The Daily · Podcast summary
Think Baseball Is Boring? The Savannah Bananas Are Here to Fix That.
Jonathan Abrams, a big-time baseball fan, joins Natalie Kitroeff to discuss the Savannah Bananas, an amateur baseball team that has become a national sensation by blending baseball with entertainment.
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- 👶Jonathan Abrams' love for baseball is deeply rooted, stemming from his infancy when the sound of the World Series on TV would calm him.3:11
- 🎟️The Savannah Bananas have an astonishing ticket waitlist of over 4 million people, making it harder to attend their games than a Super Bowl or a Taylor Swift concert.5:20
- 📱The Bananas' online presence is massive, with over 11 million followers on TikTok, surpassing the digital footprint of any major league baseball team.5:50
- ⚾Banana Ball features unique rules like a batter being out if a fan catches a foul ball, and 'sprint walks' where a walked batter can sprint the bases until the ball is touched by a defender.6:39
- 🎭One Bananas player, Derek Cleena, is a former Broadway star who pitched and struck out a batter at Yankee Stadium while wearing a full Phantom of the Opera costume.1:02:55
- 🤯Natalie Kitroeff was so engrossed in the pre-game entertainment at a Bananas game that she missed the first pitch altogether.2:41:49
Chapters
- 0:42Introduction to the Savannah Bananas
- 4:00Jonathan Abrams' Baseball Fandom and Initial Skepticism
- 8:21The Phenomenal Popularity of the Bananas
- 10:01The Rules of Banana Ball and Unique Entertainment
- 16:38The Players: From Broadway to the Baseball Field
- 25:44Natalie's Firsthand Experience at a Bananas Game
- 53:14The 'Fans First' Philosophy and the Future of Sports
The digest
Natalie Kitroeff, host of The Daily, speaks with Jonathan Abrams, a staff writer for The New York Times and a self-proclaimed "big-time baseball fan," about the Savannah Bananas. This amateur baseball team from Savannah, Georgia, has taken the country by storm, selling out stadiums and going viral online by offering a unique blend of baseball, boyband concerts, and Cirque du Soleil-esque performances. Abrams, who initially viewed the Bananas with skepticism, eventually came to appreciate their innovative approach to the sport. Kitroeff, intrigued by the phenomenon, decides to witness a Bananas game firsthand.
Jonathan Abrams' Lifelong Love for Baseball
Jonathan Abrams' passion for baseball runs deep, ingrained in him since infancy. He recounts a cherished family story: as a baby, he would cry whenever his mother turned off the television, only to quiet down when she realized the World Series was on. This early connection to the game never faded. Now 42, Abrams still plays in an "old man baseball league" and proudly bears a scar from foolishly diving for a foul ball. He's a die-hard Dodgers fan, having supported them long before their recent championship run, enduring a "long drought" from 1988 until their 2020 World Series win. For Abrams, baseball isn't just a sport; it's a "religion."
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 5-minute article, 5 more sections, and every new episode from The Daily and the creators you follow.
- Initial Skepticism and Growing Popularity of the Savannah Bananas
- The Unique Rules and Entertainment of Banana Ball
- The Players: Broadway Stars and Aspiring Professionals
- Natalie's Firsthand Experience: A Whirlwind of Excitement and Disbelief
- The "Fans First" Philosophy and the Future of Baseball
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