Sacramento – Page 3 – Dugout Tales

I had plans to enjoy a slice of pizza in Boise last weekend, but life had other plans. With four days off work and nothing to do, I found myself unexpectedly diving into the world of the Savannah Bananas baseball team.

I’ve never been a fan of the Bananas, not understanding the hype or what draws fans to their sold-out games night after night. Although their viral TikTok clips caught my eye, the gimmicks seemed a bit over the top for my taste. Still, my lack of understanding was the driving force behind my desire to see them in action and discover what Banana Ball was all about.

In a moment of spontaneity, I reached out to the Bananas just days before their sold-out games in Sacramento to secure a media credential. The application process was simple, except for an odd request: “Tell us about the story you want to create. The crazier, the better.” I pushed through and explained that as a sociologist, I was intrigued by the hype and wanted to see if they could convert this old-school baseball fan into a Banana Ball enthusiast. Surprisingly, they approved my request within 24 hours.

I arrived at the stadium around 1:00 pm to watch the Bananas and their rival Party Animals rehearse for the game. As I observed the choreography and fielding tricks, I began to feel a bit annoyed at my decision to attend this and began wondering if I was in for a long day.

The gates were scheduled to open at 5:30 pm, with “VIBs” granted early access for a meet and greet at 4:45 pm. Fans still packed the gates hours ahead, eager to secure prime seating in this first come first served event.

The meet and greet was chaotic, but looking back reflected everything about the Bananas experience. The players interacted with fans, leaving lasting memories for everyone.

As the gates opened for the rest of the fans, the energy escalated and set the tone for the rest of the night as a wave of fans rushed to find the best seats that they could secure. I was dodging bodies left and right as I tried my best to capture the moment with my camera but ultimately surrendered to raising my hand up high and holding down the shutter release while hoping for the best.

Despite the madness, constantly shifting events and the sensory overload, I still won’t label myself a Bananas or Banana Ball fan. However, I did gain a newfound appreciation for Banana Ball and the excitement they bring to the game. The seamless production and non-stop engagement kept the crowd entertained throughout the evening, but I also found myself missing things on the other side of the field. Overall, I can only say that the night was nothing less than remarkable.

The Savannah Bananas truly offer an experience unlike any other in baseball. They push boundaries and create memories that captivates their fans from start to finish. While I may not fully embrace their shenanigans, such as “pitching” a ball with a hockey stick, an umpire who takes calling strike outs to the extreme, or all that dang dancing; I encourage those on the fence to experience this extravaganza at least once. Just remember, Banana Ball isn’t baseball, it’s a nightclub in a circus, disguised as a baseball game.

I love Vegas and I’m there at least once a year, especially now that the Triple-A Championship will be taking place there for the third straight year you’ll definitely find me there on September 28th. This past week though I was there for a work conference, and I was excited about taking in a Las Vegas Aviators game; the Aviators are the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland/Sacramento/Las Vegas A’s. Unfortunately, when I looked up the Aviators’ schedule, I saw that they were on the road this past week, and not only that, but the Aviators were in Sacramento, where I live! I had a laugh, and few tequila shots and all was well.

When I got back to Sacramento, I was able to catch the last two games of the series, including Saturday night’s game in which Oakland’s fans drove up from the Bay along with the Last Dive Bar, and the Oakland 68’s as they brought their “Sell” movement to Sacramento as part of “Sell Meets Sac”. As I pulled up into the parking lot, I noticed a sea of green as fans wore their A’s gear with bright yellow lettering with the word “SELL” across their chest. There was a van with a flag raised high to match the shirt and a bright yellow flag with “LDB” signaling that it was the crew from the Last Dive Bar. There were probably about 100 or so Bay area followers who made the trip to Sutter Health Park, and there was an air of levity yet solidarity among them. Inside the park, the vibe was way much more tense.

Not much was said by River Cat employees although I did hear a couple of remarks about the “protestors”, but the organization made sure to add a few more security in the outfield where the Oakland fans seated themselves. “Better to be safe because you never know” is the word I got, but there was nothing to fear, and no incidents that caused alarm; just baseball fans, and an obviously concerned organization who is stuck in the middle of this latest ordeal. This whole situation seems a little shady if you ask me; the ownership situation in Oakland, the dealings with the cities of Oakland, Vegas, the MLB, and Sacramento all just rub me the wrong way and something seems off and dirty. The timing of Vivek’s purchase of the River Cats two years ago, the back and forth as to where will the A’s play until their home in Vegas is ready, the upgraded clubhouse in Sacramento, and now here we are. Is Sacramento the long-term goal for Oakland, and is Vegas nothing more than a distraction? In my opinion, and in a way, yes. Art Savage, the man who brought the River Cats to Sacramento, had always dreamed of bringing Major League Baseball here, even hoping it could be the A’s. Sutter Health Park (Raley Field) was always designed to be built up to hold a Major League team and now that Sacramento has that opportunity it would be silly of the city and organization not to take it. Setting aside the drama and emotions of this all, I think it will be a great way to showcase what Sacramento has to offer and I’m looking forward to covering it all as it unfolds in real time.

In the end, the most excitement we got from the “protestors” was in the fifth inning the group in the outfield started with their chant of “Sell the team” which got two of those outfield security guards to stand in front of them as menacingly as they could. All in all, it was an uneventful experience. To be concerned over the group’s arrival seemed a bit much as more seats were filled this night than I’ve been used to seeing the past few seasons, and more media attention has been brought to the River Cats and Sacramento as I’ve heard talks about this protest by the Last Dive Bar discussed on various podcasts, and even heard a blurb on NPR this morning.

The River Cats would split the series with Las Vegas 3-3 and come into their next homestand which starts tonight against the Tacoma Rainers who are tied with the River Cats atop the Pacific Coast League West as both teams have a record of 17-10. It’s going to be an exciting week of baseball here in Sacramento, and its only just begun.

Tag: Sacramento

Here, Have a Banana!!

Sell Meets Sac