ARLINGTON, Texas — Banana Ball has become one of my favorite events to cover. We've been fortunate to cover both of its stops in Frisco, and this September we got to cover its first trip to Globe Life Field, where the Texas Tailgaters hosted the Savannah Bananas for three sold-out games.

More than 120,000 fans attended the series. That number doesn't surprise me. In every Banana Ball game I've covered, there hasn't been an empty seat in the house.

A Hot Ticket Everywhere It Goes

Banana Ball has sold out NFL stadiums, MLB ballparks and minor league parks. The waitlist sits at more than 5 million and is still growing. Tickets are affordable, the entertainment doesn't stop, and the baseball is real. The players are competitive and want to win.

In Banana Ball, each inning is worth one point to the team that scores more runs in it, so pitching lines and final scores don't always line up the way they would in a traditional game.

The Tailgaters took two of the three games in Arlington.

Jonathan Luders Sets Single-Season Trick Play Record

The biggest individual storyline of the weekend belonged to the Bananas' Jonathan "Sunshine" Luders. In the top of the fourth inning Friday, Luders became just the second player in Banana Ball history to reach 200 trick plays in a single season.

He wasn't done. In Sunday's regular-season finale, Luders set a new single-season record with 211 trick plays.

Friday: Tailgaters 2, Bananas 1

Jonathan Hughes got the start for the Tailgaters and threw six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out four.

Chris Clarke closed it out and earned the save, striking out one in a scoreless inning that took less than two minutes. He lowered his ERA to 2.64.

At the plate, Jordan Barth went 2-for-4 with a run. Tailgaters slugger Kyle Martin, the league-wide home run leader in Banana Ball (29), went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. It was the first time this season he struck out more than twice in a game.

Friday's lineup of special guests included Rangers legend Josh Hamilton, WWE legend The Undertaker and country music star Jordan Davis.

Ty Jackson brought Shrek to Globe Life Field, performing "I'm a Believer" with his Bananas teammates during his fifth-inning walk-up. In the bottom of the fifth, Davis performed "What My World Spins Around" with both teams joining in for a mid-game concert.

Hamilton took an at bat for the Bananas. He stepped into the box wearing yellow in the sixth and brought the crowd to its feet. The Undertaker emerged to deliver the final-inning Banana Ball, and Hamilton returned to the plate in the ninth for one more shot. He went 0-for-2 but made contact.

Saturday: Tailgaters 3, Bananas 0

Tailgaters starting pitching delivered again on Saturday. Brett Sanchez threw eight innings and allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 3.87.

Mac Danford went 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Travis Moniot went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Rangers legend Rafael Palmeiro, a four-time All-Star with more than 3,000 career hits, batted twice for the Tailgaters and brought the crowd to its feet both times. He went 0-for-2.

The night also featured an appearance from the Rangers' own dancing queen, Hannah. Derek Klena's pitcher entrance, joined by the Man-anas to "Bust Your Windows," was one of the night's viral moments. The Tailgaters also delivered a tribute to the Lone Star State in the bottom of the seventh.

Sunday: Bananas 4, Tailgaters 2

Brett Allen started for the Tailgaters and lasted two innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) with two strikeouts. His ERA sits at 6.99.

Bananas star Dan Oberst homered, and the teams paused for an on-field recognition of a Texas local and recent Medal of Honor recipient.

Prince Fielder batting for the Bananas in Arlington, TX at Globe Life Field.

In the sixth, former Ranger Prince Fielder came to the plate for the Bananas. Savannah won the inning to take a 3-1 lead into the seventh. The Tailgaters answered by taking the seventh to pull within 3-2, but the Bananas added one more to close out a 4-2 win.

A Successful Arlington Debut

One of my favorite parts of the weekend was seeing a Rangers legend come out each night. The crowd loved it every time.

Banana Ball's first trip to Arlington was a success. I would expect both Globe Life Field and Riders Field to be on the list when the 2027 Banana Ball World Tour schedule is announced on Oct. 15, 2026, during the live 2027 Selection Show.