Roger Clemens Takes The Mound For The Savannah Bananas

I imagine there are different points of view on the Savannah Bananas. Some probably aren't big on the gimmick while others can understand that it's entertainment and a fun night out.

But the one thing I'm not sure how anyone could not love is when they bring back retired Big Leaguers.

They did just that on Saturday in Houston.

The Bananas were doing their thing at Minute Maid Park when they decided to make a pitching change and brought in none other than Roger Clemens.

Clemens of course spent a few of the last years of his MLB career in Houston, and the crowd was clearly fired up to see him back in action.

The Rocket worked a Party Animals hitter (the Party Animals being the Washington Generals to the Banana's Harlem Globetrotters, except I think they win sometimes) to a full count. The hitter got a piece of the 3-2 pitch and hit a dribbler back to Clemens who fielded it and launched what may be one of the longest underhand flips to first in baseball history.

That ended the inning and Clemens got to celebrate with his kids.

I didn't think he looked too bad out there either. Clemens' last season in the MLB was in 2007 with the Yankees after a few tune-ups in the minors (I was at the game he pitched for the then Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees, it was very cool). He also tried to make a comeback in 2012 with the Atlantic League's Sugarland Skeeters.

That's a cool moment and, like I said, the retired Big Leaguers getting in on the fun is far and away the coolest thing the Bananas do. Even if you weren't digging their dance moves and trick plays, you'd be excited to see Bill "Spaceman" Lee take the mound.

I wish there were a version of this in other sports. I would 100% check out a gimmicky hockey game if there was a chance they'd be like, "Now in net for the Flin-Flon Freaks (or whatever goofy name the team would have), Ed Belfour!" You'd be like, "Damn, this is cool."

I'm sure there were a lot of people saying, "Damn, this is cool," when Roger Clemens took the mound.