Watch former Giants pitcher A Zito make his Savannah Bananas debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Bay Area legend Barry Zito was back on the mound this weekend, but not for an MLB team.
The former Giants and Athletics pitcher made his debut for the Savannah Bananas on Saturday night, giving the sold-out crowd in Nashville, Tennessee, a surprise and helping the quirky baseball team to a 4- 3 on their great rival Party Animals.
Zito, 45, spent seven seasons with the A’s from 2000 to 2006, where he won the AL Cy Young Award in 2002 and appeared in three All-Star Games (2002, ’03 and ’06). Before a year-long stint with Oakland in 2015, he spent seven up and down seasons with the Giants from 2007 to 2013 and became a playoff hero in 2012 helping San Francisco win its second World Series title. .
Zito gave up a run in his brief Bananas appearance, but, to be fair, Savannah is playing with some interesting rules. The “World Famous Baseball Circus” is just as popular for entertaining crowds as it is for its baseball skills, and other former Bay Area players like Michael Morse and Eric Byrnes are known to attend.
After his release, Zito – well known for his musical ability – took his guitar with him to coach third base.
It is unknown if Zito’s appearance with the bananas was a one-time event. Saturday’s game was just one stop on the Banana Ball World Tour, and it was in Nashville, where Zito lives.
RELATED: Flores seizes opportunity after quiet period
But for all the Giants and A’s fans in the crowd, Zito’s appearance was certainly a welcome surprise.
Download and follow the Giants Talk podcast