Rocky Point’s Frankie Moscatiello will finally live his dream of playing professionally atYankee Stadium this weekend. Only he won’t be in pinstripes. He’ll be dressed in an all-yellow uniform of the barnstorming Savannah Bananas.
The popular Bananas take over Yankee Stadium this weekend with two games scheduled against the Party Animals in Banana Ball Championship League play. Game 1 is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday and Game 2 is at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets, priced between $40 and $100 when purchased through the Bananas’ lottery system, are available on the secondary market at more than double the face value, as of Tuesday afternoon. A handful of premium seat and suite tickets are available through the Yankees’ website.
“It’s been a blast,” Moscatiello told Newsday. “The fan experience has been incredibly rewarding, and the team is like one big family. We’re all having a great time playing the game we love.”
The Bananas are currently 10-1 in the six-team league which includes the Indianapolis Clowns, Texas Tailgaters, Loco Beach Coconuts, Firefighters and Party Animals.
“It’s everything I thought it would be and more,” Moscatiello said. “It’s the coolest place to play. It’s like playing pick-up wiffle ball. It’s so much fun.”
Savannah Bananas’ Malachi Mitchell does a flip while jogging home to score against the Firefighters. Credit: AP/Lindsey Wasson
Savannah Bananas rightfielder Reese Alexiades makes a catch between his legs against the Firefighters. Credit: AP/Lindsey Wasson
Two weeks ago, the Bananas, who started in 2016, celebrated the teams’ 500th straight sell-out. Last month, they played to sold-out crowds in Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans, Petco Park in San Diego, and Anaheim Stadium. After this stop in Yankee Stadium, the Bananas head out to Truist Park in Atlanta on May 8-10.
Moscatiello, who wears No. 99, had quite the celebration of his own pitching on his 30th birthday March 27 in Anaheim Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels.
“The fans were awesome in Anaheim and had so much energy,” Moscatiello said. “We in turn reciprocated that energy with choreographed dances and all kinds of flips and tricks.”
The positive fan experience has been a staple of the Bananas’ success. The fan-friendly interaction includes signing autographs, running into the crowd to take photos and being accessible. It is an important ingredient to the team’s popularity.
“We’re signing autographs and interacting with fans everywhere we play,” he said. “You watch the Yankees and see Aaron Judge, but how many people actually have the chance to meet him. We make sure the experience includes fans meeting players.”
Frank Moscatiello. Credit: Moscatiello Family
Moscatiello said he is having the time of his life. After an eight-year grind in baseball, he has found a comfortable place on this journey with the Bananas.
The former Newsday All-Long Island selection in 2014 at Rocky Point went on to play at St. Thomas Aquinas and earn Pitcher of the Year in 2017 and 2018. He was a Division II All-American in 2017.
“We’re not in the baseball business,” said Bananas co-owner Jesse Cole. “We’re in the entertainment business.”
They do it well. People go bananas for them.
ABOUT THE SAVANNAH BANANAS
Who: An exhibition barnstorming baseball team from Savannah, Georgia (home field, Grayson Stadium).
What: They play a variation of baseball known as Banana Ball, which emphasizes showmanship, fan participation and quick-paced games. Players have dance routines, comedic sketches and other entertainment between innings and during games. They are often compared to the Harlem Globetrotters.
Banana Ball: There are six teams with many of playings having minor league and college experience.
Routines: Players have walk-ups and pre-pitch dances that have hundreds of millions of views across social media. Scoring celebrations can include the fans where players run into the crowd and dance.
What else: Savannah has the world’s tallest hitter and pitcher in Dakota “Stilts” Albritton who stands 10 feet tall … Bananas owner Jesse Cole always wears a yellow tuxedo.
WORLD TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
2021: The Bananas played two games in Atlanta in front of sellout crowds on their first barnstorming “tour.”
2022: The tour expanded to seven cities and 14 games (all sellouts).
2023: The Bananas expanded the tour to 80 games, including an international match against the Aussie Drop Bears from Australia.
2024: The Bananas played their season opener at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, and played games in five MLB stadiums.
2025: The Bananas played games in three NFL stadiums and 17 MLB stadiums. On April 26, 2025, the Bananas and the Party Animals played in front of 81,000 fans at Clemson.
2026: The Bananas are 10-1 and have sold out every venue so far this season.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday’s high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
