Baseball

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This article is about the Game Boy game. For other uses, see Baseball (disambiguation).
Baseball
North American box art for Baseball
Developer Nintendo R&D 1
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Game Boy, Virtual Console (3DS), Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online
Release date Game Boy:
Japan April 21, 1989[?]
USA July 31, 1989[?]
Europe 1990[?]
Virtual Console (3DS):
Japan June 7, 2011[?]
USA July 13, 2011[?]
Europe July 28, 2011[?]
Australia July 28, 2011[?]
Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online:
USA May 14, 2024[1]
Japan May 15, 2024[2]
Europe May 15, 2024[?]
Australia May 15, 2024[3]
South Korea May 15, 2024[?]
Language(s) English (United States)
Genre Baseball
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Format
Nintendo Switch:
Digital download
Game Boy:
Game Pak
Nintendo 3DS:
Digital download
Input
Nintendo Switch:
Joy-Con (horizontal)
Game Boy:
Nintendo 3DS:
Serial code(s) DMG-BSA

Baseball is a Game Boy game based on the eponymous sport. It was released as a launch title for the Game Boy in both Japan and the United States, alongside Super Mario Land, Tetris, and Alleyway. The game cover shows Mario pitching a baseball in Western releases only. This is the first game of the Super Mario franchise that involves baseball, and it is the predecessor to the Mario Baseball series.

The game was re-released on the Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console in 2011 and on the Nintendo Switch's Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online service in 2024 in celebration of the Game Boy's 35th anniversary.

Gameplay

There are two modes: "USA MODE," which has English character names, and "JPN MODE" (short for Japan Mode), where the characters' names are Japanese names. Aside from the names of the characters, "JPN MODE" also changes how the ball speed is indicated, the display order of the ball count, and the background music played. Both modes have two teams: White Bears (referred to in-game as W-BEARS) and the Red Eagles (displayed in-game as R-EAGLES), which always bat first and pitch first respectively. Mario and Luigi both appear as pitchers in the "USA MODE," both playing for opposite teams. The player can control the players catching the balls out on the field, something that the NES version does not allow for. The player can opt out and allow the game to control the players in the field by not pressing any buttons, as pressing a button during this scene will let the player take control. By using the Game Link Cable, it is possible to play the game with two players.

Characters

The stats for players are ranked with letters, A through C (with the exception of batting; batting is A through E). A is the strongest stat possible, while C (or E) is the weakest.

  • Batting (A–E) indicates likelihood to hit the ball when batting.
  • Skill (A–C) indicates chance of a successful bunt when batting.
  • Stamina (A–C) indicates how easily the character gets tired, A being the toughest to tire. This stat is exclusive to pitchers.
  • Speed (A–C) indicates how fast (on average) the character pitches. As such, this stat is exclusive to pitchers.
  • Changeup (A–C) indicates sharpness of a curveball and screwball when pitching. As such, this stat is exclusive to pitchers.

USA Mode

White Bears

US instruction manual description: Has a strong cleanup and ace, MARIO. One offensive team!
Name Position Batting average Type Batting Skill Stamina Speed Changeup
Mario Pitcher .150 Right over arm E A B A C
Paul Pitcher .150 Right under arm E A B B C
Eric Pitcher .150 Left over arm E A B A C
Jimmy Pitcher .150 Left under arm E A A B C
Mike Batter .301 Left B A N/A N/A N/A
Tom Batter .278 Right D A N/A N/A N/A
Jim Batter .333 Right A C N/A N/A N/A
John Batter .341 Right A C N/A N/A N/A
Bob Batter .326 Left B C N/A N/A N/A
Rick Batter .291 Right C C N/A N/A N/A
David Batter .270 Right D B N/A N/A N/A
Eddie Batter .248 Right E B N/A N/A N/A
Jack Pinch hitter .292 Right C C N/A N/A N/A
Alan Pinch hitter .280 Left C B N/A N/A N/A
Fred Pinch hitter .266 Left D A N/A N/A N/A

Red Eagles

US instruction manual description: Team batting centers on left handed batters, and pitching on left handed speed ball pitcher RANDY. This is a team of strong individuals.
Name Position Batting average Type Batting Skill Stamina Speed Changeup
Luigi Pitcher .150 Right over arm E A B A C
Phil Pitcher .150 Right under arm E A B B B
Randy Pitcher .150 Left over arm E A A B C
Sam Pitcher .150 Left under arm E A A B B
Joe Batter .295 Left B B N/A N/A N/A
Louis Batter .286 Right C A N/A N/A N/A
Teddy Batter .323 Left B C N/A N/A N/A
Steve Batter .358 Left A C N/A N/A N/A
Peter Batter .301 Left B C N/A N/A N/A
Scott Batter .282 Right C B N/A N/A N/A
Brian Batter .264 Left D B N/A N/A N/A
Jeff Batter .247 Right E B N/A N/A N/A
Duke Pinch hitter .290 Right C C N/A N/A N/A
Jason Pinch hitter .285 Left C B N/A N/A N/A
Mac Pinch hitter .271 Left D A N/A N/A N/A

