Here’s a rundown of the requirements:

• Full Count Baseball – Game Disk
• optional – Full Count Baseball – Team Disks

Full Count Baseball was released in 1984 for the IBM PC. The Commodore 64 edition was released in 1986, followed by the Apple ][ version in 1987. Subsequent editions (through version 6.x) were only released for the IBM PC and I created a separate tutorial for Full Count Baseball 6. I’m utilizing the Commodore 64 version in my tutorial, however the menu options and key combinations are fairly standard across platforms.

View the tutorial video here:

Season Disk Downloads:

coming soon

References:

Full Count Baseball 6 (Windows version by Jason Leonard): https://lhgames.net/downloads

Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Full Count Baseball

Here’s a rundown of the requirements:

• Computer Statis Pro Baseball – Game Disk
• optional – Computer Statis Pro Baseball – Team Disks

Computer Statis Pro Baseball was released in 1983 for the Apple ][ and TRS-80 personal computers. The Commodore 64 edition was released in 1984. I’m utilizing the Commodore 64 version in my tutorial, however the menu options and key combinations are fairly standard across platforms.

View the tutorial video here:

Season Disk Downloads:

coming soon

References:

Statis Pro Baseball (Commodore 64 edition):

https://archive.org/details/Computer_Statis-Pro_Baseball_1986_Avalon_Hill_Disk_1_of_2_Side_A

*NOTE* – I was unable to get past the intro screen on the archive.org link and encountered a similar issue attempting to run this software in the Vice emulator. I edited the “HELLO” file to load the “Master Menu” program instead of the “AH” (Avalon Hill) intro screen. I contacted the Internet Archive to advise them of this workaround. As of 1/23/2025 the fix had not been implemented.

Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Computer Statis Pro Baseball

Here’s a rundown of the requirements:

• SSI Computer Baseball – Game Disk
• optional – SSI Computer Baseball – Team Disks (included the Stat Compiler program)

SSI Computer Baseball was released in 1981 for the Apple ][ and was later ported to the popular personal computers of the 1980’s: Commodore 64 (1983), IBM PC (1983), Atari 8-bit computers (1984), Macintosh (1986) and Amiga (1986). I’m utilizing the Commodore 64 version in my tutorial, however the menu options and key combinations are fairly standard across platforms.

View the tutorial video here:

Season Disk Downloads:

coming soon

References:

SSI Computer Baseball (Apple ][ edition):

https://archive.org/details/a2_Computer_Baseball_1981_SSI_RDOS

SSI Computer Baseball (Commodore 64):

https://archive.org/details/Computer_Baseball_1983_SSI_Side_A

SSI Computer Baseball manual:

https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/ftp.apple.asimov.net/unsorted/SSI%20Computer%20Baseball.pdf

Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – SSI Computer Baseball

Here’s a rundown of the requirements:

• MicroLeague Baseball Game Disk
• MicroLeague Baseball General Manager / Owner Disk
• optional – MicroLeague Baseball Box Score / Stat Compiler

MicroLeague Baseball was released in 1984 for the Commodore 64, Apple ][, IBM PC and Atari 8-bit computers. The Amiga and Atari ST computers received ports of the game in 1987. I’m utilizing the Commodore 64 version in my tutorial, however the menu options and key combinations are fairly standard across platforms.

View the tutorial video here:

Season Disk Downloads:

Download my MicroLeague Baseball – Commodore 64 season disks here!

They will also be available on the MicroLeague Baseball Forever website.

References:

MicroLeague Baseball (Atari 8-bit edition):

https://archive.org/details/a8b_Micro_League_Baseball_1984_Micro_League_Sports_Association_US

MicroLeague Baseball (Commodore 64 edition):

Game Disk

General Manager/Owner Disk

Box Score/Stat Compiler Disk

MicroLeague Baseball (IBM PC edition): https://archive.org/details/msdos_MicroLeague_Baseball_1984

MicroLeague Baseball Forever: https://www.microleague-baseball-forever.com

Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – MicroLeague Baseball

MicroLeague Baseball II (Atari ST edition):

MicroLeague Baseball II (Enhanced) for Commodore 64:

MicroLeague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge (IBM PC edition):

MicroLeague Baseball IV (IBM PC edition):

