Methodology

I devised a series of rules that govern the creation of my “Actuals” leagues. For OOTP, there are a number of settings that I enable or disable to achieve my desired rules and league structure.

Initial setup:

New Game -> New Historical Game

• Default Mode enabled
• Uncheck Import complete history up to XXXX
• No Minor Leagues
• No Fictional Pictures
• Game Name: HBRetro-Actuals–YYYY-ZZZZ where YYYY is the first year in the half-decade and ZZZZ is the last year.
• Starting Year -> use the last year (ZZZZ), Auto-Save daily
• GM & Manager role, Play in Commissioner Mode and Cannot be fired
• Game Settings -> League Settings -> Functions -> Under Roster Functions, select Clear Rosters.
• MLB -> Transactions -> Free Agents -> All Free Agents. Click the Actions drop-down and select Delete all free agents.
• optional: In certain expansion seasons, it is necessary to delete some of the Actuals half-decade teams from the league as there are not enough player-seasons to field a competitive team.
• Game Settings -> Global Settings -> Uncheck Use Coaching System and uncheck Enable Storylines.
• Players & Team -> Place a checkmark next to Disable Player Development Lab and Disable Player Development Focus.
• FaceGen -> Change Picture Search Mode to Search for photo first.
• League Settings -> Rules -> Place checkmark next to AL Designated Hitter Rule and NL Designated Hitter Rule.
• Change the Active Roster size to 25. and the Expanded Roster Size to 40.
• Uncheck Enable Trading and Enable Amateur Draft. Ensure that Disable automatic creation of free agents is checked.
• League Settings -> Historical -> Uncheck Automatically Expand League, Automatically adjust league strategy when advancing to next season, Retire players according to history, Players miss seasons according to history and Automatically import historical rookies.
• League Settings -> Stats & AI -> change Typical Starting Rotation Size to 4 Man Rotation for seasons between 1900-1970.
• Manager – Manager Options – Set Active Roster Moves (Demotions, Promotions, IL, etc) to Computer AI. Set all other Team Control Settings to the human manager.
• Update the team ID’s in the text file that you will use for importing historical players to use the Abbreviation listed in Team Settings for each team.
• MLB -> Transactions -> Free Agents -> All Free Agents. Click the Actions drop-down and select Import Historical Player(s). Keep the defaults on the Select the historical_database.odb file dialog box, then click CONFIRM.
• Import Historical Players from text file -> In the field to the right of OR select text file containing numerous entries, click on Click here to select my CSV file. Change Ratings Calculation Base to 1 year, and Base Fielding Ratings and Base Pitching Stamina each to Imported Season. Change Double weight on current year stats to No, then click Import Player to initiate the import process.

I configure the active and reserve rosters, starting lineups vs. RHP and LHP, starting rotations, and bullpen assignments for every team, then make a backup copy before starting the season replay.

• DH is used for all teams
• 25-man active roster, 15 players in reserves
• must have 2 active catchers
• active rosters consist of 15 batters/10 pitchers or 14 batters/11 pitchers
• vsRHP, vsLHP and starting rotations are generally based on the highest Win Shares single-season totals for each position
• schedules generated using the format utilized during that timeframe

The following videos include a recap of the regular season standings and league leaders, American and National League playoff recap, and individual World Series game videos.

Regular Season Recap

Standings and League Leaders – coming soon!

World Series

Game 1

available now at Amazon for $44.99 (paperback) and $19.99 (Kindle)

Features 589 full-color pages with 150+ baseball tabletop sims and 16 interviews with game designers!

This compendium celebrates 100 years of baseball tabletop simulation games. Our goal with this book is to memorialize as many of these simulation games as possible and document the richness of the hobby we love. Game descriptions are supplemented by articles, game designer interviews, and comments and ratings from over 250 individuals from the tabletop baseball community. The authors wish to encourage readers to explore these games, both past and present, create their own teams and leagues, and share those results with fellow baseball gaming and simulation enthusiasts!

Baseball games are almost as old as the game of baseball itself. What started out as mechanical devices to emulate the batted ball, evolved into tabletop games designed to simulate the entire baseball game experience. Eventually, randomizer mechanisms entered the fray in the form of dice and spinners. Most early games were generic in nature. However, in 1925 we saw what is arguably the first true baseball tabletop simulation with the introduction of National Pastime by Clifford Van Beek. More tabletop games followed, including Ethan Allen’s All Star Baseball Game in the 1940s, the APBA Major League Baseball Game in the 1950s, and Strat-O-Matic Baseball in the early 1960s. Other game designers followed with creations of their own, a trend that continues today.

