available now at Amazon for $29.99 (paperback) and $9.99 (Kindle)

Celebrating 50 years of our pixelated National Pastime, this compendium documents the pertinent details for baseball video games and electronic handheld games released in the last half-century and follows the evolution of the genre. Game ratings and reviews for hundreds of baseball games are included along with interviews of designers, programmers and pioneers of the computer, video and handheld gaming industry – Don Daglow, Eddie Dombrower, Lance Haffner, Mark Lesser, Tom Tippett and Glen Wolfram. The authors wish to encourage readers to explore these games, both past and present, create your own teams and leagues, and share those results with fellow baseball gaming and simulation enthusiasts!

400 pages, full-color

Book Discussions / Promotional Appearances

SABR’s Emil Rothe Chicago Chapter – John Racanelli and Derek Bain present “A Brief History of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handhelds” – April 29, 2026

Hittin’ Season: A Philadelphia Phillies podcast (WHYY) – Derek Bain and John Racanelli drop by to discuss their book, “Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handhelds,” with Justin Klugh of Baseball Prospectus. – June 20, 2025

Romantic About Baseball podcast – Jason Wood and Bruce Sarte interview Derek Bain – June 11, 2025

Sports Sim Magazine – “A Sports Sim Roundtable Examines the Charm and Torment of All-Time Greats Gaming Sets” – by Dan Verdun – May 2025 (Issue 20)

Beatles Eternally – “A Saturday Night Baseball Chinwag with Authors Derek Bain and John Racanelli” – March 22, 2025

SABR Games and Simulations – John Racanelli and Derek Bain discuss their book, “Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handheld. – January 8, 2025

Praise for Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Video Games & Electronic Handhelds

“Hardball Retro’s Compendium is a nostalgic treasure trove for baseball video game enthusiasts. (Authors) Bain and Racanelli take readers on a journey through baseball’s digital evolution… Packed with updated insights, interviews with legendary game designers, and reflections from players, this book is both a time capsule and a celebration of baseball’s virtual past. A must-read for fans of baseball and gaming history alike!” – Jamie Marshall, Sports Games Journal

Podcasts, Interviews and Videos

Box Scores From The Basement – Steve Etzel and I discuss our book, “Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Tabletop Simulations” and I play a game of Digital Diamond Baseball v14 against the BSFTB guys using the starting lineups and pitchers from the 2026 World Series, Game 4!

Box Scores From the Basement – The “Box Score” guys are joined by the co-chair of the SABR games and simulation committee, Derek Bain to discuss How to Create the Perfect Baseball Sim. – May 24, 2026

SABR’s Emil Rothe Chicago Chapter – John Racanelli and Derek Bain present “A Brief History of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handhelds” – April 29, 2026

Hittin’ Season: A Philadelphia Phillies podcast (WHYY) – Derek Bain and John Racanelli drop by to discuss their book, “Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handhelds,” with Justin Klugh of Baseball Prospectus. – June 20, 2025

Romantic About Baseball podcast – Jason Wood and Bruce Sarte interview Derek Bain – June 11, 2025

Sports Sim Magazine – “A Sports Sim Roundtable Examines the Charm and Torment of All-Time Greats Gaming Sets” – by Dan Verdun – May 2025 (Issue 20)

Beatles Eternally – “A Saturday Night Baseball Chinwag with Authors Derek Bain and John Racanelli” – March 22, 2025

SABR Games and Simulations – John Racanelli and Derek Bain discuss their book, “Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handheld. – January 8, 2025

The New Sports Games Journal – “Diamonds in the Code: A Look into Baseball’s Digital Legacy: an Interview with Derek Bain” – by Jamie Marshall – November 2023 (Vol. 9, Issue 2)

Farther Off the Wall – “In our book, the 2021 spring baseball book reviews are done, but can there be more?” – Q&A session with Derek Bain – by Tom Hoffarth – June 2021

