Former New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson made a surprise appearance at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, donning the bright yellow uniform of the Savannah Bananas for an exhibition Banana Ball game against the Party Animals.
The 37-year-old stepped to the plate in the fifth inning before a crowd of 40,000 and cracked a ground ball to first base, breaking his bat in the process. The play ended in a trick maneuver typical of the entertainment-driven league, helping close the inning as the Party Animals defeated the Bananas, 7-2.
Wilson’s cameo marked a return to baseball roots that predate his NFL stardom. Drafted in the 41st round by the Baltimore Orioles out of high school in 2007 and in the fourth round by the Colorado Rockies in 2010, he played 93 minor-league games across two seasons with the Tri-City Dust Devils and Asheville Tourists.
Wilson left professional baseball in 2012 to focus on football, where he became a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks and a multiple-time Pro Bowler.
After stints with the Broncos, Steelers, and Giants—where he started the 2025 season before being benched—Wilson is currently an unrestricted free agent.
He later posted on social media that the day was special for his children and thanked Bananas founder Jesse Cole, recalling that Cole had been his general manager when Wilson was 19.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: See it: Ex-Giants QB Russell Wilson suits up for Savannah Bananas
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
