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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
Fans fill the stands during a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game between the Party Animals and the Indianapolis Clowns on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
Fans fill the stands during a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game between the Party Animals and the Indianapolis Clowns on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
the Indianapolis Clowns Jackie Bradley, Jr, a former Red Sox All Star player, stands with his Banana Ball teammates during a Secret Peel preseason game against the Party Animals on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
Players from the Indianapolis Clowns sign autographs before a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game against the Party Animals on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
A player from the the Indianapolis Clowns signs an autograph for a young fan before the start a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game against the Party Animals on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
the Indianapolis Clowns take the field during a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game against the Party Animals on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
An Indianapolis Clowns player signs autographs before the start of a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game against the Party Animals on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
the Indianapolis Clowns dance on the field during a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game against the Party Animals on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
the Indianapolis Clowns warmup before the start of a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game against the Party Animals and on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
Flash the Kid watches as an Indianapolis Clowns teammate juggles during a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game against the Party Animals on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
the Indianapolis Clowns Clark gilmore sports a pair of sunglasses during a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game against the Party Animals on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
A young fan, stepping in as a Golden Batter, makes contact with the ball during a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game between the Party Animals and the Indianapolis Clowns on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
the Indianapolis Clowns dance on the field uring a Secret Peel preseason Banana Ball game the Party Animals on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
Former World Series Champion Ryan Howard, the primetime coach for the Indianapolis Clowns announces a city during the Banana Ball City Selection Show on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
Former World Series Champion Ryan Howard, the primetime coach for the Indianapolis Clowns announces a city during the Banana Ball City Selection Show on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
Jesse Cole announces former World Series Champion Ryan Howard as the primetime coach for the new Indianapolis Clowns during the Banana Ball City Selection Show on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
Indianapolis Clowns head coach Errick Fox announces a city during the Banana Ball City Selection Show on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
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See best photos of Indianapolis Clowns preparing for 2026 Banana Ball season
Bob Kendrick, president Negro League Hall of Fame announces the newest Banana Ball team the Indianapolis Clowns during the Banana Ball City Selection Show on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
The Indianapolis Clowns have been revived and their style of baseball rebranded. The growingly popular Savannah Bananas brought back the Clowns to become one of six teams to compete in Banana Ball.
The Clowns played in the Negro Leagues in the 1930s and were around until 1989. But they’re back, with former MLB players as recognizable faces to the traveling baseball show.
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An organization that gave Hank Aaron his professional start, ageless pitcher Satchel Paige drew massive crowds to Clowns games, and Toni Stone — who in 1953 became the first woman to play professionally in a men’s league when she joined the Clowns — are part of Clowns legend. But the reimagined version will channel that of performers such as Goose Tatum and Richard “King Tut” King from their time with the Clowns.
“Banana Ball is all about energy, entertainment, flipping the script — and you know what? That’s exactly what the Negro Leagues brought to the game from day one. Flash. Innovation. Community and an unconditional love for the game. They were rockstars before the world called ballplayers that,” Clowns manager Errick Fox said.
Banana Ball has become a traveling road show with six teams — the Clowns and Loco Beach Coconuts joining this season — that is fast-paced, high energy and puts an entertaining spin on America’s pastime. Tickets are affordable, if fans are lucky enough to win a chance to buy them through the lottery. Otherwise, it’s a pretty penny for sold-out games across the country.
The Clowns have one trip to their Indianapolis home. They will play the Party Animals on May 15-16 at Victory Field.
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Who is Jackie Bradley Jr.? Former Boston Red Sox outfielder, World Series champion, South Carolina Gamecock
Jackie Bradley Jr. is uniquely prepared to join Banana Ball as a player. The 35-year-old played 11 Major League Baseball seasons, predominantly known as a defensive wizard for two Boston Red Sox World Series championships. He won a Gold Glove during the World Series-winning 2018 season, and had a defensive WAR of 9.9 for his career.
Bradley was a career .225 hitter with 109 home runs, 204 doubles, 27 triples, 449 RBIs and stole 69 bases in 87 attempts.
His final 308 games were split between the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, a return to the Red Sox after eight seasons there, and the Kansas City Royals.
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A native of Richmond, Virginia, the 5-foot-10, 196-pound Bradley was selected in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of the University of South Carolina.
Jackie Bradley Jr. highlightsWho is Ryan Howard? Philadelphia Phillies legend, Indianapolis Clowns primetime coach
Ryan Howard spent all 13 of his MLB seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and will now don a Clowns uniform as primetime coach.
Howard won MLB rookie of the Year in 2005, then the league’s MVP in 2006. That year he led the league in home runs (58) and RBIs (149). He once more led the league in home runs and twice in RBIs.
Former World Series Champion Ryan Howard, the primetime coach for the Indianapolis Clowns announces a city during the Banana Ball City Selection Show on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Indianapolis Clowns 2026 roster
No.