Comfortably Zoned Radio – podcast hosted by Ralph Tyko with guest Derek Bain (running time 30m) – March 26, 2018 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh_02J25QMY

Weighted Donuts – podcast hosted by Wayne Unger and Craig Stier with guest Derek Bain (running time 53m) – September 18, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nPZNSVC6IE

Comfortably Zoned Radio – podcast hosted by Ralph Tyko with guests Bill Hall and Derek Bain (running time 50m) – August 11, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vui8zzkjnuM

“Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter” – Wolfman Shapiro interview of Derek Bain – February 2018 http://www.ultimatestratbaseball.com/USBN-2-2018/DerekBain-Author-February2018.htm

Selected Resources for Retro Baseball Video Games

Weighted Donuts podcast – Wayne Unger interviews Don Daglow and Eddie Dombrower (World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball and Tony La Russa Baseball series) – February 16, 2017

Computer Chronicles – “Baseball Software” episode – hosted by Stewart Chiefet (APBA Baseball for Windows with Kenneth Miller, Hardball III with Daniel Jung and Tony La Russa Baseball with Don Daglow) –

Computer Chronicles – “Games” episode – hosted by Stewart Chiefet (Earl Weaver Baseball with Eddie Dombrower)

The Making of Tony La Russa Baseball 3 (video included with the game) –

Intellivisionaries – Episode 7 – includes reviews of Major League Baseball, World Championship Baseball, and World Series Major League Baseball along with interviews of David Rolfe (MLB) and Eddie Dombrower (WSMLB).

Informs podcast – hosted by Ashley Kilgore with Gary Cokins, credited with the oldest computer game code by the Baseball Hall of Fame. Related article – Realizing a Kid’s Dream of Computerized Baseball

Articles and Reviews

SSI Computer Baseball – Oxner, Bill. “Play Ball.” Computer Gaming World, June-July 1985, Volume 5.3. pgs 24-25.

Computer Statis Pro Baseball – Peschel, William. “View From The Dugout – Major League Baseball on the Computer.” Computer Gaming World, May 1986, Volume 28. pgs 19-20, 45.

MicroLeague Baseball – Kunerth, Jeff. “For Fanatics, Micro League Baseball is a Big Hit”. Chicago Tribune. December 27, 1987.

MicroLeague Baseball – Oxner, Bill. “Play Ball!” Computer Gaming World. Volume 5.3, June-July 1985, p24-27.

MicroLeague Baseball – Trunzo, James V. “An Interview With the Designer of MicroLeague Baseball.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 28. May 1986. p22-23.

Avalon Hill Pro Manager / Major League Manager –
Oxner, Bill. “Play Ball!” Computer Gaming World. Volume 5.3, June-July 1985, p24-27.

Avalon Hill Pro Manager / Major League Manager – Wilson, Johnny. “Baseball Game Survey.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 36, April 1987, p6-9, 42-44.

Pure-Stat Baseball – Jala, Beth S. “Software Gallery: Pure-Stat Baseball.” RUN Magazine. Issue 37, January 1987, p18, 24.

Pure-Stat Baseball – Teverbaugh, Rick. “Sports Scoreboard.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 33, December 1986, p52.

Pure-Stat Baseball – Wilson, Johnny. “Baseball Game Survey.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 36, April 1987, p6-9, 42-44.

Monday Morning Manager – Atari Explorer, Spring 1987. Letters to the Editor. “Update for Baseball Fans”. Page 4.

