Inspired by the Savannah Bananas, the Chicago Snowballs are set to inject healthy doses of acrobatics, music and more to the sport of baseball.
The team, which will make its debut in May in Chicago, is holding tryouts this week to build their lineup ahead of their season.
Whether it’s choreographed cheers, shredding on guitar, or being a five-tool player on the field, the Snowballs are looking to build one of the most exciting shows in town as they piece together that roster.
“It’s what Chicago wants. This is exciting,” co-founder Cherie Travis said. “This is what people want: something fun for their families, so that’s what we’re bringing.”
The idea of the Snowballs was inspired by the Bananas and teams like the Harlem Globetrotters, mixing the traditional game of baseball with a dash of flair and a lot of activities to keep fans engaged and entertained.
“It’s not just the Savannah Bananas. We also really admire what the Harlem Globetrotters did, and helping people engage in a way that they may not be the best basketball player, but they’ve got spirit, and they do things that many people can’t.”
The tryouts Tuesday started off with traditional baseball tryouts, with potential players evaluated on their hitting and defensive skills.
In the afternoon, the focus turned to the fun components of the experience, including dancing, tumbling, and any other talent a player could bring to what will be a co-ed team, according to organizers.
“This is amazing,” Kamarni Lavel Gaiter Jr. said. “I play a lot of traveling softball, but to come out here and play baseball and have fun with it in a different type of way, to be creative is by far like nothing I have ever experienced.”
Bradley Jadin, whose nickname is “Gramps,” says he isn’t the best baseball player, but he can tumble, juggle, and even walk on stilts.
“People want to be entertained,” he said. “If they want to see baseball, they can go watch the White Sox, but that ain’t selling out stadiums. Baseball skills are one thing, but really the mix of the two, being able to entertain, have a crowd of thousands and yeah, have a good time for families.”
Mike Napoleon, the head coach of the Snowballs, said that the team will be focused on entertainment during two-hour games, but they’ll also look to put a quality baseball product on the field.
“The players are professionals, and this is a professional baseball game. It just has a little more entertainment value to it,” he said.
The Snowballs will make their debut on Sunday, May 3 at Kerry Wood Field in Chicago.
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