The name “Bananas” apparently has a lot of appeal.
And Savannah is the only town where the name fits, said Jared Orton, president of Savannah’s newest baseball team, the Savannah Bananas.
“There’s no other brand,” Orton said. “It’s a perfect fit. No other city could be the Bananas.”
The Bananas, the newest member of the Coastal Plain League, officially announced their name during a ceremony Thursday at Grayson Stadium. The Coastal Plain League is a collegiate baseball league with 16 members across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
The name seemed to be the popular choice among the hundreds of fans who crammed their way inside the front of Grayson Stadium as the team made the announcement, which came by way of a teaser video, with the Bananas logo appearing at the end on two separate TV screens, and was met with a roar from the crowd.
“Bananas” beat out four other finalists for team name suggestions, which were made through a contest sponsored by the Savannah Morning News. The other possibilities were the Savannah Anchors, Ports, Seagulls and Party Animals.
Lynn Moses, 63, of Savannah submitted the name “Bananas” into the contest, which had nearly 1,000 entries. She was recognized during the ceremony. Moses said she was sitting at home reading about the name contest, and the idea just came to her.
“I just thought Savannah Bananas sounded catchy,” said Moses, a nurse at St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital who will enjoy a free season pass to Bananas games this summer. “I’m floored. It’s just unreal.”
Moses also approved of the slick logo of a banana with a don’t-mess-with-me expression holding a baseball bat. The logo was designed by Studio Simon, a graphic design firm based in Louisville, Ky., that has developed brands for more than 100 professional and collegiate sports teams.
The Bananas will play 24 home games in the Coastal Plain league, with the opener set for June 2 against Lexington County. Orton said that date is nearly sold out, and Savannah’s home game on June 25 against Forest City has sold out.
With a shorter schedule than the former Savannah Sand Gnats — a Class A South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets who played their final game in September before moving to Columbia, S.C. — the Bananas are out to give fans their money’s worth.
“We think Savannah deserves something special,” said team owner Jesse Cole, who also owns the CPL’s Gastonia (N.C.) Grizzlies. “We’re going to do a lot with bananas.”
It started with a pie to the face to Orton from a couple of young fans on Thursday. That’s just a taste of what’s to come. There will be plenty of contests for fans to enjoy in between innings, Cole said. Some of the players might even show off a dance move or two.
The baseball is good, too, Cole said. The CPL stated it has produced nearly 1,300 MLB draft picks and currently has 81 players in the majors, including 2011 Cy Young winner Justin Verlander.
Cole said a manager has been hired and the Bananas’ roster has been filled, but those announcements won’t come for another few weeks. The CPL is an invitation-only league, and each team’s manager is responsible for scouting college players across the nation.
Cole and Orton each moved to Savannah around October to start the endeavor of bringing a baseball team back to the city, and they were immediately drawn to the appeal of Grayson Stadium.
“This is the most majestic stadium,” Cole said. “It needs to be celebrated. It’s going to be one of the best stadiums in the league.”
For Orton, it’s a four-month investment that’s finally paying off.
“It’s the first time I’ve been able to start a brand new franchise. You can’t describe what it’s like to be in this ballpark and to bring in the new era.”
BANANAS IN THE MARKET
• The Savannah Bananas officially announced their team name on Thursday
• Team president: Jared Orton
• Team owner: Jesse Cole
• The team will play in the Coastal Plain League, which consists of top collegiate baseball players. Savannah’s home opener at Grayson Stadium will be June 2.
• Merchandise featuring the new logo is on sale at Grayson Stadium from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Official website: www.thesavannahbananas.com.
• Follow the team on Twitter @TheSavBananas
