10th Anniversary of the Savannah Bananas!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the 10th anniversary of the Savannah Bananas! I was even lucky enough to ask a few questions to their founder; Jesse Cole!

When the Savannah Bananas were founded in 2016, few expected a collegiate summer baseball team to revolutionize the way America thinks about the game. Based in Savannah, Georgia, the team began as part of the Coastal Plain League, but quickly grew into a nationwide phenomenon known for mixing entertainment, showmanship, and baseball in equal measure. From the start, owner Jesse Cole set out to create more than a sports team; he wanted an experience that put fans first.

Cole, a former baseball player himself, drew inspiration from entertainment icons like Walt Disney and P. T. Barnum. He believed baseball had grown too slow and predictable, so he reimagined it as an interactive, nonstop spectacle. The team’s signature concept, “Banana Ball,” features two-hour time limits, no bunting, no mound visits, and bonus points for fan engagement; all designed to make the game faster and more fun.

The results were extraordinary. Within their first season, the Bananas sold out every home game at Grayson Stadium, launched viral social media videos, and attracted fans from across the country. By 2022, they had left the traditional league system entirely to focus on touring exhibitions against the Party Animals, bringing Banana Ball to major and minor league stadiums nationwide.

Today, the Savannah Bananas stand as a case study in creative leadership and fan-centered innovation. Under Jesse Cole’s vision; famously delivered in his trademark yellow tuxedo; the team has turned baseball into a show that celebrates joy, inclusion, and community. What began as a small local club has become a cultural movement redefining how sports can entertain and inspire.

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: Who was your favorite ball player growing up?

Jesse: Well, I grew up south of Boston. So I started with Roger Clemens, became a big Roger Clemens fan. Then it was Mo Vaughn, all right? A little blast from the past. And then it went to Pedro Martinez and then David Ortiz to finish. Those were my favorite players growing up.

Giancarlo: Did you have any push back from friends and family on wanting to start Fans First?

Jesse: No, they thought I was crazy, but they thought I was crazy since I was a kid. We just wanted to start and run a baseball team. I think the more pushback came from Banana Ball, people not understanding it. What are we doing? We're creating a new game. We're leaving traditional baseball. That's where we got a lot more pushback.

Giancarlo: Which of your books are you the most proud of?

Jesse: “Fans First”. That's who we are. That's what we stand for. That's the name of our company. I spent the most time on “Fans First”, the stories about our people. Proudest of that one.

Giancarlo: What is your favorite aspect of the Savanna Bananas?

Jessie: My favorite aspect of Savannah Bananas is the fans. Those moments that we get to create. “Hey Baby” with 40,000 people. “Yellow” at a football stadium with 80,000 people. You look around, we're all part of something that's pretty special. It's all about the fans. That's why we do what we do. And you can have those moments where you feel it together. It's truly special.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Jesse: Best piece of advice is from my Dad when I was a kid he told me to swing hard in case I hit it. And he said that every day since I was a kid playing ball, that mindset of go big, go bold, and go for it. And don't be afraid if you swing and miss once in a while.

Check them out: https://thesavannahbananas.com/

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo