Tonight, on live broadcasts on ESPN2, ESPN+, Disney+, and the Banana Ball YouTube channel, the Banana Ball Championship League (BBCL), an entertainment-based baseball league with unique rules, announced that two new teams — The Indianapolis Clowns and Loco Beach Coconuts — will join the association for the 2026 campaign, rocking the baseball world and its fans.
The BBCL also announced its 2026 schedule, including game dates, cities and venues.
First and foremost, Banana Ball League owner Jesse Cole said bringing the Clowns, named after a Negro League team in the 1920s, into the fold was an easy decision because of the special brand of baseball that they brought to game at the time.
“When I first heard the story of the Indianapolis Clowns, I was inspired,” Cole said on X. “They were the first baseball team to put entertainment first and would go to great lengths to bring their style of baseball to fans all over the country.
“We’ve always shared a similar vision and mission: To make baseball fun, put the fans first, and entertain always,” he added. “Partnering with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to bring the Clowns to millions of fans all over the country and preserve their legacy is a dream come true.”
Head coach Errick Fox will be Indianapolis’ bench boss, while Ryan Howard, a World Series champion from the Philadelphia Phillies, will serve as its primetime coach.
Howard said that the Negro Leagues brough something unique to the table, that transcended the sports world at large and thrilled its fans, making ballplayers shine like never before.
“Banana Ball is all about energy, entertainment, flipping the script — and you know what? That’s exactly what the Negro Leagues brought to the game from day one,” Howard explained. “Flash. Innovation. Community and an unconditional love for the game. They were rockstars before the world called ballplayers that.”
The Clowns were one of best barnstorming baseball teams for over a half century and one of the first barnstorming clubs to travel the country playing in ballparks of all sizes, per source.
“The rebirth of the Indianapolis Clowns is an exciting and historically relevant tribute to the team that was at the forefront of combining baseball and entertainment,” Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues, said. “Our partnership is a tremendous opportunity to not only entertain but educate fans about the rich history of the Negro Leagues while paying homage to the team that helped influence Banana Ball.”
The other club, the Coconuts, will have Mark Crocco as their head coach. Another familiar baseball face will lend his skills to the team, as Shane Victorino, a former MLB World Series Champion, will also hold the new role of primetime coach.
The newly created Banana Ball Championship League (BBCL) will begin with a preseason called the Banana Ball Open, running from Feb. 26 to April 12, 2026. The regular season will span 50 contests from April to September.
The top three teams in the BBCL will compete against the winner of the Banana Ball Open to see who moves on to the first-ever Banana Bowl on Oct. 10, 2026, according to a press release.
BBCL tour will hit 75 stadiums, 45 states, 14 MLB stadiums, and10 football stadiums.
The clubs in the BBCL are:
The Coconuts, Clowns, Savannah Bananas, Party Animals, Firefighters, and Texas Tailgaters.
This BBCL important start dates are as follows:
- Thursday, Feb. 26 – Loco Beach Coconuts v. Texas Firefighters @ Dick Howser Stadium.
- Friday, Feb. 27 – Indianapolis Clowns v. Party Animals @ Dick Howser Stadium.
- Saturday, Feb. 28 – Texas Tailgaters v. Savannah Bananas @ Doak Campbell Stadium.
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