A Deep Dive Into the Man Behind the Savannah Bananas: Who Is Jesse Cole?

By Oliver Wiener June 12, 2024 13:51

Photo by GETTY

Jesse Cole, otherwise referred to as the man in the "Yellow Tuxedo", a nod to his classic outfit at games, is the brains of the Savannah Bananas, a baseball team that has endeared fans worldwide. Jesse has had a love for this game since day one, as was evident growing up in a baseball family in Massachusetts dreaming of being drafted by the Boston Red Sox.

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Rise to Prominence

Jesse knew he had baseball in his blood but his hopes of playing pro ball ended when a shoulder injury sidelined his career and led him to a surprising turn in the baseball industry. While taking the reins of front office for the Bananas, the game he loved required an entirely new direction. Thus the Savannah Bananas were born, a team devoted to making the ultimate experience for the fans.

Yellow Tuxedo and Thinking Different

The Bananas style - from break-dancing first base coaches to a Grandma Beauty Pageant - has revolutionized the way fans experience a game. It has also helped the performance of the players (yes, you heard that right) - stats have shown that the players who wear the Bananas uniform perform better.

Forming An International Franchise

It has been a tremendous run for The Savannah Bananas since Jesse has taken over. That popularity has carried through in spades; selling out every game since their inaugural season with a waiting list of more than 2 million fans hoping to attend from around the world. Currently one of the most recognizable teams around the world with more than 15 million followers on social media and national features on MSNBC, CNN, ESPN, and almost every day-time talk show on network television - including The Today Show and HBO Real Sports.

Banana Ball and Beyond

Jesse is a true traditionalist when it comes to baseball, but he is quite the innovator as well. Dave is a savvy entrepreneur who is always innovating; the inventor of Banana Ball, an exciting brand of tennis played at breakneck pace with lots of entertainment, he does not shy away from pushing the boundaries or shaking things up!!! His vision for the future includes traveling with the Bananas experience, new food and drink items, and even opening a Banana Land theme park in the stadium.

Personal Life and Legacy

Jesse makes sure to honor his "Fans First" commitment beyond the diamond. He is a best-selling author, an internationally-recognized keynote speaker, and, most importantly, a raving fan of his awesome wife, Emily, and grateful father of their three excellent children. For more than twenty years, Jesse and his firm have been the most creative thinkers in the sports business, and the list of innovations created by him is long. His influence hasn't just changed baseball. He's inspired a generation of sports entrepreneurs to stretch the box or break out entirely: enlightened ownership of clubs whose leadership intimately remembers his unique touch. That, and a commitment to re-invention within every aspect of baseball and how fans consume it.
Jesse Cole and the journey of the Savannah Bananas remind us all what creativity, innovation, and putting your fans in the middle of your game can do. His influence on the game of baseball stretches far beyond the diamond, certainly helping pave the way for what the future of sports entertainment may look like.