a shift towards a more engaging and faster-paced game, inspired in part by Banana Ball's popularity.

Jessica Mendoza further discusses the broader implications for sports: "Sports has been slow to react to [family alienation]. They really oriented into the corporate fan experience... I do worry about the effect that it has on the subsequent generations" (18:23). Banana Ball's family-friendly and affordable approach presents a model that other sports could adopt to rebuild and expand their fanbases.

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Conclusion

Banana Ball represents a bold reinvention of baseball, blending athletic competition with continuous entertainment to create an immersive and enjoyable experience for fans. Through innovative gameplay, dynamic pre-game activities, and a strong focus on fan engagement, Banana Ball is not only attracting new audiences but also influencing changes within traditional sports. As Jesse Cole envisions, the long-term goal is to sustain and grow this unique form of baseball, ensuring that the joy and fun at the heart of the game endure for future generations.

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Notable Quotes:

• "Banana ball is a fast paced circus like short attention span attack on your senses." — Jessica Mendoza (01:03)
• "Our tickets are 40, 50 and 60 dollars with no ticket fees, no convenience fees, no service fees." — Jesse Cole (16:41)
• "It's really a good game. It's not like just jokes and sloppy ball. It's really a good game." — Jessica Mendoza (08:17)

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This comprehensive exploration of Banana Ball highlights its innovative approach to reviving baseball, making it a must-listen for sports enthusiasts and those interested in the evolving landscape of sports entertainment.

Transcript

[Jesse Cole]

Here to honor America with the singing.

[Jason Gay]

Of tonight's national anthem.

[Jessica Mendoza]

It was a Friday night in Baltimore. Shockingly temperate. It was the perfect night for a ball game.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Last weekend, my colleague Jason Gay caught a game at Camden Yards. That's the home of Baltimore's major league baseball team, the Orioles.

[Jessica Mendoza]

The place was completely packed. It felt more like a party than any baseball game I'd ever been to. And it really delivered on what the phenomenon has been.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The phenomenon Jason was there to see wasn't the Orioles. It wasn't even really baseball. Jason was there for banana ball. Banana ball taking America's favorite pastime to.

[Jessica Mendoza]

New and often ridiculous heights.

[Emily Cole]

The wildest thing in sports today.

[Jason Gay]

Part baseball, part big top and nonstop fun.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And just for the uninitiated, what is banana ball? Could you describe it?

[Jessica Mendoza]

Banana ball is a fast paced circus like short attention span attack on your senses. It is really all about entertainment maximization at all times. And it is an answer to anybody's lament that baseball has become boring.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Banana ball is a lot like baseball. There are pitchers and batters, infielders and outfielders. But the players do more than just play ball. They wear crazy costumes, they cartwheel and dance and perform all kinds of tricks.

[Jason Gay]

De Armetto's bare handed backflip. Unbelievable.

[Ryan Reynolds]

In other words, they put on a show. Except it isn't a show. It's a real competition, just with a little more panache. And fans are eating it up.

[Jessica Mendoza]

They are selling out major league baseball stadiums across the 81,000 people to a college football stadium. You know, it's kind of hard to argue that the audience is there and wants to see it. And you can't help but say, what is going on here?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Welcome to the Journal, our show about money, business and power. I'm Jessica mendoza. It's Friday, August 8th. Coming up on the show is banana ball Reinventing America's pastime.

[Emily Cole]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Jessica Mendoza]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Jason Gay]

This is ban Mina Ball.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Jason went to the banana ball game last weekend with his wife and kid in Tower. They were there to see the Savannah Bananas, the original team of the Banana Ball league.

[Jessica Mendoza]

This will come as a surprise to you, but they very much look like bananas. The banana yellow is the signature color of banana baseball.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Banana ball, yeah, move over Sabrina Carpenter and butter yellow. It's banana yellow over here.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Oh, it's all about banana yellow and it's impossible to miss. And I think that that was clearly the idea is that that is not a color that you wear out if you're trying to hide.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The Bananas were duking it out with a rival team, the Firefighters.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Typical nemesis. The foil for the Savannah Bananas, who are the marquee team, is another collection of players called the Firefighters, who, true to their name, dress like firefighters. They have a pretty cool outfit and they have fans of their own and they have jokes of their own and they have a whole style and way that they play.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But well, before the game even began, the stadium was already packed.

