Well, you’re in luck.
asserted
you → ’re → luck
The Banana Ball Championship League is heading to Canada for the first time, with stops in Toronto and Winnipeg in August, 2027.
asserted
League → head → August
It’s the first time Banana Ball is going international, after the league was formally founded in the United States this year.
asserted
league → ’ → States
But what is this sport that is selling out stadiums across the U.S. and has millions of people on waitlists for tickets?
asserted
millions → sell → tickets
Here’s what you need to know.
asserted
you → ’ → what
Banana Ball was invented by league’s commissioner, Jesse Cole, and the league competed in its inaugural season this past year.
asserted
league → invent → season
But the original team, the Savannah Bananas, were founded in 2016 as a member of Coastal Plains League, a summer circuit for college players.
asserted
team → found → players
Banana Ball is a barnstorming baseball league.
asserted
Ball → barnstorm → ?
While fundamentally similar to regular baseball – with outs and home runs – it can vary greatly.
asserted
it → vary → outs
One of the starkest differences is how you win a game, which is by points rather than runs.
asserted
which → win → points
In an individual inning, the team who earns the most runs gets a point.
asserted
who → earn → point
The most points after nine innings wins the game, making each inning its own mini game.
asserted
inning → win → game
Other variations from traditional baseball include a strict a two-hour game time, an immediate ejection for bunting, no mound visits by coaches, no stepping out of the batters’ box and if a foul ball is caught by a fan, it is considered an out.
asserted
it → include → fan
The game can dominated by trick catches and plays, as well as singing and dancing in between innings.
asserted
game → dominate → innings
The Savannah Bananas nailed THREE trick plays in one inning that lasted just 2 minutes and 11 seconds 💨 https://t.co/wionIK050f
— Banana Ball (@BananaBall_) June 6, 2025
asserted
that → nail → Ball
The first official game was held in 2020, and has expanded to a league with five additional teams: the Firefighters, the Indianapolis Clowns, the Loco Beach Coconuts, the Party Animals and the Texas Tailgaters.
asserted
game → hold → teams
The original idea was to generate fan interest for baseball at historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Ga.
Some Banana Ball players have made their MLB debut after playing Banana Ball, including pitcher Hayden Harris and Canadian outfielder Tristan Peters, both playing for the Savannah Bananas.
asserted
both → generate → Bananas
Major-leaguers are getting in on the craze too.
asserted
leaguers → get → craze
The Indianapolis Clowns’ Jackie Bradley Jr. is the first retired MLB player to play full-time Banana Ball, joining for the 2026 season.
asserted
Jr. → retire → season
He played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 and won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018.
asserted
He → play → 2018
When did Banana Ball get so popular?
asserted
Ball → get → ?
Banana Ball started gaining traction in 2023, after the Savannah Bananas left the Coastal Plains League to play Banana Ball year-round.
asserted
Bananas → start → Ball
That same year, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, opened an exhibit for the Savannah Bananas.
asserted
Hall → open → Bananas
The exhibit was recognition of Cole’s success attracting younger fans with its shenanigans.
asserted
exhibit → attract → shenanigans
“Some people who are more traditional may think this isn’t quite baseball.
uncertain
this → think → ?
And it is different,” Josh Rawitch, president of the Baseball Hall of Fame, told the Associated Press at the time.
asserted
Rawitch → tell → time
“At the same time, if you look at the exhibit we have on baseball in the 1800s, you’re talking about playing the game with no glove and underhand pitching.
asserted
you → look → glove
The game continues to evolve, and I think Banana Ball is part of the evolution.”
asserted
Ball → continue → evolution
Since 2023, Banana Ball has added the Firefighters, the Clowns, the Coconuts and the Tailgaters as official teams and has been played in front of millions of people.
asserted
Ball → add → people
The Walt Disney Company has taken particular interest with the sport.
asserted
Company → take → sport
It aired the first-ever Banana Ball championship game on Disney+ on Oct. 10 and had Savannah Bananas’ player Jackson Olson on Dancing with the Stars.
asserted
It → air → Stars
The Texas Tailgaters beat the Savannah Bananas 2-1 to win the inaugural Banana Bowl championship.
asserted
Tailgaters → beat → championship
Where is Banana Ball playing in Canada?
asserted
Ball → play → Canada
Banana Ball is headed to Toronto and Winnipeg in August, 2027.
asserted
Ball → head → August
You asked.
asserted
You → ask → ?
We listened.
asserted
We → listen → ?
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) October 15, 2026
Both cities are having two-game stints with the league.
asserted
cities → have → league
The Savannah Bananas will play the Indianapolis Clowns on Aug. 14 and 15 at the Rogers Centre.
asserted
Bananas → play → Centre
The Texas Tailgaters and the Party Animals will face off in Winnipeg in two different venues: Blue Cross Park on Aug. 26, and Princess Auto Stadium two days later on Aug. 28.
asserted
Tailgaters → face → Aug.
Banana Ball is also being played in 79 stadiums across 74 cities in the U.S. and Mexico.
asserted
Ball → play → U.S.
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
