Banana Ball

The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas

By: Jesse Cole, Don Yaeger - contributor

Narrated by: Jesse Cole, Matt Martucci

The Savannah Bananas have peeled back the game of baseball and made it fun again.

This is their story.

For his entire childhood, Jesse Cole dreamed of pitching in the Majors. Now, he has a life in baseball that he could have only imagined: he met the love of his life in the industry; they shaped Savannah, Georgia’s professional team into the league champion Savannah Bananas; and now the Bananas have restyled baseball itself into something all their own: Banana Ball.

Fast, fun, and outrageously entertaining, Banana Ball brings fans right into the game. The Bananas throw out a first banana rather than a ball. Their first-base coach dances to "Thriller" or Britney between innings. Players run into the crowd to hand out roses. And the rules themselves are bananas: if a fan catches a foul ball it’s an out; and players might go to bat on stilts or wearing a banana costume. And their fans absolutely love it.

But the reason this team is on the forefront of a movement is less about the play on the field and more about the atmosphere that the team culture creates. For the first time in this book, Jesse reveals the ideas and experiences that allowed him to reimagine America’s oldest sport by creating a phenomenon that is helping fans fall in love with the game all over again.

This is a story that’s bigger than baseball and bigger than the yellow tuxedo Jesse wears as the “ringmaster” of every game. And to understand the movement, you have to understand the story at its core. In Jesse’s telling, it takes heart, innovation, and joy (and a bit of tropical fruit) to make something wholly original out of one of America’s great traditions. His story is part Moneyball, part Field of Dreams, part The Greatest Showman. It is a personal story, a creativity story, and the story of a business scrapping for every success. And it has several distinct love stories—love stories like Jesse and his father, Jesse and his wife, the team and the sport of baseball, the team and the fans.

This is Jesse calling his dad from the outfield after each Bananas game, and putting unending creativity into a team with the ultimate goal of bringing the Bananas to the professional ballparks he himself never got to play in. This is his story of baseball, love, leadership, and going just a bit bananas for all.

©2023 Jesse Cole (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Finalist for the CASEY Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year

One of Kirkus' "10 Nonfiction Books To Broaden Your Summer Reading"

Featured in Garden and Gun's "The Big Southern Summer Reading List"

“To hell with designated hitters: This baseball-like game makes up the rules as it goes along. This particular circus is reimagining baseball as a game that not only purists and traditionalists can love. Anyone who can think outside the diamond will enjoy Cole’s entertaining yarn.”—Kirkus

“Banana Ball recounts [Cole’s] early passion for the game, how baseball introduced him to his wife, Emily, and the team’s wacky 2016 launch in the summer collegiate Coastal Plain League…what Cole hopes readers take away from the book is inspiration to stand out—with or without a yellow tux”—Atlanta

“Banana Ball provides an engaging look at the team’s founding and its 'fans first, entertain always' philosophy…Where the book really scores is when it focuses on Cole’s personal backstory, including his relationships with his dad and Emily and the early days of trying to build the Banana empire.” —Associated Press

A Must Read Even If You Are Not. A Baseball Fan

This is a great read for a baseball fan, but everyone can gain some life lessons from it. The ideas and techniques used in the creation of banana ball, can be translated and used by anyone for any dream!

What do you mean you don’t know what Banana Ball is?

Amazing! Jesse Cole knocks it out of the park again with this book. I'm fascinated by the origin story of Banana Ball and Cole's aspirations for the future. What's even more impressive is that some of the "future" plans mentioned at the end of the book have already become a reality. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for his next one!

Great book

A must read for any Banana’s fan.

Especially if you love the business side of things.

The whole book!

I liked it all. It reminded me of a cross between Charlie Finley and SNL! I’m a die hard Braves fan, so I’ll look to see if we can ever make it on a day the ‘Naners are playing. I’m in TN, so it’s a trek that takes a little planning. Keep on dreaming and doing!

Inspiring story of a true visionary

Jesse Cole is one of the most inspiring visionaries. His willingness to take exorbitant risks because of a vision he’s committed to makes for an exciting listen here. Highly recommend.

Incredible book and true story!

I’m so glad that I found this book! A great reminder to dream big, to work on making other people’s lives better and share your story! I hope one day to bring my stepson and wife to see the Savanna Banana’s and Jesse Cole and his incredible team in action!

This is how we all should approach life

After finishing this book I feel so empowered and happy. I love baseball but tend to tune out when watching a game because of the slow pace. Watching a banana rules game would definitely keep my attention because you never know what’s going to happen next.

A Great Business Success Story

What a refreshing life and business success story!
The world needs more Jesse Coles.
A must read for any aspiring entrepreneurs!

Captured My Baseball Heart

This was an outstanding read. I have played up through college ball many years ago but this book brought me back to the years when baseball was fun and a little boys game. Thank You Jesse.

Inspiring!

This book will inspire you to go do something amazing, something fun, something exciting, and something that might even be a little crazy.