Friday night in Charlotte offered anything but a standard baseball experience. For a sold-out crowd of 74,000 fans at Bank of America Stadium, what unfolded was not just a game but an unforgettable show. The night blurred the lines between sports, entertainment, and nostalgia.
NFL Meets Banana Ball in Spectacle at Bank of America Stadium
On the night of June 6th, NFL legend Greg Olsen stepped onto the field, not as a tight end but as the first baseman for the Savannah Bananas.
Fox NFL analyst Greg Olsen was in action for Friday Night’s Savannah Bananas game in Charlotte, playing first base. pic.twitter.com/qs1KMmi9dR
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 7, 2025
The Bananas, known for their viral antics and fan-first approach, brought their unique version of baseball, aptly named “Banana Ball,” to the home of the Carolina Panthers. The team’s mission is simple but bold: to offer a baseball experience “of the fans, by the fans and for the fans.” And on this electric night, they delivered on that promise in spectacular fashion.
The Bananas’ brand of baseball thrives on chaos, joy, and interaction. Trick plays, dancing players, umpires flipping, and even athletes on stilts define their games. Olsen wasn’t the only NFL name in the lineup. Former Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart and franchise icon Luke Kuechly, who threw out the first pitch, also took part. But Olsen’s presence at first base was the night’s standout story.
The roots of this phenomenon trace back to nearby Gastonia, where Jesse Cole, the Bananas’ yellow-tuxedoed founder, first envisioned an alternative to conventional baseball. Reflecting on the journey, Cole said, “I hoped in Gastonia to get a few fans to come out to the ballpark, maybe get a thousand one night. Now to be here to play two sold out nights, 74,000 each night, yeah it’s not anything you can imagine.” His vision, once modest, has grown into a nationwide sensation.
Cole’s passion was always grounded in more than metrics or tradition. He shared a moment from his childhood that shaped his approach: “When I was a kid my dad told me when I came up to bat for the first time, Jess, swing hard in case you hit it.” That fearless attitude now defines Banana Ball’s spirit.
The night ended as theatrically as it began. The Bananas clinched the win with a walk-off homer, defeating the Party Animals 4-3.
Olsen’s transition to entertainment and broadcasting follows a remarkable NFL career. A three-time Pro Bowler, he holds Panthers records for most receiving yards (6,463), receptions (524), and 100-yard games (10) by a tight end. Though injuries shadowed his final seasons, Olsen chose to play once more with the Seahawks before officially retiring. During Fox’s pregame show, Olsen confirmed his retirement and transition to broadcasting, saying, “Sometimes when it’s time, it’s time,” as he reflected on closing the chapter of his NFL career.
From Gastonia dreams to Charlotte showmanship, Friday night proved that for Olsen and the Bananas, nothing is too far-fetched, not even an NFL star turning first baseman in front of 74,000 roaring fans.