Joba Chamberlain made an emotional appearance at the Savannah Bananas game Thursday night.

Chamberlain, a former Yankees pitcher who was announced as the surprise Savannah Banana for the team’s game in Nebraska, pitched the fourth inning while paying tribute to his late father. 

“I lost my dad a year-and-a-half ago, and when I looked up (on the mound), it was just like ‘Dad, here we are,” Chamberlain said in an X video Thursday. “With what Jesse (Cole) has built and everything, just the honor to be able to be here to pitch and do that is awesome.

“To sit here as a 40-year-old man … my son right there, and to be able to just see me do those things is absolutely ridiculously cool, and there are so many kids that are seeing it. It makes the game grow, and that’s the only thing we want to do.” 

When taking the mound in the fourth inning, Chamberlain high-fived young fans at the ballpark before pointing his hat to the sky to honor his father, Harlan Chamberlain, who died in March 2025.

Harlan Chamberlain spent most of his life dealing with polio and having to use crutches, and he still helped instill a sense of discipline in his son while he grew up in Nebraska. 

Even with his physical condition, Harlan still had time to play catch with his son and even taught him about pitching.

“Looking back, he was always just looking out for the best and making sure that I did everything that I could to be the person that he wanted me to be,” Chamberlain told a MLB.com in 2014.

Long before returning to Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Thursday, Chamberlain helped lead Nebraska to the 2005 College World Series before being drafted to the Yankees in 2006. 

Chamberlain spent 10 seasons in the MLB with the Yankees, Tigers, Royals and Guardians, primarily as a relief pitcher.

Chamberlain erupted onto the scene for the Yankees in 2007– becoming an instant fan favorite with a triple-digit fastball and flare for the big moments.

He bounced between starter and reliever in The Bronx as the infamous “Joba Rules” frustrated fans who were enamored with him.

Chamberlain struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness as his time with the Yankees fizzled out. He signed with the Tigers in 2013.

He had a career 3.81 ERA and racked up seven saves and 546 strikeouts.

He also helped the Yankees to their 27th World Series title in 2009, pitching to a 2.84 ERA in 10 playoff appearances.