Publisher – MicroLeague Sports Association

Release Year – MicroLeague Baseball II – 1989 (Atari ST/IBM PC/Macintosh), 1990 (C64)

MicroLeague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge – 1991

MicroLeague Baseball IV – 1992

Platforms –MicroLeague Baseball II         Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC, Macintosh

MicroLeague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge          IBM PC

MicroLeague Baseball IV          IBM PC

Credits

MicroLeague Baseball II

MicroLeague Baseball IV

Review

This is a combined review for MicroLeague Baseball II, MicroLeague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge and MicroLeague Baseball IV. I decided to merge the 3 releases into a single review based on the following observations:

• MicroLeague Baseball II failed to offer a significant upgrade over the original version.
• The Commodore 64 release (MicroLeague Baseball II “Enhanced”) essentially represents an entirely different product (Pure-Stat Baseball) repackaged as MicroLeague Baseball. The relatively few “enhancements” in this version do not warrant a separate review.
• MicroLeague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge and MicroLeague Baseball IV introduce several new features while retaining much of the original’s charm.

Therefore I resolved to concentrate my efforts on a review of MicroLeague Baseball IV while noting the differences between the second and third editions of the game along the way. I launched DosBox and fired up MLBB IV. The main menu facilitates a multitude of functions. Note that the General Manager / Owner option can only be executed if you installed the GM/Owner add-on disk (sold separately).

I generated a schedule to replay the 1992 season using the Schedule Editor then selected League Play. You have the ability to quick-play a single day, week or entire season with a single click. My entire replay of the regular season took less than 7 minutes to complete. The virtual ’92 Mets outpaced their real-life counterparts by 20 games to claim the NL East by a 4-game margin over the actual division-winning Pirates. The Braves secured the NL West in both realms, albeit by the slimmest of margins in the MicroLeague replay. The American League simulation featured tight races with the Orioles edging the Brewers in the East and the White Sox tiptoeing past the Twins in the West. Oakland fared the worst among actual division champs in the simulation as the club posted a 77-85 mark, 19 games below their real victory total.

A quick glance at the compiled statistics reveals an issue with the lineup selection, fatigue/usage factors and in-game AI. With the American League lineups in particular, the bench is hardly utilized and in some cases, the “starting 9” played the entire season without any rest. Perhaps due to faulty stamina ratings, I noted a number of starting pitchers with 30+ starts and less than 50 innings pitched. Consequently one or more relievers were saddled with an extremely unrealistic workload. Jeff Johnson (Yankees) yielded a 6.62 ERA in a preposterous 410 innings of work! Milwaukee portsider Bruce Ruffin’s 30-10 record in 99 appearances defies logic. Rod Nichols crafted a 28-9 record with a 3.15 ERA in 394 relief innings for the Tribe. Dave Righetti prevailed in 19 of 21 decisions out of the Giants’ bullpen. Red Sox southpaw Tom Bolton delivered a 21-15 mark in 71 outings. Several teams only utilized 3 relievers for the entire year. Other long relief aces included Mike Flanagan (20-5, 5.26 for the O’s) and Bob Kipper (24-11, 4.09 for the Twins).

The game does not include an option to view leader boards so the user must tab through individual team statistics. I did not perform an exhaustive search but observed a record-breaking 74 home runs by Indians first baseman Paul Sorrento! Juan Guzman notched 21 wins for the Jays.

I quick-played a series of exhibition games to determine the American and National League champions. Atlanta advanced to the World Series with a convincing sweep of the Metropolitans in the NLCS. Terry Pendleton swatted big-flies in the second and fourth contest while Tom Glavine twirled a three-hitter in Game 2.  Mike Devereaux clubbed 3 circuit clouts and knocked in 5 runs in an 11-2 rout by the O’s in the initial matchup. Cal Ripken Jr. went yard in each of the next 3 contests and Devereaux added a round-tripper in Game 3 to punch Baltimore’s ticket to the Series as they took the Pale Hose to the cleaners with a sweep of the ALCS.

