CHICAGO (WLS) — The Savannah Bananas, an unconventional baseball team that’s captured attention across the nation and is often called the “Harlem Globetrotters of baseball,” are set to play two games in Chicago this weekend.
The team has games on Friday and Saturday at Rate Field in Chicago.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The Bananas are playing the Firefighters.
The idea of Banana Ball emerged over five years ago with the aim of speeding up baseball games and keeping fans entertained throughout. Now, it is played year-round by the Savannah Bananas and their associated teams.
This innovative version of the game revolves around 11 rules. If players step out of the batter’s box, they receive a strike, and attempting a bunt leads to ejection. Visits to the mound are prohibited. Each inning operates independently, and games are capped at two hours. Fans have the ability to challenge the umpire’s calls and can even make an out by catching a foul ball.
Instead of taking a conventional walk, batters run around the bases after a fourth ball and continue until the defense has thrown the ball to every fielder. Regardless of the current count, batters can “steal first” on a passed ball or wild pitch. Extra innings are replaced with a one-on-one showdown—only one fielder, the pitcher, and the catcher remain on the field, while the batter tries to hit an inside-the-park home run after making contact.
An 11th rule — “golden batter” — was recently introduced, allowing each team one opportunity to deploy any hitter from any spot in the lineup.
ESPN contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
