Indianapolis Clowns making a comeback in Banana Ball Championship League

INDIANAPOLIS – The Savannah Bananas announced that they are expanding their new Banana Ball Championship League by adding two new teams for their inaugural season.

Indianapolis Clowns are stepping up to the plate and joining the bunch of bananas in 2026.

While the clowns are the newest Banana Ball team, this isn’t the first time Indianapolis has proudly repped the name.

The Indianapolis Clowns were a part of the Negro League from the 1930s to the late 1980s.

“They were barnstormers, just like the Bananas,” said Indianapolis historian Sampson Levingston.

“They’d show up anywhere, anytime, and play. They wanted to put on a show for people all across the country.”

The team truly pioneered the idea of bringing baseball and entertainment together.

They played for thousands of fans, putting on a great show while also producing notable athletes over the years.  

“Eventually they became like a legitimate team, winning championships, signing Hank Aaron, signing Toni Stone, Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson, like the first professional baseball team to give a woman a full-time contract right here in Indianapolis,” Levingston said.

In partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Indianapolis Clowns are sliding into home and bringing the name back.

“They played long after the Negro League World Series ended, so long after baseball integration, the Clowns kept playing like they wanted to perform for Indianapolis, for the world, and now you kind of see that legacy live on,” said Levingston.

“We’ve had a huge responsibility to our fans since day one, and now we have a responsibility to the story and the history of the Indianapolis Clowns, and not only to preserve it but to take it to the next level,” said Jesse Cole, founder of the Savannah Bananas. 

The team will be coached by Errick Fox, alongside former MLB MVP and World Series champion Ryan Howard.

“We’re gonna make sure the entertainment factor is there, we’re gonna make sure the gaming factor is there,” said Howard.

“We’re gonna hit it on all facets, so the Clowns will be ready to go.”

The full schedule of games has been released; however, the only weekend the Clowns will be playing at Victory Field is May 15th and 16th.  

If you want to get tickets, you can sign up for the ticket lottery, which is open until October 31st.