Banana Ball Fun Draws Fans to Wrigley Field

A crowd of curious visitors gathered outside Wrigley Field on Saturday, not for the usual baseball but for a quirky twist on the sport.

Three women who openly admit they dislike traditional baseball showed up in red flame gear to cheer the opposing Savannah Bananas team, the Firefighters.

They handed out cinnamon whiskey shots from a mock fire hose and laughed as they explained their enthusiasm for “Banana Ball,” a high‑energy, fan‑centric version of the game.

The women praised owner Jesse Cole for stripping away the parts people usually hate about baseball while keeping the excitement and community spirit alive.

“The fun starts even before the game, in the camaraderie among fans,” one of them noted.
Her sister added a playful reason for wearing red: “We look better in red than yellow.”

In right field, a local artist named David Weinberg turned a trash can into a banana‑shaped station.

He had bought 60 pounds of bananas, painted the can yellow with googly eyes, and gave them out to spectators.

Weinberg explained that his art always seeks to repurpose “trash” into something alive, echoing the creative legacy of baseball legend Bill Veeck.

He also set up a scavenger hunt with miniature trash cans, inviting fans to find hidden sketches around the ballpark.

A family from Indiana attended with their two young boys, who were thrilled to see a game they’d won tickets for.

The father reflected on his own past playing days with the Savannah Bees, a former team that once used the same stadium now home to the Bananas.

He emphasized that his priority is for his children to enjoy the game and see a different, more relaxed side of baseball that celebrates fun over competition.

The day highlighted how a playful twist on a classic sport can bring together people who might otherwise stay away, turning Wrigley Field into a hub of creativity and community.