Book Discussions / Promotional Appearances

Praise for Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Tabletop Simulations

“This is really a first class effort by the authors. Love the color photos! Derek Bain contacted me to do the interview for the book and you are going to learn many things you didn’t know about DYNASTY League Baseball Powered By Pursue the Pennant.” – Mike Cieslinski

“[Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Tabletop Simulations] is beyond wonderful! It is truly the encyclopedia of baseball gaming.” – Joe Shaw

“If you play Baseball tabletop sims, this book is a must-purchase. It is an incredible read and deeply educational. I purchased both paperback and Kindle versions. Post reading, it will remain a major reference for me.” – BB Edison, Amazon review

“A must-have for any baseball card and dice player’s library!” – Paul Gardner

“The book is an excellent contribution to keeping the history of tabletop baseball alive. The designer interviews give you interesting insight into the how and why of tabletop baseball creation.” – David Becker

“The book does a great job of quickly telling you what to expect from a game engine, the product’s components, and a brief history of the Sim… [Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Tabletop Simulations] is well-researched, and taps into the Baseball Sim community for their “takes” on the games, both positive and critical. A must have addition for any gamer’s bookshelf.” – M Pate, Amazon review

“These guys did an amazing job on giving a brief history of tabletop baseball gaming, and reviewed a lot of past and present games… The book is an instant classic!” – C Bauer, Amazon review

“Great book about the history and design of tabletop baseball simulation games, and includes comments from the designers themselves… a must have reference in this hobby.” – Robert Genova, Amazon review

“The Hardball Retro’s of Baseball Tabletop Simulations was everything I hoped for. Since retiring playing baseball sims is all I do. I have 38 baseball Sims and seeing every one of those in the book gives me an idea of how other people think of certain Sims. Authors did a fantastic job compiling the information. So if you enjoy the hobby or thinking of trying certain games out this is the book for you.” – Doug Wahl, Amazon review

“A vast treasure trove of baseball gaming history and fun! [Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Tabletop Simulations] will be the definitive reference source on all the tabletop baseball games we all grew up playing, as well as those we only knew through magazine ads, and many we never heard of at all!” – Roland Chapdelaine

“An excellent book about tabletop baseball games. Great history on the subject! Read it cover to cover right away!” – Russell D. Esperson – Amazon review

https://forms.gle/cFFJqoFngnnNxyue8

Please consider filling out this survey – we are looking for your feedback for any and all baseball tabletop games that you’ve played or owned.

Please scan the list of baseball tabletop games on the form and ONLY enter an overall rating for each game that you have played or owned on a scale of 1 (worst) to 10 (best) and optionally provide a comment for those titles. Several games have a single entry for the original title along with sequels. You may only enter one rating per game title. However you can utilize the Comments section to enter specific ratings for the different versions in those instances. Comments that are thought-provoking or detailed have a higher likelihood of making it into the book!

We are also seeking individuals who would be willing to contribute write-up(s) for specific games or provide images of your games (boxes, cards, manuals, charts, etc.)

Please DO NOT rate or comment on any games that you have never played! If we’ve inadvertently omitted a game from our list, there are text and rating fields at the end of the form to capture this information.

Be sure to click SUBMIT when you’re done!!

Completion of this form indicates permission and authorization for me to utilize your responses including name/nickname, ratings and comments in the book.

Steve Etzel created a brief video on his YouTube channel to explain the survey:

Thank you for participating! – Derek Bain, Steve Etzel, Andy Palomino, Kurt Bergland and Daniel Evensen

Here’s a rundown of the requirements:

• Micro League Baseball 6.0 – Game
• optional, but recommended – Micro League Baseball 6.0 – Season Disk(s)

Micro League Baseball 6.0 was developed by Micro League Sports Assocation. David Holt, designer of the Pro League Baseball series, was the executive producer. Micro League Baseball 6.0, the last of five titles in this series, was published in 1997 for the IBM PC and compatibles.

The tutorial includes the Draft (using players from the 1996 MLB season disk) and an exhibition game utilizing two of the newly-drafted rosters.

