Hall of Fame to Host Indianapolis Clowns vs. Texas Tailgaters in Banana Ball Games Memorial Day Weekend at Doubleday Field

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Central New York baseball fans will be clowning around in 2027.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will host the Indianapolis Clowns vs. the Texas Tailgaters in Banana Ball games on May 29-30 at the Village of Cooperstown’s historic Doubleday Field. The games will be part of the Banana Ball 2027 World Tour, dates of which were announced Thursday.

Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch announced the event live during the Banana Ball City Selection Show this evening on ESPN2. Banana Ball was first played in Cooperstown in 2023 during the Savannah Bananas’ final game of that season.

“We are thrilled to welcome Banana Ball back to Cooperstown in 2027,” Rawitch said. “The first Bananas game in Cooperstown in 2023 made history at Doubleday Field, and this time will be twice as much fun with two games on Memorial Day Weekend. The Museum tells the entire story of the National Pastime, and Banana Ball continues to make history each season while bringing their game to fans across the country. With their ties to the historic Negro Leagues franchise, the Clowns are a perfect fit for the Banana Ball games in Cooperstown.”

The Indianapolis Clowns, named after the legendary Negro Leagues team whose story is told in The Souls of the Game exhibit in the Museum’s Yawkey Gallery, and the Banana Ball Champion Texas Tailgaters will feature rosters filled by independent professional players who have been scouted, tried out and signed contracts for the 2027 Banana Ball World Tour.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will unveil a new exhibit this spring dedicated to the phenomenon that has become Banana Ball. This fun and interactive exhibit will feature the entire story of Banana Ball, starting with the Savannah Bananas, and will replace a smaller Museum exhibit that debuted in 2023.

“It’s a tremendous honor to return to Cooperstown with one of the most historic teams, the Indianapolis Clowns and the Banana Ball Champion Texas Tailgaters,” said Bananas team owner Jesse Cole. “To be celebrated with an exhibit at the Hall of Fame that includes all six teams is very special for all of our players, cast members and their families.”

Tickets for the May 29-30 Banana Ball games at Doubleday Field will be available to the general public via a Ticket Lottery.

The Ticket Lottery List, which is available at BananaBall.com, closes on Oct. 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.  Joining the list does not guarantee the opportunity to buy tickets. A random drawing will take place before the event for the chance to purchase available tickets. Those selected will be communicated with directly as to next steps at thesavannahbananas.com.

All fans – including Hall of Fame Museum Members and those living in Otsego County who are subscribed to the Museum’s email list – are encouraged to apply for tickets via the Ticket Lottery, as this is the best way to secure tickets. A very limited number of tickets will be made available exclusively for members of these groups that are not selected through the Ticket Lottery. This opportunity will be limited to four tickets per customer. Museum Members and Otsego County residents should enter the Ticket Lottery with the same email address applied to their Hall of Fame accounts.

The Savannah Bananas began play in the Coastal Plain League in 2016 before launching Banana Ball, which is played under modified rules, in 2020. Banana Ball features a two-hour time limit, no stepping out of the batter’s box or mound visits and no bunting as well as the recording of an out when a fan catches a batted foul ball.

The team has sold out every game at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Ga., for nine straight years.

For the complete Savannah Bananas World Tour schedule, visit thesavannahbananas.com/worldtour.