WRIGLEY FIELD — The world-famous Savannah Bananas returned to Chicago this weekend and played to massive crowds with the help of some Wrigley Field legends.
The barnstorming Savanah Bananas took over Wrigley Field this weekend, playing a three-game series Friday-Sunday. Like last year’s Bananas’ games at Rate Field, the Wrigley Field series also sold out and featured ecstatic crowds.
At Friday’s game, athletes performed a dance routine to Kanye West’s “Homecoming,” two people dressed as the Blues Brothers sang on the field and the night’s pinnacle was reached during the 7th inning.
That’s when former Cub and World Series champion Ben Zobrist made a nostalgic return to his old confines — even riding around in from the center field bleachers on a bicycle just like his Lakeview commutes years ago.
The crowd chanted “MVP! MVP!” as Zobrist walked up to home plate to pinch hit, when he reached first base on a fielder’s choice. Zobrist, who was the World Series MVP in 2016, then played defense for the Bananas at multiple positions in the bottom of the seventh.
Cubs legend Kerry Wood took to the Wrigley Field mound once again — and threw an impressive trick pitch in the process — and former Cubs catcher and manager David Ross got an at-bat for the Bananas at Saturday’s game.
Dakota Albritton (14) throws the ball as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas and founder of Fans First Entertainment, called the team’s fanbase in Chicago “unbelievable.”
“Three nights, over 120,000 fans, sold out in minutes,” told Block Club Chicago after Friday night’s game. “At a traditional, iconic ballpark like this, to bring Banana Ball, it’s meaningful.”
Cole noted he hopes to continue to bring more Banana games to Chicago. Now having played at Rate Field and Wrigley Field, he mentioned the possibility of coming to Soldier Field in the future. The Bananas have played multiple football stadiums during this summer’s Banana Ball World Tour.
“There’s a lot of opportunities,” Cole said.
Fans do the wave as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Aside from last year’s series at Sox Park, Chicago is no stranger to the Savannah Bananas. Tristan Peters, a former Banana, now plays center field for the White Sox and was recently named to the American League All-Star team.
“He’s a guy that plays the game hard, but also when he was with us in Banana Land, he had fun,” Cole said. “It’s great to see that now at the highest level.”
The crowd was engaged and immersed Friday evening. Kids flocked to get signatures instead of staring at their phones, songs blasted the whole time, players danced and flipped throughout the game to the roar of cheering fans. The packed crowd successfully completed the wave more than once toward the end of the game.
The Bananas fell 1-4 to the Firefighters in the first of three games played at the Friendly Confines over the weekend.
See more photos from the first Savannah Bananas game at Wrigley Field:
Robertanthony Cruz (15) does a backflip while being introduced as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026, as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Former Cub MVP Ben Zobrist arrives on bicycle as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
The “Calendar Crew” flexes as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
The Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Fans wave a “W” flag as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
A Blues Brothers song is performed as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
A baby is held up as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
The sold-out stadium sings “Lean On Me” as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Fans hold out for potential signatures as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Firefighters make a trick catch as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Maceo “Mace” Harrison, First Base Dance Coach, dances as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Firefighters celebrate a play as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Fans hang out at Gallagher Way before the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
A Firefighters player slides into home as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Ben Zobrist points to the stands as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Fans take their shirts off as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
The Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Fans sing and dance as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Split the mascot wears camouflage amid the ivy as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Chief, the bat dog, leaps as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Fans line up to buy merch as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Reese Alexiades (2) leaps to catch a ball as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Fans dress up as Minions as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Dakota Albritton (14) stands in the dugout as the Savannah Bananas play The Firefighters at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2026 as part of the Banana Ball World Tour. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