Name
Position
Hometown
1
Kirkland Banks
Utility
Lake Charles, LA
2
Jalen Vasquez
Infield
North Charleston, SC
3
Joe Gray
Outfield
Hattiesburg, MS
4
Gage Voorhees
RHP
Springfield, OH
5
Brian Dansereau
Outfield
Douglasville, GA
7
Bobby Lada
Infield
Houston, TX
8
Brett Maddock
RHP
Oakdale, CA
9
Chris Burgess
Catcher
Lithonia, GA
11
Correlle Prime
RHP/Infield
Bradenton, FL
12
Niko Hulsizer
Outfield
Mohnton, PA
13
Clark Gilmore
RHP
Redding, CT
15
David Griffin
RHP
Hanover, MA
16
Eli Paton
Infield
La Canada, CA
19
Jackie Bradley Jr.
Outfield
Richmond, VA
21
Vinny Santarsiero
RHP
Gainesville, FL
22
Joe Lytle
Catcher
Yukon, OK
24
Kobe Robinson
RHP
Alcoa, TN
25
Dayan Reinoso
RHP
Hazelton, PA
33
Nick Wilson
RHP
Carrollton, TX
34
Daniel Foster
LHP
Rockledge, FL
44
Dale Francis Jr.
Utility
Fort Pierce, FL
67
Andrew Irvine
RHP
Clive, IA
!
Mat Wolf
RHP/2B/ENT
Yukon, OK
∞
Fisher Polydoroff
RHP/EH/ENT
Keller, TX
🌩
Malachi “Flash Tha Kid” Mitchell
EH/DR
Gainesville, FL
Indianapolis Clowns 2026 schedule
The Banana Ball Championship League will begin with a preseason called the Banana Ball Open from Feb. 26 to April 12. The 50-game regular season will run from April to September. The top three teams will compete against the winner of the Banana Ball Open to play in the Banana Bowl on Oct. 10, according to a press release. Here is the schedule:
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Feb. 27: at Party Animals, Dick Howser Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
March 7-8: at Party Animals, Autozone Park, Memphis
March 14-15: vs Texas Tailgaters, Dell Diamond, Round Rock, Texas
March 21-22: at Firefighters, Riverwalk Stadium, Montgomery, Alabama
March 27-28: at Savannah Bananas, Angel Stadium, Anaheim
April 10-11: at Loco Beach Coconuts, Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, Charleston, South Carolina
April 16-19: Banana Ball Open, Grayson Stadium, Savannah, Georgia
April 24-26: at Firefighters, Fluor Field, Greenville, South Carolina
May 1-2: at Firefighters, Carmax Park, Richmond, Virginia
May 7-9: at Texas Tailgaters, Oneok Field, Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 15-16: vs Party Animals, Victory Field, Indianapolis
May 22-24: at Party Animals, Cheney Stadium, Tacoma, Washington
May 30-31: vs Savannah Bananas, Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City
June 4-6: at Savannah Bananas, Grayson Stadium, Savannah, Georgia
June 12-13: vs Texas Tailgaters, Kendrick Family Ballpark, Morgantown, West Virginia
June 19-21: vs Savannah Bananas, Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati
June 26-27: vs Firefighters, Newman Outdoor Field, Fargo, North Dakota
July 2-4: at Loco Beach Coconuts, Vystar Ballpark, Jacksonville
July 23-25: vs Party Animals, Dunkin’ Park, Hartfort, Connecticut
July 31-Aug. 1: at Loco Beach Coconuts, Prince George’s Stadium, Bowie, Maryland
Aug. 6-8: vs Texas Tailgaters, Fifth Third Park, Spartanburg, South Carolina
Aug. 14-15: at Savannah Bananas, Coors Field, Denver
Aug. 21-22: at Texas Tailgaters, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City
Aug. 27-29: vs Firefighters, The Birdcage, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sept. 11-13: vs Loco Beach Coconuts, Legends Field, Lexington, Kentucky
Sept. 19-20: vs Loco Beach Coconuts, Rickwood Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Sept. 25-26: at Party Animals, Progressive Field, Cleveland
Oct. 1-4: Banana Ball Championship
Indianapolis Clowns history
The original Clowns were founded in the late 1930s as the Miami Giants before becoming the Ethiopian Clowns. After moving to Cincinnati in the early 1940s, the Clowns became the Indianapolis Clowns in 1943. The Clowns, known equally for their baseball skill and showmanship, were a barnstorming team playing in the waning years of the Negro Leagues.
The Clowns played all over the United States, playing as many as three games in a day. After the 1951 season, the Clowns relocated to Buffalo but retained the Indianapolis Clowns name, according to a article in the Buffalo News.
How to watch the Indianapolis Clowns in Savannah Bananas baseball league in 2026
Games will be live-streamed on the Savannah Bananas YouTube page. Select games may be aired on television.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis Clowns 2026 roster, schedule, how to watch, history, tickets