If you’ve ever watched a Savannah Bananas game, you’ve likely spotted a towering figure striding across the field, captivating fans and players alike. That man is Dakota "Stilts" Albritton, the tallest player in Banana Ball and one of the most unique personalities in baseball entertainment.
Dakota Albritton stands at an astonishing 10 feet 9 inches when on his stilts, making him not only the tallest person on the field but also one of the most recognizable faces in the sport. At every Banana Ball game, it’s nearly impossible to miss him—whether he’s pitching, batting, or joining in on the Bananas’ signature dance routines. “It’s very surreal just knowing what hard work, dedication, and pure love for what we do will get you. It’s crazy, man,” Albritton shared in a recent interview. “It blows my mind. I get to create smiles on so many people’s faces and that’s the main reason I do it.”
Albritton’s journey to the Bananas is as unconventional as his on-field persona. Growing up in the tiny town of Louisville, Georgia, with just one red light and about 1,400 people, Dakota received his first pair of stilts as a Christmas gift when he was 10 years old. “The first time I laid eyes on the pair of stilts, I got on them and I took off running. They came completely natural to me,” he recalled. But after that first experience, he put them away for a decade, not touching them again until the day of his Bananas tryout.
His path to the team was set in motion by his mother, who signed him up for the tryout without his knowledge. “I was pouring a wheelbarrow full of concrete and my mom called me. She said, ‘Hey, you got a baseball tryout this weekend.’ I hadn’t touched a baseball in two whole years,” Albritton said. She told the Bananas staff that her son could walk on stilts, believing it would give him an edge. “Either I’m going to step out here and be different and at least get some kind of attention, or I’m going to go home and these people will never mention my name again,” he remembered thinking. That bold decision changed his life and the future of Banana Ball forever.
Dakota’s presence on the field is more than just a gimmick. He’s become a legitimate part of the team’s strategy and entertainment value. On the 2023 Banana Ball World Tour, he hit .333 (four hits in 12 at-bats) and recorded multiple strikeouts as a pitcher, proving that his talent goes beyond his towering height. “Every time I take the field, I tell myself these people are expecting me to fail—this guy’s on stilts, he’s not going to be able to provide good athletic, quality baseball. And every time I go out there and I get to prove however many people are in the stands wrong, that’s a dang good feeling,” Albritton said.
The Bananas’ games are known for their sellout crowds and carnival-like atmosphere, and Dakota “Stilts” Albritton is a major reason why fans keep coming back. He’s not just a spectacle; he’s an inspiration. “Going out and being different, not being afraid to stand out, teaches people that being themselves and taking advantage of all the talents the good Lord gave them—you never know what’s going to come out of it,” he reflected.
For Albritton, the joy is in the connection with fans and the chance to bring something completely new to the game. “I absolutely never take it for granted. I play every day like it could be my last. There are thousands and thousands of people that would do anything to be in our shoes, so I make the absolute best of it.”
In a sport steeped in tradition, Dakota “Stilts” Albritton is proof that embracing what makes you different can lead to unforgettable moments—for both players and fans.
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