Jonathan Papelbon Pitches With the Savannah Bananas in a Return to Fenway Park

By Oliver Wiener June 12, 2024 14:02

Photo by John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

On June 8, former Red Sox All-Star Closer, Jonathan Papelbon, wowed a sellout crowd at Fenway Park by making a guest appearance as a pitcher for the Savannah Bananas. We'll dive into the specifics of how this great moment materialized and go deep into Papelbon's career, stats, and general tomfoolery that made him an unforgettable character on this wonderfully absurd night.

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Jonathan Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon was born in November 1980 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has long been retired as a Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. In addition to his intimidating mound presence and his usual entry music (Shipping Up To Boston by the Dropkick Murphys), Papelbon was an All-Star four times during his career in Boston and was a key piece of the 2007 World Championship club.
The Red Sox signed Papelbon after he was drafted in 2003, so he broke in as a Red Sox as a closer, immediately blossoming into one of the best in the game. His career numbers include a 2.44 ERA in 368 saves and 808 strikeouts over 725.2 innings.

The Unforgettable Homecoming At Fenway Park

Papelbon toed the rubber at Fenway Park with Come to Boston blasting in the background, on June 8, 2024, a homecoming of sorts for the stadium where he became one of its greatest victors. The standing-room-only throng roared in appreciation, a reminder of the love still held for this Red Sox icon.

Savannah Bananas Guest Appearance

An appearance by Papelbon was one of the special cameo events that took place during a Savannah Bananas game, a team that is always putting on high-energy, fun-filled games similar to the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball. The Bananas are a team recognized for their "fans first, entertain always" approach, providing an environment filled with excitement and uncertainty that you would have to see to believe for a baseball fan.

Experience the Banana Ball Like No Other

Savannah Bananas (whose game of "Banana Ball" is played using its own particular rules) provided some light-hearted non-traditional baseball action. The game featured rules like runs resetting at the end of every inning and other trick plays such as backflip catches and bounce passes, making sure there was constant entertainment throughout the affair.

In the End

A guest appearance with the Savannah Bananas was a delightful mix of nostalgia, entertainment, and sporting prowess for Jonathan Papelbon at Fenway Park. To make the moment that much more special, his return to the mound was at this historic stadium with his fellow Red Sox legends. Fans can expect even more unforgettable moments as the Bananas further push the limits of baseball entertainment.
What follows is an attempt to encapsulate what may only happen once and should only come around every century at the very most, combining the amazing career of Jonathan Papelbon with the infectious atmosphere of a Savannah Bananas game at Fenway Park.