KNOXVILLE – This is probably not what Alexander Cartwright had in mind.

The man credited with inventing many of the rules of baseball that are still used today could never have imagined anything like the global phenomenon that is the Savanna Bananas.

On Thursday night, the Bananas brought their zany and wacky brand of baseball to Covenant Health Park, where they entertained and delighted a soldout stadium. The team will play once again on Saturday, this time at a packed Neyland Stadium.

No stepping out by the batter, no bunts, batters can steal first base and no walks allowed are just a few of the rules for “Banana Ball” that has made the team one of the most popular attractions in all of sports.

The team has made millions providing a familyhfriendly environment and Thursday was no exception. Even before the gates at Covenant Park opened, a number of fans had the chance to meet with the Bananas as well as their opponents, the Texas Tailgaters.

A nine-piece pep band met fans at the entrance of the stadium, playing music that would make even the best bands in New Orleans jealous. One of the first things fans experienced once inside the facility were the “Man-nanas”, a group of portly, middleaged male cheerleaders which included “Mr. K”, a dead-ringer for the 1980’s TV star Mr. T.

Savannah took on the Texas Tailgaters, whose starting pitcher was certainly no stranger to the East Tennessee area. Chris Clarke pitched for the Smokies in both 2022 and 2025 before joining the Tailgaters. He certainly made the fans happy as he wore his old Smokies jersey underneath the Tailgaters jersey he had on when he first went to the mound.

Before the game started, one of the original traditions of the Bananas was conducted as an infant was held high on the mound in the tradition of The Lion King. The Tailgaters certainly earned their nickname as they entered the field in the back of two Chevrolet pick-up trucks.

Even the umpires got in on the fun as Thursday’s first base official was dressed like a ninja and did backflips before he would call a batter out at first.

One of the most famous Bananas is Dakota Albriton, who is better known as the “Stilt Man”. The Georgia-native is a pitcher who delivers the ball to the plate while wearing stilts that make him just under 11 feet tall. Both teams swayed and danced to music that played over the loudspeakers throughout the entire contest, not an easy task for someone on stilts.

Albriton’s antics caught the attention of Cline Kilday, a 10-year-old from Morristown who attends Manley School. “All the dances have been the most fun. The stilt pitcher was pretty cool too.” Kilday said he hopes the Bananas will return to Knoxville sometime in the future. “If they ever come back to Knoxville, I will tell my dad to get tickets right then.”

Trick plays like catching a fly ball in a player’s hat is a hallmark of the Bananas experience. When 10-year-old Morristown native Oliver Cates was asked about his favorite part of the night, he said, “I would have to say the trick plays. I was expecting a lot of excitement and it has lived up to the billing. This has been entertaining and a whole lot of fun.”

Kids weren’t the only ones having a blast at the contest between the Bananas and Tailgaters. Kyle De-Busk of Tazewell said he drove down for the game and the experience was one he would not soon forget. “I had seen them on television and seeing that great atmosphere and the great show they put on made me want to come see them play. This has far surpassed my expectations; it’s blown my mind. I love how they interact with all the fans. Also, the trick plays. It’s been worth the drive from Claiborne 110 percent.”

One of the most rewarding moments of the night was during the “Bananas Foster” event, where the team celebrates parents who take foster kids into their homes to provide them with a safe and loving environment. The Martin family was honored by the Bananas as they have fostered over 100 kids, adopting 22 of them.

Banana Ball is certainly different than a traditional baseball game as the national pastime meets the “Greatest Show in Sports”. For two hours- and it was two hours, a strict time limit the teams adhere tofans were entertained with wild and crazy antics that brought joy to everyone in attendance.

The Bananas actually won the game 3-1 but the score is not something most in attendance will remember. The biggest winners were the thousands of kids who had smiles on their faces from beginning to end. That’s something that even Alexander Cartwright would have enjoyed.