Banana Ball — a fast-paced, entertainment-driven twist on traditional baseball — continues to grow in national popularity, and with that growth comes expansion. This year, two new teams are in action, including the Indianapolis Clowns and the Loco Beach Coconuts. This marks the return of the Clowns to the diamond for the first time since the 1980s.
The Clowns were a member of the Negro Leagues from 1943 until 1954. They spent their first couple of years in the league in Cincinnati before moving to Indianapolis in 1946. They won three Negro American League championships, but never captured the Negro League World Series.
There were seven future MLB players for the franchise, the most notable being Hank Aaron. They were also the first professional team to have a woman play for them on a long-term contract; Toni Stone, who played for the Clowns in 1953.
The Clowns peaked following their time in the Negro Leagues. As more players in the Negro League went over to MLB, the Clowns went on barnstorming tours, performing comic acts during each game. This went on from the 1960s until the team disbanded in 1989.
First-year marketing major Matthew Shaw, and many others, view the Clowns as the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball and think that their influence on younger generations is good for the sport.
“I think [bringing back the Clowns] is great for kids, especially getting kids into sports because kids are heavily influenced by something really entertaining, and that’s what [the Clowns] do,” Shaw said. “The Globetrotters have gotten kids into sports [and] I think it’s a good way to introduce the kids to the sport.”
Now, the Clowns are back in 2026, playing in the sport where their late style of play is widely recognized. They are a part of the Banana Ball Championship League (BBCL), where they play against five other teams: the Savannah Bananas, Party Animals, Loco Beach Coconuts, Firefighters and Texas Tailgaters.
Sophomore strategic communications major Caitlin Hall, who is a big fan of Banana Ball, will be working at the two Clowns games at Victory Field next month.
“I really wanted to be a part of [working the games] but not have to pay the cost of actually going,” Hall said. “I [also] really wanted to be dressed as a banana and scan tickets.”
Jesse Cole, the founder of Banana Ball and the Bananas, wanted to bring back the Clowns to honor the legacy of the Negro Leagues and because of what the Clowns did after their time in it. Cole adapted the circus-like gameplay into Banana Ball, and it is the biggest factor in why Banana Ball is able to sell out football stadiums.
When it comes to the theatrics and fun atmosphere that Banana Ball brings to the field, Hall finds it extra engaging.
“It’s so much different than a normal baseball game, and I really like athletics in general, and they just make it a very engaging experience,” Hall said. “I think that Banana Ball is going to add to the community and the environment surrounding baseball and bring a bunch of people together to learn more and enjoy the sport.”
The addition of the Clowns does not just get more fans into the sport of baseball; it adds another team to Indianapolis, the city known as the “Amateur Sports Capital of the World.”
Ashland Benner, a first-year finance and risk management and insurance double major, believes that giving Indiana another sports team is a positive for the state.
“I think it’s really good for Indiana given that [they’re] trying to become one of the more known sports capitals of the world, [already] having the Pacers, the Indy 500, the Colts and the Fever,” Benner said. “Having the Indianapolis Clowns in town is a really good idea … While some may wish it’s an MLB team, a little bit more baseball in the state is always good.”
Benner also enjoys that Banana Ball is bringing back history instead of creating a whole new team.
“Baseball is America’s pastime, and having the [original Negro League team] Indianapolis Clowns come back is a good idea,” Benner said. “It ties in well with the history of the United States — who we are, what we stand for. It’s important to have the history aspect in there.”
In the Clowns’ inaugural Banana Ball season, they currently sit at a record of 4-7. The team will play in the Banana Ball Open on April 16, where they will take on the Bananas. They will return to their old home in Indianapolis, Victory Field, on May 16-17 to play the Party Animals.