[Jessica Mendoza]

I mean, one thing that was stunning to me was that my friends were going to the game at 4 o' clock in the afternoon and I was like, wait a second, the game isn't until 7 o'.

[Jesse Cole]

Clock.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Why are you going three hours early? Turns out that's what fans do for banana ball.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The pre game is a key part of the banana ball experience. There are dozens of events that can happen on the field before the game starts you can boogie with a senior citizen dance team called the Banana Nanas.

[Jessica Mendoza]

I'm Nana Karen. I'm the head Banana Nana.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You can rally with the cheerleading squad, the Man Nanas, which is the dad bod cheer squad. There are even baby crawling races. Baby races. That must be so fun for the fans.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Well, that's one of their mantras, you know, that's a banana ball mantra, which is fans first. And look, you know, they didn't invent that. Every, every business in some ways is trying to, you know, go right at the customer in, in every way. But they are distinct within the world of professional sports entertainment in the lengths that they will go to.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And it all leads up to the actual game.

[Jason Gay]

Banana Nation. It is time.

[Jessica Mendoza]

First thing you see, and it's a real jolt to your system, is a clock. Go right up on the scoreboard that says two hours and ticks, ticks, ticks down from that.

[Jason Gay]

On three, we need everyone here to yell, start the clock. One, two, three.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Showtime.

[Jessica Mendoza]

That game is not going to go one second longer than two hours. And so if you have sat through a three and a half, four hour baseball game in your life, definitely. Or watched a football game, going to double overtime or whatever, you are thrilled to see that. Liam Spence behind 01.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Once the players take their places, the show really begins.

[Jessica Mendoza]

These players are entertainers. You know, many of them are very, very talented prospects and ex prospects, but they all have a little bit of show biz in them.

[Jason Gay]

He's gonna pull off a backflip catch. It'll be a sacrifice fly for Lacey.

[Jessica Mendoza]

I mean, I was shocked the first time I saw an outfielder do a fantasy flip and then catch a ball. Now I've never seen that in a major league game. Probably because the player would be immediately benched by the manager for doing such a thing.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Also might hurt themselves trying to do a backflip. I don't know.

[Jessica Mendoza]

The opportunity for embarrassment is very, very high. Right, Exactly. But they can do it. They all have these kinds of gifts and they, you know, play with the game with a lot of flair, a lot of personality, line drive to him. The glove magician turns it into his.

[Jason Gay]

147Th trick play on the tour.

[Jessica Mendoza]

But another thing, and it's important to say is that it's good baseball. These are good baseball players. These guys can hit, they can catch, they can do all kinds of things. And so that was something that I think jumped out at me too, is that this is actually compelling baseball to watch. It's not like just jokes and sloppy ball. It's really a good game.

[Jason Gay]

Ron Franklin puts a charge into this deep out to left center. Pop boy, run to the bullpen. Second home run of the tour for the firefighters.

[Ryan Reynolds]

For all the sideshows, banana ball does still look a lot like traditional baseball, just with tweaks. There's the two hour time limit and there are other ways to move the game along.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Main thing is pace, pace, pace. They want this game to move as quickly as possible. So for example, the batter in the box cannot leave that box. When they get up there with the bat, they are staying in there. The pitcher is rearing back and throwing as quickly as possible. They are accelerating, accelerating, accelerating.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Scoring works differently too. And if a batter hits a foul ball into the stands and a fan catches it, that counts as an actual out in the game.

[Jason Gay]

Dustin Baber with a barrel. But foul caught by a fan and that's your ball game.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It didn't happen at the game Jason went to, but when it does, the fans go wild. And you can get all of this, the pre game, the main event and all the sideshows for a relatively low price in Baltimore. Jason says $60 got you the best seat in the house.

[Jessica Mendoza]

I mean, that's not dirt cheap, but it is quite a bit cheaper than the average ticket price for a professional sporting event in 2025. It is designed with the idea of getting families in there, getting young people.

[Ryan Reynolds]

What has been the response, like, to this game? Are there regulars now, people who follow these from game to game?

[Jessica Mendoza]

Oh, my gosh, I'm so glad you mentioned that because that was something, you know, I thought most people would be like me, just kind of like, oh, what's about curious. But there are some real super fans of banana ball. People who had jerseys of players, people had made homemade signs. People had come from far and wide. I can't believe I'm saying this, but much in the way that you saw people travel around Taylor Swift's ERAS tour, like, you know, people come into faraway cities, you know, yeah, you see that with banana ball. The local hotels are filling up. There's an economic impact upon the host cities. People are coming from far and wide to see it. And yeah, they definitely have their super fans.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Many of these superfans found the game online. In fact, you won't see any traditional ads for banana ball.

[Jessica Mendoza]

I mean, just one thing that's interesting is that they don't do advertising. You don't like, turn on the TV and see like, come on down and watch the Savannah Bananas. This is all like word of mouth. And if you're on social media, they're pretty impossible to miss. They have more followers on TikTok just than the Los Angeles Dodgers. That's how big this thing has gotten.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Just for perspective, The Dodgers have 2 million followers on TikTok. The bananas have 10 million. And although Banana Ball is already a viral sensation, its founder, Jesse Cole, has bigger dreams for the game.

[Jessica Mendoza]

And Jesse Cole will say, this is he is not a fan. When people say, oh, this is a fad, you know, the last thing he wants is for people to look back on 2025 as the year of the Savannah Bananas. He wants this to be built to last.

[Jesse Cole]

After the break, we started with nothing. We were failing. It wasn't until we said, whatever's normal, do the exact opposite. So whatever you expect in a baseball game, we like to do something a little different.

[Ryan Reynolds]

We hear from Jesse Cole himself about this short game's long game.

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[Ryan Reynolds]

Could you just for our podcast audience, describe what you're wearing?

[Jesse Cole]

Right now, I'm in a full yellow tuxedo with a yellow top hat. I own nine of them. I've been wearing them from over 10 years. It's kind of my signature look these days.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Jesse Cole is everything you'd expect from a guy who started a sport called banana ball. He talks a bit like a carnival barker.

[Jesse Cole]

There's trick plays, there's celebrations, there's dances, there's walk ups. You know, I want fans to never, if they blink, they may miss something.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Jesse played baseball in college, but after an injury, he found himself mostly in.

[Jesse Cole]

The stands as someone watching the game. I realized, you know, it was pretty slow, pretty long, pretty boring, and I just wasn't excited watching the game anymore. So, you know, started looking at all the parts of a baseball game that are too long, too slow, too boring, and, you know, batter stepping out of the box and mound visits and walks. So we started writing down ideas, and back in 2018, we played the first banana ball game. And behind closed doors. And since then, it's grown pretty well.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But founding a sport and turning it into a phenomenon, not an easy task. Jesse and his wife Emily started out in 2015 by buying a team from a minor league franchise in Savannah, Georgia. But it was a hard sell to get anyone to join their team or come to their events.

[Jesse Cole]

My wife and I, we had empty out our savings account. We were sleeping on an air bed. No one wanted to play for us. No one wanted to come see us. No one wanted anything to do with us. In fact, we actually had a free launch party with like, you know, steak and crab cakes and free alcohol, and only 70 people showed up. And in fact, the conference center felt so bad, they didn't even charge us for it. That's how bad they felt. Like even free events, people didn't want.

[Ryan Reynolds]

So they rebranded to something with better appeal.

[Jesse Cole]

We decided to name the team the Savannah Bananas. And at that point, we got tons of criticism. You know, the owner should be thrown out of town. You're an embarrassment to the city. But people saw something, and everything changed when we became the Bananas. Even though our first shipment of T shirts, there were too many n's in bananas. We literally misspelled our own name. Yeah, we misspelled our own name with our first shirt. So we've had missteps every step of the way. But the reality is that's where it started. With a banana and go bananas. To think differently, to have fun, to not take yourself too seriously.

[Ryan Reynolds]

What is at the heart of Bananaball? How is it different?

[Jesse Cole]

Well, we've been described as the greatest show in sports. And so it is fun and joy. That's the heart of everything. And then really, the spirit of our company is fans first, entertain, always. We've learned a lot from Saturday Night Live, WWE and Circa Soleil. And so who is coming up with a brand new show every single week? And so every Tuesday, we do OTT sessions, over the top ideas. We come up with 10 to 15 things we've never done in front of a live crowd. So we'll do a table read, we'll do live rehearsals. We do props, we do designs. We do all of that because we want people to see something that's truly remarkable every single night.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Just to be clear, your games are, like, not rigged, right? They are true competition. People are trying to win.

