Savannah Bananas Add Indianapolis Clowns to Their Wild Banana Ball League

Indianapolis Clowns Return with a Savannah Bananas Twist

It’s getting a little chilly out, and while most of us are thinking about American football, Indiana sports fans just got a big surprise in the world of... baseball. Yes, baseball!

Hold on to your hot dogs and beer because Indianapolis is getting an exhibition baseball team, the Indianapolis Clowns, a barnstorming team for the Savannah Bananas.

Who Are the Savannah Bananas?

I’ve written before about the Savannah Bananas. Back in 2015, Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia, lost its minor league team. Team owners Jesse and Emily Cole decided to take things in a completely different direction and rebrand. Enter the Savannah Bananas, an exhibition baseball team known for hijinks, slapstick comedy, gymnastics, and over-the-top fun.

They promised fans a baseball experience unlike anything they had ever seen, complete with a new set of rules that makes the game go faster, a senior citizen dance team, a “Banana Baby,” and high-energy games that feel more like a show than a sport. It worked. They sold out opening night and then every single game after that, both home and away.

Banana Ball Takes Over America

Since then, Banana Ball fever has only grown. The teams now tour the country, and fans have to join a ticket waiting list for a chance to see the players in action.

Last season, the league expanded to four teams: the Party Animals, Texas Tailgaters, and Firefighters. Now, the organization is adding two more: the Indianapolis Clowns and the Loco Beach Coconuts, bringing the total to six teams competing in the Banana Ball Championship League.

A Nod to History: The Original Indianapolis Clowns

Indianapolis has a long history of clowning around in baseball. The original Indianapolis Clowns were one of the most successful Negro League teams, dating back to the 1930s. They started as the Ethiopian Clowns, an entertainment-style team much like the new one, before becoming a true competitive baseball team.

The Clowns mixed baseball with showmanship, often compared to the Harlem Globetrotters. In fact, the teams shared Goose Tatum, an amazing athlete and showman. According to MLB.com, the team moved to Cincinnati in 1943 and joined the Negro Leagues before returning to Indianapolis two seasons later.

They played for both black and white audiences and broke barriers as the first professional team to hire a woman to a long-term contract. The Clowns won the league title in 1950 and continued to play into the Eighties, always keeping the fun alive.

The Indianapolis Clowns in 2025

It was announced that former World Series Champion Ryan Howard will serve as the team’s primetime coach and Errick Fox will be the team's manager.

“Banana Ball is all about energy, entertainment, flipping the script—and that’s exactly what the Negro Leagues brought to the game from day one,” said new Clowns manager Errick Fox in a statement. “Flash. Innovation. Community. They were rockstars before the world called ballplayers that.”

When the Banana Ball Season Begins

The Banana Ball Championship League preseason runs from February 26 to April 12. The 50-game regular season will go from April through September, and the top three teams will face off in the Banana Bowl on October 10.

Want to See a Game? Get in Line

If you want to even think about getting tickets to a game, you'll have to get in line! Banana teams will be playing in Indianapolis, Lexington, Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville, and Chicago this year. See the complete schedule here and get on the list here.