I elected to manage the Braves as the Series opened at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. John Smoltz took the ball in Game 1 while the O’s countered with Mike Mussina. After a pair of scoreless innings from both aces, Randy Milligan lashed a 2-run single up the middle to score Mike Devereaux and Cal Ripken Jr. In the fourth frame, Devereaux socked a 3-run blast into the left field bleachers to extend Baltimore’s lead to 5-0. Smoltz broke up Mussina’s no-hitter with 2 outs in the sixth with a clean opposite field single to right field. Ripken belted a big-fly to center off “Smoltzie” to put the O’s ahead 6-0. Juan Berenguer and Marvin Freeman put up goose eggs for the remainder of the game. Mussina cruised to a one-hit shutout, retiring Terry Pendleton on a lazy fly ball to left to close out the contest.

Tom Glavine got the nod in Game 2, squaring off against Bob Milacki. Cal Ripken Jr. socked a 2-run homer in the top of the first to put Baltimore ahead. In the bottom of the frame, Terry Pendleton rapped a long double to right-center and scored on a two-out base knock to right by Sid Bream. Both pitchers settled in and pitched scoreless ball for a few innings. The Braves knotted the game at 2-2 when Bream trudged home on a fielder’s choice in the fourth. Mike Flanagan replaced Milacki on the bump after Bream led off the bottom of the sixth with a sharp liner over Ripken’s head. Glavine laced a single to right with two away. O’s right fielder David Segui gunned down Mark Lemke at third base, but not before Bream crossed home plate with the go-ahead run. Pendleton extended the Atlanta lead with an opposite-field four-bagger in the seventh inning. Glavine got the hook after issuing consecutive free passes to Ripken and Glenn Davis in the eighth, followed by a two-out single by Chris Hoiles to close the gap to 4-3. Alejandro Pena fanned Segui to extinguish the threat. Baltimore brought their third pitcher into the contest after Brian R. Hunter delivered a pinch-hit line drive to left to open the bottom of the eighth. Todd Frohwirth induced Deion Sanders to rap into a 1-4-3 double play. Pena closed out the game with a clean inning, although Otis Nixon had to range into the left field corner to flag down Brady Anderson’s drive for the final out.

The teams headed to Baltimore for Game 3 with the Series tied. Ben McDonald got the starting assignment in the first World Series tilt at Camden Yards while the visitors countered with southpaw Steve Avery. Brady Anderson belted a long ball over the wall in right-center leading off the bottom of the first. Later in the same inning, Mike Devereaux came around on a hot grounder up the middle off the bat of Randy Milligan. Atlanta failed to answer until the fifth when Sid Bream’s line drive cleared the scoreboard in right. The Orioles knocked Avery from the contest in the seventh frame as they tacked on a pair of insurance runs. Atlanta brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the eighth. Following a two-out double by Ron Gant, the O’s elected to walk David Justice intentionally. Lonnie Smith slapped a single past Cal Ripken Jr.’s outstretched glove and Gant slid under the tag at home plate. McDonald managed to retire Bream on a weak grounder to Glenn Davis at first base, preventing any further damage. Orioles’ skipper Johnny Oates signaled for the right-handed reliever after Jeff Blauser coaxed a two-out base on balls in the ninth. Gregg “Otter” Olson earned the save when Brian R. Hunter grounded out to shortstop.

In their post-Game 3 conferences, both managers declared that Game 4 would feature a rematch of John Smoltz and Mike Mussina.  Brady Anderson muffed a lazy fly ball to left-center off Ron Gant’s bat in the top of the first. Atlanta capitalized when David Justice ripped an offering from “Moose” into the right field corner for a two-bagger. Consecutive safeties by Lonnie Smith and Sid Bream plated another run but “Skates” was cut down at home plate on an ill-advised attempt to increase their lead. “Smoltzie” confidently blazed a path to the mound with his club ahead, 2-0. He promptly whiffed Brady Anderson and Mike Devereaux, then got Cal Ripken Jr. on a grounder to short. Devereaux delivered an RBI single in the third, cutting the Braves advantage in half. The Braves returned the favor in the fourth frame as Smith singled, swiped second and scored on a two-base knock by Bream. Each pitcher put up goose eggs for the balance of the game as Atlanta claimed the 3-1 victory. Smoltz struck out 9 Orioles and yielded only 3 base hits.

Tom Glavine, the 1991 NL Cy Young Award winner coming off consecutive 20-win campaigns, accepted the starting assignment in Game 5 against crafty right-hander Bob Milacki. Jeff Blauser initiated the scoring in the visitor’s second with a base hit to left field, plating David Justice and sending Sid Bream to third. Greg Olson barely beat the relay throw on an attempted 6-4-3 double play as Bream trotted home with Atlanta’s second run. After issuing a free pass to Rafael Belliard, Milacki dug himself a deeper hole when Otis Nixon lined a two-base hit up the left-center field gap. Mike Devereaux tracked down a long drive off Terry Pendleton’s bat near the warning track for the third out. Atlanta held a 3-0 lead as Glavine settled into a groove while Milacki got into a bases-loaded, no out jam in the third. Ron Gant singled and stole second, followed by successive walks to Justice and Lonnie Smith. Bream lofted a fly ball to right, deep enough to send Gant home with the fourth run. Blauser lashed a single to left to score Justice, then Olson smashed a hard grounder past second baseman Tim Hulett. Smith raced home and Oates immediately headed out to give Milacki the hook. Mike Flanagan entered the match down 6-0 and promptly avoided further damage when Belliard rapped into a 6-4-3 double play. Bream extended the Braves’ lead with a two-run blast off Mike Mussina, who was inexplicably brought into the contest despite the score along with the fact that he threw a complete game 24 hours earlier. Pendleton delivered a sac fly and Gant tripled in another run off Rick Sutcliffe in the eighth as the Braves went up 10-0. The only remaining drama in the game dissolved when Randy Milligan led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a clean single into shallow left field, breaking up Glavine’s no-hitter. The future Hall of Famer portsider racked up 11 strikeouts in a complete-game, one-hit shutout victory as Atlanta returned home with a 3-2 advantage in the Series.

As the fans settled into their seats after the last note of the National Anthem rang out, Mike Devereaux crushed a moon-shot into the left-field seats off Steve Avery in the first frame to put the O’s on the board. Leo Gomez clouted a two-run round-tripper in the second inning as Avery had difficulty commanding his fastball. Atlanta chipped away at Baltimore’s lead in the bottom of the frame when Sid Bream doubled and came home on a Rafael Belliard base knock. Ben McDonald evaded further harm when Mark Lemke was thrown out attempted to go from first to third on the play. The Braves loaded the bases in the bottom of the third. Otis Nixon singled and stole second with one away, then Terry Pendleton walked. Ron Gant skied deep to center but Devereaux ran it down. Dave Justice drew a base on balls and Bream followed with a two-bagger off the right-center field fence, plating 3 runs as Atlanta assumed a 4-3 advantage. The inning continued when Greg Olson walked and Lemke chipped a soft single over Cal Ripken Jr. and into left field. The third base coach wisely held Bream at third. Mike Flanagan jogged in from the bullpen and the Braves countered with pinch-hitter Jeff Blauser. Four pitches later, another run was forced home via a bases-loaded walk! Avery grounded out to shortstop but he returned to the mound with a 5-3 lead. Leading off the fifth inning, Brady Anderson walloped a four-bagger over the scoreboard in right to pull the Orioles within one run. Devereaux hit into a fielder’s choice in the seventh off reliever Mike Bielecki, plating the tying run. Pendleton reclaimed the lead with a big fly that cleared the center field wall in the bottom of the frame off Rick Sutcliffe. The see-saw battle continued as Chris Hoiles launched a long ball to left which sent Bielecki to the showers in the top of the eighth. Pendleton sent the crowd into a frenzy with a titanic blast into the right field stands with two out in the bottom of the ninth to win the game and the Series!!

Ratings

Graphics – [3] The player graphics and animation is an improvement over the original MLBB. Yet the flight path and fielder movements remain choreographed. Observe the game for a few innings and you’ll be able to determine exactly where each batted ball will be caught or drop in safely for a hit. MLBB IV comes with 4 ballparks (Camden Yards, Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field). The artistic renderings enhance the feel of the game. Digitized video clips are a distraction – after viewing the same highlights repeatedly, I toggled off this feature after a few innings. A throwback from the first edition, players running on and off the field, can be disabled by the user. The scoreboard is centered at the top of the display. As this version incorporates the use of a mouse, you can click on the scoreboard to bring up several options including the current box score.

Sound – [2] The crack of the bat and the thud of the ball crashing into a glove are effectively represented. A digitized crowd roar is triggered at the appropriate moments. However one is left to wonder why the ballpark is completely silent during the balance of the contest, with the exception of the National Anthem and the “Seventh-Inning Stretch”.

Strategy – [3] The choice of pitch type from the original MLBB has been replaced with 3 generic pitching preferences – pitch normally, aggressively, or around the batter. There are 3 defensive positioning options – play outfield aggressively, infield in or in at the corners. You can also signal for the pitcher to attempt a pick off move, pitch out or issue an intentional walk. On offense you can advise the batter to swing away with the option of runners playing it safe or aggressive, hit and run or hit behind the runner. Bunting strategies include the sacrifice bunt, squeeze play or bunt for a hit. With runners on base, you have the ability to attempt a double steal or solely ask the lead runner to swipe a bag. Managers can modify their lineups, warm up or replace pitchers prior to every batter-pitcher confrontation.

Artificial Intelligence – [1] The computer manager allowed relief pitchers to bat on multiple occasions. In 3 games played without the designated hitter, my computer counterpart never opted to pinch-hit for the pitcher. I expected more from a simulation on its fourth iteration, especially since MLBB 4 offers lefty/righty breakdowns.

Box Score – [3] The concise, newspaper-style box score fits neatly on the display with arrows to scroll down for additional information. The upper segment includes the standard batting information for the visiting and home teams while the lower encompasses the line score, errors, double plays, left on base, extra base hits, baserunning events and pitching statistics. The umpires’ names are a nice touch along with the time and attendance. The user has the option to print or compile statistics.

Rosters – [1] – Teams consist of a 25-man active roster and 5 reserves. The active and reserved players can be adjusted through the League Utilities / Set Roster menu option.

Statistics – [3] – The optional General Manager / Owner Disk aids in the customization of rosters, player statistics and ratings. Users can modify lineups or trade players. MLBB 4 offered additional Season disks (1982-1992), Franchise History, All-Star Roster and World Series Team disks for purchase. In addition, 3 Stadium disks (American League, National League and Classic Parks) were created to augment the set of 4 ballparks that came standard with MLBB 4.

Usage/Injuries/Ejections – [2] – Injuries, ejections and fatigue can occur in the game although I did not encounter any. The lack of plate appearances for ballplayers that were not in the starting lineup during the regular season simulation leads me to question whether the fatigue and injury factors were properly implemented and thoroughly tested. Many bench players and a number of relief pitchers did not appear in any games despite being on the active roster for the entire simulated season.

Ballparks / Park Factors – [1] – The manual claims “more stadium factors are taken into consideration.” However teams are not assigned to specific stadiums and only 4 stadiums are available without the purchase of the add-on stadium disks, so it’s not clear how park factors are accounted for.

Commentary – [1] – Play result text appears on the bottom of the screen while the play is in progress. The observations are fairly basic and variation is minimal.

Note: MicroLeague Baseball II “Enhanced” for the Commodore 64 is essentially Pure-Stat Baseball repackaged as MicroLeague Baseball with a few additional strategic options bolted on. My rating for MicroLeague Baseball II “Enhanced” mirrors the Pure-Stat Baseball score (16 out of 50).

Scale:  Ratings from 1 (worst) to 5 (best)

Total Score: 20 out of 50

Enhancements and Features

Observations

The MicroLeague Sports Association fine-tuned this product with 4 editions released in the span of a decade. Yet I’m left with the feeling that there were many wasted opportunities to enhance and improve this game especially when you compare it to the competition. The play-by-play commentary regressed, player movement remained choreographed, and the strategic options lagged behind contemporary text-based and graphical baseball sims of the era. The omission of a “league leaders” option is difficult to fathom. Why bother compiling the stats if you’re unable to view and sort them at your discretion?

Please add a comment below if you spent a significant amount of time and/or have any recollections of MicroLeague Baseball II, MicroLeague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge or MicroLeague Baseball IV.

Screenshots

Articles in the Series

	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

Additional Links

Play MicroLeague Baseball II in your browser! –

https://archive.org/details/msdos_MicroLeague_Baseball_2_1989

Play MicroLeague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge in your browser! –

https://archive.org/details/msdos_MicroLeague_Baseball_-_The_Managers_Challenge_1991

Play MicroLeague Baseball IV in your browser! –

https://archive.org/details/msdos_MicroLeague_Baseball_IV_1992

Playthrough – HardballRetro

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

https://archive.org/details/amiga-world-1992-06/page/n97/mode/1up

“Microleague Baseball II.” Compute! Issue 115, December 1989, p126, 130.

https://archive.org/details/1989-12-compute-magazine/page/n127/mode/1up

Microleague Baseball II manual –

http://www.atarimania.com/st/files/microleague_baseball_ii_micro_league_sports_association_manual.pdf

MicroLeague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge manual – https://www.old-games.com/getfile/7581

Microleague Baseball IV manual – https://www.old-games.com/getfile/7579

https://www.mobygames.com/game/microleague-baseball-ii

https://www.mobygames.com/game/microleague-baseball-the-managers-challenge

https://www.mobygames.com/game/microleague-baseball-iv

http://www.stadium64.com/gameinfos/microleaguebaseball2/microleaguebaseball2.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9tPkIfJJ_0 (MicroLeague Baseball II for the IBM PC,

video by Squakenet)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMrEuqPmZpI (MicroLeague Baseball: The Manager’s Challenge for the IBM PC, video by Squakenet)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOIA4aUfrfc (MicroLeague Baseball IV for the IBM PC,

video by Squakenet)

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Architects – Volume 1 (American League)“, published in July 2020 and
“Hardball Architects – Volume 2 (National League)”, published in April 2022, examine the trades, free agent acquisitions, draft picks and other transactions for the 30 Major League Baseball franchises, divided into a 2-volume set. Both books are available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. All key moves are scrutinized for every team and Sabermetric principles are applied to the roster construction throughout the lifetime of the organization to encapsulate the hits and misses by front office executives. Team performances are analyzed based on transaction type with graphs depicting the WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in every decade. Individual results for each player-transaction is charted over the duration of their stint with the franchise. Every team chapter includes All-Time Rosters and Single-Season Leaders based on transaction type. The Team Trade Record chronicles the WAR and WS (Win Shares) accumulated by players acquired in comparison to those traded to opposing teams. The opening chapter is devoted to the Evolution of the General Manager and incorporates a discussion with former Dodgers GM Fred Claire (along with former Angels and Red Sox GM Mike Port and current Reds GM Nick Krall in Volume 2) on a variety of front office topics.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com.  Hardball Retroactive is a modest collection of selected articles that I have written for Seamheads.com along with my Baseball Analytics blog since 2010. Exclusive content includes the chapter on “Minors vs. Majors” which assesses every franchise’s minor league successes and failures in relation to their major league operations.

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com. In Hardball Retrospective, I placed every ballplayer in the modern era (from 1901-present) on their original teams. Using a variety of advanced statistics and methods, I generated revised standings for each season based entirely on the performance of each team’s “original” players. I discuss every team’s “original” players and seasons at length along with organizational performance with respect to the Amateur Draft (or First-Year Player Draft), amateur free agent signings and other methods of player acquisition. Season standings, WAR and Win Shares totals for the “original” teams are compared against the real-time or “actual” team results to assess each franchise’s scouting, development and general management skills.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here. 

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. 

Full Count Baseball

Publisher – Lance Haffner Games

Release Year – 1987

Platforms –Apple ][, Commodore 64, IBM PC

Credits

Full Count Baseball 6.0

Publisher – Lance Haffner Games

Release Year – 1994

Platforms – IBM PC

Credits

Programmer Interview

Lance Haffner founded his company, Lance Haffner Games, in 1984. LH Games published multiple text-based sports titles including 3-in-1 Football, Basketball: The Pro Game, Break Point Tennis, Courtside College Basketball, Hat Trick Hockey, Rampage Wrestling, TKO Pro Boxing, TMG Indianapolis Racing Game, TMG Stock Car Racing and World Class Track and Field.

I contacted Lance and he responded to a series of questions about Full Count Baseball.

DB: How did you conceive the original design of Full Count Baseball? Did you have any prior game development or programming experience?

LH: I already had created 3-in-1 Football and Final Four College Basketball. The skeleton was already there. I modified the Select Lineup from the CBB game and then modified Select QB from 3-in-1 FB. I then had to flowchart Full Count as a 9 inning game. I used a lot of code from the Football and CBB games for stat keeping and stat accumulation. Keeping track of earned runs was most difficult. I had to create a separate base running template which moved runners and kept score replacing errors with outs, etc. I had a friend, Randy Dudley, visit me for a weekend and together we designed the computer manager. He was way more knowledgeable about the MLB game than I was at the time.