[Jesse Cole]

Yeah. The biggest comparison we get is the Harlem Globeters. But the Globe charters always win. You know, we script the entertainment. There will be walk ups, there will be dances, there'll be scoring celebrations, there'll be certain things. But what happens on the field, you can't script someone hitting a. You know, the other day we had a walk off home run. Unbelievable. In front of 45,000 fans. You can't script hitting a ball 420ft. That's not that easy to script.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Right now there are four teams in banana. The Savannah Bananas, the Firefighters, the Party Animals and the Texas Tailgaters. Jesse and Emily Cole own them all. How is business going? Are you making money?

[Jesse Cole]

Yeah, yeah, we're very fortunate. And so, you know, we leave millions of dollars on the table and that's what's unique. So our tickets are 40, 50 and 60 dollars with no ticket fees, no convenient fees, no service fees. So we literally built our own ticket platform, our own tickets. So there's no fees, there's none of that. And yeah, we only sell directly to fans. We also didn't have traditional sponsorship. We eliminated all the ads from our stadium in Savannah. We do all of our games for free on YouTube. So we don't do traditional TV rights. You know, we're playing the long game. We're interested in long term fans over short term profits and that's different than most businesses.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Do you have a message to Major League Baseball?

[Jesse Cole]

No, I have a lot of respect and admiration. I think they are on the right track. So just keep remembering why we played the game when we started. We played it to have fun as a kid, we played it to have fun. And I think there's a value to fun. Once the world gets so, so competitive, I think it takes away the joy of the game and I think there's a world that they both can exist and that's what we're trying to create.

[Ryan Reynolds]

My colleague Jason Gay says baseball has already made a few changes to make the game more fan friendly.

[Jessica Mendoza]

I don't think it can be directly attributed to banana ball, but some of the pace of play alterations that Major League Baseball has made in the last couple years, whether it's the pitch clock, whether it's limiting mound visits by the manager, all the things that are sort of done to speed things up, some of the things that people freaked out about, but now kind of like because it moves the game along.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jessica Mendoza]

I think those have banana parts to them. They have shown a different way of doing things. And I don't think that there's any question that it's helped baseball.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And so that's baseball. But can other sports learn something from banana ball?

[Jessica Mendoza]

Well, I think one of the worst changes in sports over the past generation and a half has been the alienation of families because they've been priced out. You know, forget about the ticket prices, which are ridiculous. Parking, hot dogs, oh, my gosh, the.

[Ryan Reynolds]

$20 hot dog, soda pop, beer, peanuts.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Cracker Jacks, all those things, Right? So people are fed up with that. And I think that sports has been slow to react to it. They've really oriented into the corporate fan experience. They've really oriented into the luxury box, kind of. And I do worry about the effect that it has on the subsequent generations because, you know, how do you build tomorrow's sports fantasy? You gotta bring them to the park. Now, you don't turn somebody into a sports fan at 40. They turn into a sports fan when they're young and they have those kinds of impressionable experiences when they're being brought to the park by a relative, family, friend, so on.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And that's part of what was on Jason's mind as the banana ball game came to a close last weekend.

[Jason Gay]

The crowd in Camden Yards going buck wild.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And how did the. How did the game end? Who won?

[Jessica Mendoza]

Well, I'm here to tell you that the bananas won, I believe, the final score. Golly. This is actually indicative of what we're talking about though, Jess, that here I am a sports writer and I can't even tell you what the final score of the game was. And yet I had a great time. You know, maybe there's something to learn from that, right? That it's the experience that I took away from it. It's the sort of joy, a great night at the ballpark. I mean, you know, kind of what.

[Jason Gay]

You want doing aerials all over the diamond before touching home to deliver the Never say Die bananas.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That's all for today. Friday, August 8th the Journal is a co production of Spotify and the Wall Street Journal. The show's made by Kathryn Brewer, Pia Gadkari, Carlos Garcia, Rachel Humphries, Sophie Codner, Ryan Knudson, Matt Kwong, Colin McNulty, Annie Minoff, Laura Morris, Enrique Perez de la Rosa, Sarah Platt, Allen Rodriguez Espinosa, Heather Rogers, Pierce Singhi, Jeevika Verma, Lisa Wang, Katherine Whalen, Tatiana Zemis, and me, Jessica Mendoza. Our engineers are Griffin Tanner, Nathan Singapak and Peter Leonard. Our theme music is by so Wiley. Theme music in this episode is remixed by Bobby Lord. Additional music this week from Katherine Anderson, Peter Leonard, Griffin Tanner, so Wiley and Blue Dot Sessions. Fact checking this week by Kate Gallagher. Thanks for listening. See you Monday.