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Have you ever seen something that doesn’t make sense…but once you understood it more, it made perfect sense? Something unusual that creates a sense of wonder and excitement. It may be odd, absurd, or even a bit shocking! But in a good way that makes you feel happy.

Few things capture that delightful contradiction more than a Banana Ball game. It’s a wild blend of tradition and creativity that breathes new life into the sport of baseball!

No one can forget the first time they encountered the Savannah Bananas. Even if it was just a short clip on social media, the absolute shock of seeing something so outlandish is instantly memorable. And when you peel back the layers and learn more about what’s going on, you find that it isn’t just a one-time gimmick, it’s an entirely new perspective on life!

What is Banana Ball? It’s baseball, but with different rules and a lot more dancing. Banana Ball isn’t just a game; it’s a celebration of creativity and the great heights you can reach when you believe in a dream. Also, it’s a reminder that it’s good to have fun!

“You can’t have fun unless you take some chances by doing fun things”-Jesse Cole.

Banana Ball games are all about people coming together to laugh, have fun, and share a good time. But they also represent so much more. They remind us that everyone has unique gifts, sometimes hidden in places you’d never expect. After all, who would have guessed that high-level ballplayers could also be incredible entertainers? 

“Find the best version of yourself, the one thing that makes you stand out, and amplify it.” -Jesse Cole

Banana Ball founder Jesse Cole emphasizes that discovering our strengths is about more than playing baseball, it’s about living our best life. Yet bringing those strengths into the world is not always easy. It’s nothing less than a hero’s journey. Each of us is called to confront challenges that transform us, and sometimes, when we look back, we see how the struggles we’ve faced over a lifetime have helped us to build wisdom, gratitude, focus, and a deeper sense of purpose.

Jesse Cole’s path to creating the Savannah Bananas follows this same arc: he left the safety of a traditional career, faced setbacks that nearly broke him, and came out transformed with a bold new vision.

By now, the story of the Savannah Bananas’ beginning has become legend. It all started with a daring idea: baseball could be transformed into something more exciting, engaging, and fun for the fans. Cole began chipping away at this goal during his time as general manager of the Gastonia Grizzlies, a collegiate summer league. He surprised with the unexpected: Theme nights like a grandma beauty pageant, or a “salute to underwear” night. Some of the players started dancing. This initial experimentation later opened the door for a much bigger vision: creating a team that would blend sport with full-on entertainment.

The Banana’s journey: A brief timeline from struggle to showtime!

Early 2000s: Jesse dreams of pitching professionally and gets recruited to Wofford College.

2003–2004: A severe shoulder injury ends any chance of a pro career.

2008: At 23, Jesse becomes General Manager of the failing Gastonia Grizzlies, which had only $268 in the bank.

2008–2014: Experiments with crazy promotions and meaningful experiences promote attendance and save the team.

2014: Jesse proposes to Emily McDonald on the field during the last game of the Gastonia Grizzlies' season. 

2015: The two visit the historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah. They feel the magic, but sadly see it is nearly empty.

Soon after, Savannah’s pro team (The Sand Gnats) leaves Grayson stadium; Jesse seizes the chance to bring in a new team.

They buy into the Coastal Plain League, the lowest level of college summer ball.

They enter Greyson stadium and find it filthy, outdated, with no internet, and no furniture.

Ticket sales are almost nonexistent; the bank account hits zero.

2016 (early): A pivotal movement! Instead of giving up and going the safe route, Jesse and Emily take a big risk. They sell their house, move into a tiny duplex, and sleep on an air mattress.

Feb 25, 2016: The team’s new name is revealed! the “Savannah Bananas.”

Community backlash explodes: “You’ll never sell a ticket,” “You should be run out of town.”

June 2, 2016: Despite it all, they build upon past success, create an atmosphere of expectation, and sell out the first game of the 2016 season.

-The games already feel like a show with choreographed dances, pep bands, and nonstop fan interaction that keep the stands full.

Summer 2016: That season, they sell out 18 games and win the league championship.

2016–2017: Double down on entertainment: dancing coaches, pep bands, senior dance team (“Banana Nanas”), and on-field antics.

2018: The historic invention of “Banana Ball”, a faster, weirder, more fan-focused version of baseball!

The brand becomes bigger than baseball. It’s a full-blown, fans first entertainment movement!

Ancient stoic philosophers have described how obstacles in life aren’t just problems, they can be the very things that push us forward.

(Reference:“The impediment to action advances action, what stands in the way becomes the way.” -Marcus Aurelius).

Cole thought baseball was too slow, long, and boring. He could have just spent the rest of his life complaining about this; negativity is easy. But instead, he decided to take action. His feelings of discontent became the fuel that powered him towards change.

What unexpected twists and turns has your life taken to lead you to where you are now? Are their times when you faced an obstacle in the road, or the road was totally shut down, and you had to find a new way forward? How did you feel when you tried something new?

“What happens if it fails? Well, what happens if it works?”

The energy at a Banana Ball game is undeniable. It’s hard to put into words the magic of 80,000 people singing, laughing, and cheering together. But unlike typical sports with their fierce fan rivalries, Banana Ball brings out a sense of unity and comradery. It gives us a glimpse of how people can come together in a positive way when given the chance.

Themes for the rest of the book:

I envision the rest of this book to continue on this same trajectory, weaving in assorted fun facts, history, and quotes by Jesse Cole. The main themes that bring the book together would be:

The Creative Spirit: Celebrating imagination, play, and the joy of thinking outside the box.

Taking Chances: Embracing risk, stepping into the unknown, and daring to do things differently.

The Hero’s Journey: Seeing life as an adventure of growth, where challenges transform us into stronger, wiser versions of ourselves.

Discovering Your Gifts: Identifying what makes you unique and letting those talents shine.

Using Your Gifts for Good: Sharing your strengths in ways that inspire, uplift, and bring joy to others.