Radio Baseball – Teverbaugh, Rick. “Sports Scoreboard.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 33, December 1986, p52.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Connor, Peter. “Screen Test – Earl Weaver Baseball.” Advanced Computer Entertainment. October 1987, Issue 1, p68-69.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Jago, Francis. “Baseball Head to Head.” Commodore User. October 1987, Issue 49, p86-87.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Kendall, Mark. “Putting Bytes into the Old Ball Game.” Pomona College Magazine. June 26, 2013.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Leeds, Matthew. “Software Reviews – Earl Weaver Baseball.” May 1987, Issue 5, p48-49.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Lesser, Hartley and Patricia Lesser. “The Role of Computers.” Dragon Magazine. Issue 126, p84.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Lesser, Hartley and Patricia Lesser. “The Role of Computers.” Dragon Magazine. Issue 127, p78, 80.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Lesser, Hartley and Patricia Lesser. “The Role of Computers.” Dragon Magazine. Issue 132, p83.

Earl Weaver Baseball – McLean, Mickey. “Fast Looks – Earl Weaver Baseball 1.5” Compute! Issue 113, October 1989, p114.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Randall, Neil. “Reviews – Earl Weaver Baseball.” Compute! Issue 93, February 1988, p49-50.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Sipe, Russell and Johnny Wilson. “An Interview With Earl Weaver.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 36, April 1987, p36-39.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Wilson, Johnny. “Bezbol Been Berry, Berry Good To Me!” Computer Gaming World. Volume 36, April 1987, p6-8.

Earl Weaver Baseball – Wyss, Tony. “Hall of Fame – Earl Weaver Baseball.” SportPlanet.

Full Count Baseball – Fisher, Lew and Eric Faust. “Full Count Baseball.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 37, May 1987, p26.

Full Count Baseball – Trunzo, James V. “Lance Haffner Games.” Compute! Issue 83, April 1987, p66.

MicroLeague Baseball II – Compute! Issue 115, December 1989, p126, 130.

Microleague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge – Amiga World, June 1992, p96.

Tony La Russa’s Ultimate Baseball – Murray, Rink. “386 Down the Power Alleys: Baseball Simulations Emerge From Spring Training.” PC Magazine. April 28, 1992, p493.

Tony La Russa’s Ultimate Baseball – Rogers, Win. “Great A’s Baseball: SSI’s Tony LaRussa’s Ultimate Baseball.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 88, November 1991, p104, 106.

Tony La Russa’s Ultimate Baseball – Rogers, Win. “Not Yet the Ultimate: SSI’s Expansion Disks for Tony LaRussa’s Ultimate Baseball.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 97, August 1992, p80, 82.

Earl Weaver Baseball II – Murray, Rink. “386 Down the Power Alleys: Baseball Simulations Emerge From Spring Training.” PC Magazine. April 28, 1992, p493.

Earl Weaver Baseball II – Poho, Seth. “Earl Weaver and the Greatest Baseball Game of All-Time.” RO Baseball. January 5, 2017.

Earl Weaver Baseball II – Rogers, Win. “Field of (Weird) Dreams.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 89, December 1991, p16, 18, 20.

APBA Baseball for Windows / Broadcast Blast – Gindin, Jim. “Baseball: Diamonds Are A Fan’s Best Friend”. Computer Gaming World. May 1995.

APBA Baseball for Windows / Broadcast Blast – Murray, Rink. “386 Down the Power Alleys: Baseball Simulations Emerge From Spring Training.” PC Magazine. April 28, 1992, p493.

APBA Baseball for Windows / Broadcast Blast – Poulter, Wallace. “A 3.1-Run Homer”. Computer Gaming World. November 1993. p134, 136.

APBA Baseball for Windows / Broadcast Blast – Rogers, Win. “Miller Associates’ APBA Major League Players Baseball 1.5”. Computer Gaming World. August 1992. p72–74.

APBA Baseball for Windows / Broadcast Blast – Gindin, Jim. “The Old Ballgame: Baseball for Windows Boasts a New Sound, But the Same Old Gameplay”. Computer Gaming World. November 1995. p206.

APBA Baseball for Windows / Broadcast Blast – McCauley, Dennis. “Atop the Mound: Baseball Slides Head-First Into Your PC”. Computer Gaming World. July 1996. p78.

Tony La Russa Baseball II – Poulter, Wallace. “Tony La Russa 2 Earns Some ‘A’s’”. Computer Gaming World. June 1993. p24,26.

Tony La Russa Baseball II – Wilson, Johnny L. “Another At Bat For Tony La Russa”. Computer Gaming World. April 1993. p8-10

Front Page Sports Baseball ’94 – Computer Gaming World. November 1994. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_124.pdf

Front Page Sports Baseball ’94 – Ginden, Jim. “Baseball: Diamonds Are A Fan’s Best Friend”. Computer Gaming World. May 1995. p62. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_130.pdf

Front Page Sports Baseball ’98 – McCauley, Dennis. “Sim World Series: Winners and Losers in This Year’s Baseball Sim Contest”. Computer Gaming World. December 1997. p312. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_160.pdf

ESPN Baseball Tonight – Gindin, Jim. “Double Play: Turn Two With Reviews of Hardball IV and ESPN Baseball Tonight”. Computer Gaming World. April 1995. p132, 134, 136. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_129.pdf

ESPN Baseball Tonight – Gindin, Jim. “Baseball: Diamonds Are A Fan’s Best Friend”. Computer Gaming World. May 1995. p62. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_130.pdf

ESPN Baseball Tonight – Jones, George. “ESPN Baseball Tonight: Chris Berman Charisma, Tony La Russa Design”. Computer Gaming World. February 1995. p132, 134. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_127.pdf

Hardball 3 – Rogers, Win. “Sights and Sounds of the Summer Game – Al Michaels Announces Hardball III”. Computer Gaming World. August 1992. p78-79. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_97.pdf

Hardball 4 – Gindin, Jim. “Double Play: Turn Two With Reviews of Hardball IV and ESPN Baseball Tonight”. Computer Gaming World. April 1995. p132, 134, 136. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_129.pdf

Hardball 4 – Gindin, Jim. “Baseball: Diamonds Are A Fan’s Best Friend”. Computer Gaming World. May 1995. p62. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_130.pdf

Hardball 5 – Gindin, Jim. “Back to the Bullpen: Accolade’s Hardball 5 is More a Changeup Than a Fastball”. Computer Gaming World. January 1996. p274, 276. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_138.pdf

Hardball 5 – Jones, George. “Holiday Top 100: Sports”. Computer Gaming World. December 1995. p110. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_137.pdf

Hardball 6 – Kaiafas, Tasos. “Strike Six (HardBall 6 Review)” . Computer Gaming World. August 1998. p208. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_169.pdf

Pursue the Pennant – Teverbaugh, Rick. “Sports Scoreboard”. Computer Gaming World. Volume 38, June-July 1987. p40. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_38.pdf

APBA, Full Count Baseball, Pursue the Pennant, Strat-o-Matic – Widner, Duane E. “Baseball is the Numbers”. Computer Gaming World. Volume 71, May 1990, p20-21. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_71.pdf   

Diamond Mind Baseball – Gindin, Jim. “Baseball: Diamonds Are A Fan’s Best Friend”. Computer Gaming World. May 1995. p62. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_130.pdf

Baseball Analytics – Retro Reviews

	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – SSI Computer Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review –Computer Statis Pro Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – MicroLeague Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Avalon Hill Pro Manager / Major League Manager
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Pure-Stat Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Monday Morning Manager
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Radio Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Earl Weaver Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Full Count Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – MicroLeague Baseball II – III – IV
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Tony La Russa’s Ultimate Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Earl Weaver Baseball II
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – APBA Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Tony La Russa Baseball II
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Front Page Sports Baseball ’94 – ’96 – ’98
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – ESPN Baseball Tonight
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Hardball 3-4-5-6
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Pursue the Pennant – Diamond Mind Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Pro League Baseball
	Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Tony La Russa Baseball 3 – 4 – Old Time Baseball

Links to my Retro Reviews on Mobygames

https://www.mobygames.com/mobyrank/source/sourceId,2697/