View the tutorial videos here:

Season Disk Downloads:

coming soon

References:

Mobygames entry for Micro League Baseball 6.0

Here’s a rundown of the requirements:

• Action!PC Baseball – Game
• Action!PC Baseball – Season Disk(s)

Action!PC Baseball was developed by Dave Koch. The first edition was published by Dave Koch Sports for the IBM PC personal computer in 2001.

I divided the tutorial into two sections: the Draft (copying the All-Time Greats league, releasing players into the free agent pool, conducting the draft), Simulate Season (review manager profiles for each team, simulate an entire season, reviewing the final standings, league leaders and team-by-team rundown).

View the tutorial videos here:

Part 1 – Draft

Part 2 – Lineups & Pitching Staffs, Simulate Season, Final Standings, League Leaders

Season Disk Downloads:

coming soon

References:

SABR Stay at Home – Dave Koch

I also would like to congratulate Steve Steinberg, Lyle Spatz and Mitchell Nathanson for their award-winning books!

—

“The 2025 Sporting News-SABR Baseball Research Awards, which honor outstanding research projects completed during the preceding calendar year that have significantly expanded our knowledge or understanding of baseball, have been awarded to:

Steve Steinberg and Lyle Spatz, Mike Donlin: A Rough and Rowdy Life from New York Baseball Idol to Stage and Screen (University of Nebraska Press)

Mitchell Nathanson, Under Jackie’s Shadow: Voices of Black Minor Leagues Baseball Left Behind (University of Nebraska Press)

Derek Bain and John Racanelli, Hardball Retro’s Compendium of
Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handhelds (Self-published)”

Source: SABR – 2025 Sporting News-SABR Baseball Research Award winners announced

Here’s a rundown of the requirements:

• Diamond Mind Baseball 12 – Game
• optional, but recommended: Diamond Mind Baseball 12 – Season Disk(s)

Diamond Mind Baseball was developed by Tom Tippett (original title: Pursue the Pennant). The first edition was published for the IBM PC personal computer in 1987.

I divided the tutorial into two sections: the Draft (copying the All-Time Greats league, releasing players into the free agent pool, conducting the draft), Simulate Season (review manager profiles for each team, simulate an entire season, reviewing the final standings, league leaders and team-by-team rundown).

View the tutorial videos here:

Part 1 – Draft

Part 2 – Manager Profiles, Simulate Season, Final Standings, Statistical Review

Season Disk Downloads:

coming soon

References:

Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Pursue the Pennant – Diamond Mind Baseball

Here’s a rundown of the requirements:

• Front Page Sports Baseball ’94 (’96 or ’98 editions will also work) – Game Disk

• optional, but recommended: Front Page Sports Baseball – Season Disk(s)

Front Page Sports Baseball ’94 was developed by Dynamix and published in 1994 by Sierra for the IBM PC personal computer. Please note that while the tutorial utilizes Front Page Sports Baseball ’94, you can perform the same steps in Front Page Sports Baseball ’96 or ’98 editions.

View the tutorial video here:

Season Disk Downloads:

coming soon

References:

Front Page Sports Baseball ’94:

https://archive.org/details/msdos_Front_Page_Sports_Baseball_94_1994

Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Front Page Sports: Baseball ’94 – ’96 – ‘98

SABR Stay at Home – Glen Wolfram

Here’s a rundown of the requirements:

• Front Page Sports Baseball ’94 (’96 or ’98 editions will also work) – Game Disk
• optional, but recommended: Front Page Sports Baseball – Season Disk(s)

Front Page Sports Baseball ’94 was developed by Dynamix and published in 1994 by Sierra for the IBM PC personal computer. Please note that while the tutorial utilizes Front Page Sports Baseball ’94, you can perform the same steps in Front Page Sports Baseball ’96 or ’98 editions. Alternatively, you can create / edit teams and conduct a draft using the players that you create.

View the tutorial video here:

Season Disk Downloads:

coming soon

References:

https://archive.org/details/msdos_Front_Page_Sports_Baseball_94_1994

Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Front Page Sports: Baseball ’94 – ’96 – ‘98

SABR Stay at Home – Glen Wolfram

Many thanks to Beatles Eternally for organizing our chat and my co-author John Racanelli for joining us on short notice!

Check out the video here: