Hundreds of fans wrapped around the Alexandria Dunkin’ building twice this morning as players from the Savannah Bananas took over the Richmond Highway location to serve customers and hand out promotional items.
The event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., drew such large crowds that some people waited in line for more than an hour to meet the players and receive free merchandise.
Four players from both the Savannah Bananas and their opponents, the Firefighters, worked behind the counter serving orders as part of a promotional partnership between Dunkin’ and the baseball team. The Bananas are in the Washington, D.C. area for games at Nationals Park on Friday and Saturday as part of their Banana Ball World Tour.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Savannah Bananas to bring this unique experience to our Alexandria community,” said John Lunsmann, Area Business Consultant for Maryland, D.C., and Virginia for Dunkin’. “The energy and excitement these players bring is exactly what we love to see in our restaurants.”
The highlight of the morning came at 9:30 a.m. when Dunkin’ surprised 9-year-old Sebastian Banh, of Stafford, Virginia, with five tickets to Saturday night’s Savannah Bananas game. Sebastian was diagnosed with Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor, in February and has since undergone a craniotomy to remove the tumor, completed radiation treatments, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
“Sebastian has shown incredible strength throughout his health journey, and as a passionate baseball fan, we knew this would mean the world to him,” said Tammy, Sebastian’s mother. “When they told us about the surprise, I could hardly believe it. He’s been through so much, and to see his face light up like that was everything.”
The young baseball fan’s resilience and positive attitude throughout his treatment made him a natural choice for the special recognition, according to a hospital representative.
“Sebastian’s courage and determination have been an inspiration to everyone on our medical team,” said Meaghan from Children’s National Hospital. “He approaches each day with such optimism despite everything he’s facing. This surprise couldn’t have happened to a more deserving young man.”
The Alexandria event represents part of Dunkin’s broader partnership with the Savannah Bananas, which includes serving as the team’s official coffee and breakfast partner. The partnership extends to the team’s games at Nationals Park, where Dunkin’ fuels the fan-favorite “Donut Batter of the Night” feature on both Friday and Saturday nights.
During the games, fans at Nationals Park receive free Munchkin donut hole treats when the opposition’s designated “donut batter” strikes out swinging. This promotion combines the Bananas’ entertainment-focused approach to baseball with Dunkin’s signature products.
The Savannah Bananas have gained national attention for their unconventional approach to baseball entertainment and their massive social media following. The team boasts over 8 million TikTok followers, surpassing every Major League Baseball team’s social media presence.
The team plays their own version of baseball called Banana Ball, which features a fast-paced, action-packed style with unique rules. These include no bunting, a two-hour time limit, fans catching foul balls for outs, batters stealing first base, and a one-on-one tiebreaker showdown if games end tied. Their antics include playing games in kilts, using a dancing first base coach, featuring the first baseball player to wear stilts, and players performing backflips while catching fly balls.
The Bananas return to Nationals Park tonight at 7 p.m. for their Saturday game against the Firefighters, where local fans who missed this morning’s Alexandria event will have another opportunity to experience the team’s unique entertainment style.
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