ATLANTA — The founder of the world-famous Savannah Bananas has received one of Georgia’s highest honors.
The Georgia Association of Broadcasters named Jesse Cole its 2026 Georgian of the Year during a ceremony Tuesday at Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah.
The award recognizes Georgians who have made significant and lasting contributions to the state. Previous recipients include former President Jimmy Carter, civil rights icon John Lewis, and filmmaker Tyler Perry.
Cole is the founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of the Banana Ball Championship League, which includes the Savannah Bananas, Party Animals, Firefighters, Texas Tailgaters, Loco Beach Coconuts and Indianapolis Clowns.
What started as a small baseball team in Savannah has grown into a national phenomenon.
Guided by the motto “Fans First. Entertain Always,” Cole and his wife, Emily, transformed the traditional baseball experience with dancing players, all-inclusive tickets and a focus on entertainment.
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The Savannah Bananas have sold out every game since their inaugural season and now have a ticket waitlist that stretches into the millions.
The organization has also built a massive online following, attracting more than 35 million followers across social media platforms.
During the ceremony, GAB President Randy Gravley praised Cole’s vision and the impact the Bananas have had on Savannah and Georgia.
Cole reflected on how far the organization has come.
“And so, to see where we came from, from selling a handful of tickets to making the impact to be recognized at this level means a lot,” Cole said.
In addition to building the Bananas brand, Cole created Banana Ball, a faster-paced version of baseball that includes unique rules such as a two-hour time limit, no walks, no bunting, and even allowing fans to record outs by catching foul balls.
His success has also turned him into a bestselling author, motivational speaker, and one of the most recognizable figures in sports entertainment.
The Georgian of the Year award recognizes not only Cole’s business success but also his role in showcasing Georgia on a national stage and redefining what sports entertainment can be.
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