EL PASO, Texas (KFOX 14, CBS4) — For the first time ever, Banana Ball has made its way to El Paso and Southwest University Park. The worldwide baseball phenomenon sold out the home of the Chihuahuas on Friday with the Texas Tailgaters facing off with the Firefighters.
Long before the first pitch, the team’s got the party started out on the plaza. Players from both teams signed autographs and hung out with fans. There was also a dance party. The pregame shenanigans continued into the stadium with hot dog throwing contests and more dancing.
The rules of banana ball differ from traditional baseball. Some rules include: fan catches on foul balls are outs, each inning is worth one point, and a player can steal a base at anytime.
The Tailgaters bring a familiar face back to El Paso. Outfielder Kyle Martin, the leading home run hitter this season in Banana Ball, played for the El Paso Chihuahuas in 2022.
“It has been amazing so far,” Martin said before the game. “The field is as beautiful as ever. I am very excited to play in front of these fans again and take it all in.”
Once the game started, the Firefighters scored one run in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the inning, Martin ripped off his Tailgater uniform to show the crowd that he was rocking his old El Paso uniform. When he stepped up to the plate, almost as if it was written in the stars, Martin absolutely crushed a home run over the right field wall to win the inning for the Tailgaters.
The Tailgaters would win a second straight inning in the second. Dance routines and fan games were weaved into every inning. Fans were on their feet from start to finish. One inning saw a band playing out in left field, while the ball was in play. In the end it would be a defensive and pitchers battle with the Tailgaters taking a 2-1 victory.
The party in the Sun City will continue on Saturday with the Tailgaters and Firefighters facing off once again.