Cincinnati and Indianapolis Clowns teams play in Savannah Bananas baseball game

CINCINNATI (WLWT) — History has a funny way of repeating itself.

It’s happening Friday with the return to Cincinnati of the Clowns, a Negro Leagues team with their own tricks and hijinks brought back to life for the world to see.

“Not just great players, but great entertainers. This is a great example of history coming back again,” explained Rick Walls, the executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, of this weekend’s Savannah Bananas visit to Great American Ball Park.

The Cincinnati Clowns’ opponent? The Indianapolis Clowns, a “new” Savannah Bananas team with deep ties to baseball barnstorming history.

In 1943, a Negro Leagues franchise out of Miami lands in Cincinnati. Home base? Historic Crosley Field.

Walls says this weekend’s represents more than just the return of a name.

“The Bananas have honored the Clowns by creating a team, when really, the Clowns probably were the precursor to Banana Ball.”

Shadow ball. Oversized gloves. Anything to bring the crowds and entertain.

“It’s been a long time since the 1940s, but to see them in some new form, it’s not the same, but in a new form here playing Banana Ball, I think it’s special,” said Wells. “They could travel around and barnstorm ...