Japan Mode

White Bears

US instruction manual description: Dynamite batting lineup explodes! High-ranking batters are the star players.
Name Position Batting average Type Batting Skill Stamina Speed Changeup
Igawa Pitcher .150 Right over arm E A B C B
Mura Pitcher .150 Right under arm E A A C A
Kane Pitcher .150 Left over arm E A C B B
Natsu Pitcher .150 Left under arm E A A C A
Waka Batter .301 Left B A N/A N/A N/A
Michi Batter .278 Right D A N/A N/A N/A
Wan Batter .333 Left A C N/A N/A N/A
Cho Batter .341 Right A C N/A N/A N/A
Kohji Batter .326 Right B C N/A N/A N/A
Buchi Batter .291 Right C C N/A N/A N/A
Isao Batter .270 Left D B N/A N/A N/A
Yoshi Batter .248 Right E B N/A N/A N/A
Kake Pinch hitter .292 Left C C N/A N/A N/A
Morio Pinch hitter .280 Right C B N/A N/A N/A
Dai Pinch hitter .266 Right D A N/A N/A N/A

Red Eagles

US instruction manual description: Strong-armed pitcher INAHO, has an excellent battling lineup to support him.
Name Position Batting average Type Batting Skill Stamina Speed Changeup
Tonbi Pitcher .150 Right over arm E A B C B
Yama Pitcher .150 Right under arm E A B C B
Keshi Pitcher .150 Left over arm E A A C B
Inaho Pitcher .150 Left under arm E A C B A
Fuku Batter .295 Left B B N/A N/A N/A
Jiroh Batter .286 Right C A N/A N/A N/A
Hario Batter .323 Left B C N/A N/A N/A
Futo Batter .358 Right A C N/A N/A N/A
Kado Batter .301 Left B C N/A N/A N/A
Ochi Batter .301 Left B C N/A N/A N/A
Nomu Batter .264 Right E B N/A N/A N/A
Toyo Batter .247 Right E B N/A N/A N/A
Hide Pinch hitter .290 Left C C N/A N/A N/A
Erito Pinch hitter .285 Right C B N/A N/A N/A
Irose Pinch hitter .271 Left D A N/A N/A N/A

Profiles

Nintendo eShop description

North American version

Re-live the glory of this 1989 Game Boy™ classic.

As the pitching team, deliver a series of fastballs while adjusting curve and speed, but be careful not to wear out your pitcher. If the batter connects, your outfield or infield will back you up.

As the batting team, shift your batter on the home plate and time each swing at the incoming ball. Try to safely reach the next base, or swing for a home run.

European version

Strategy, skill and determination: it takes all three to win in Baseball!

Choose a starting pitcher from your bullpen (Mario is an old favourite). Hurl fastballs past the batter. If he connects, your outfield backs up to snag a fly. A sturdy infield backs you up on grounders and pop-ups. Three outs later and your team is up. Take a strike to feel out the pitcher, then drive a long one - it's a home run!

You can even choose between American or Japanese-style modes.

Gallery

Box art

Screenshots

Trivia

  • The game includes a character named "Yoshi" that plays in the game's Japanese mode for the White Bears as a batter. This game was released a year before Yoshi's very first appearance in the Japanese release of Super Mario World, and thus the connection is merely coincidental. In real life, Yoshi is a name in the Japanese language that can be a first name, a last name, or a commonly used shortened nickname for a longer name.

References

  1. ^ Nintendo of America (May 14, 2024). Game Boy – May 2024 Game Updates – Nintendo Switch Online. YouTube (American English). Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Nintendo 公式チャンネル (May 14, 2024). ファミリーコンピュータ & スーパーファミコン & ゲームボーイ Nintendo Switch Online 追加タイトル [2024年5月15日]. YouTube (Japanese). Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  3. ^ @NintendoAUNZ (May 15, 2024). Three classic games are now available to play for #NintendoSwitchOnline members! #GameBoy: ☑️ Super Mario Land ☑️ Alleyway ☑️ Baseball. X (Australian English). Retrieved May 15, 2024.

External links