DB: Did you take any computer programming courses in high school or college?

LH: In high school there was no such thing as computers in the 60s. I didn’t even have hand calculators. I made up sports games to play using 2 or 3 dice. They were simple but fun and fast to play. In college, my freshman year, they had a course called ‘Intro to Algorithms’. It was a senior level course using Fortran. My advisor gave me permission to sign up for the class since it was a Mathematics elective. I believe there were only 6 people in it. I spent an entire weekend going over the book and wrote all the programs we had to write in one weekend using a legal pad. Programming came naturally to me because it was problem solving. I loved that and it’s the same thing as Math which was my major.

Spring or fall of 1969 I wrote a simple baseball game that would replay the World Series between the Mets and Orioles. I did it on an old IBM 1620 which used cards you had to type in on a keypunch machine. I forget how many cards but it was thousands of them. I remember people telling me, “Don’t ever drop those cards!” I didn’t. No one gave the Mets a chance to beat the Orioles. In my replay, the Mets beat them 4 games to 2. Seaver was masterful. I remember Ron Swoboda hit a winning HR in the last game. They ran stories on it in the school paper. It was fun. I guess that was my first experience with computer games.

In 1975 I went to Nashville Tech and majored in Computer Programming. They still used a mainframe with cards but Digital Equipment Corp. had just come out with a mini-computer. I quit school and went to work for a computer software company. In 1978 I left them and hired on at Purity Dairies in Nashville to finish developing a route settlement system for them. That is the time I began developing my games written in a language called DIBOL on a DEC VAX computer at work. It took 5 years to develop the football and basketball games. I went slowly and did it right. I had season tickets to Vanderbilt football and basketball. I attended football games with a clipboard and charted how long each type of play took. Fans around me thought I was a scout from UT but that research made the time of the game as realistic as you could get.

DB: I have the original (Commodore 64) version along with Full Count Baseball 6.0 for the IBM PC. I believe Version 1 was also available for IBM PC and Apple 2. Were any of the later versions available for systems besides IBM PC (such as Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh?)

LH: My first games were for the Apple 2 computer. One of the dairy owners’ sons was an avid gamer. I did football and basketball on the computer at work then recoded them in Apple BASIC. it was convenient because a bunch of kids from the local high schools and colleges would come over to the dairy at night and on weekends and play them. I think we had 16 computers. They were all occupied with students playing 3-in-1 Football and Final Four (later Courtside) Basketball. They were my play testers; whenever the game would crash they would tell me and I would fix it. After a short while the games were error-proof.

I didn’t do the baseball game like that. By the time I started on Full Count, I had enough code to copy, paste and modify. The baseball went pretty quick. I think I came out with it in ’85 or ’86. I sold more Commodore 64 than anything and Apple 2 was second. The first IBM PC came out in 1982 I believe. I bought a PC Junior. It was expensive and slow. Shortly after that, all the IBM clones started coming out. I never fooled with Mac as the market was very small at the time, mostly used for graphic design. I paid a guy $1,000 to make the football game for Atari. By the time he finished it, Atari was dead. My IBM game worked for the Amiga but the computer never took off and died. Commodore 64 was far and away biggest market but they came out with the Commodore 128. Nobody bought them and the few who did just ran Commodore 64 games on them. Sometime after that, Commodore folded. I was sad to see that.

DB: Did you produce a Windows version of FCBB? What was the last version in the series and when was it released?

LH: There is a group who still play my games on Facebook (Lance Haffner Sports Sims) . I think about 1,000 people still play them using a DOS emulator program to run them on Windows machines. I believe a guy is working on a Windows version of the games.

Internet killed my mail order business. People could zip and e-mail my games to each other. Sales were down so much by 1996 that I had to go back to work on a contract basis to make enough to have a decent life for my kids. I owed it to my 3 boys to try to do better for them. By 2006 it was less than 1,000 bucks a month. I shut it down in 2007 so I could spend more time with my kids and went back to work full-time. I went on a bunch of sites that had LH Games rooms – Yahoo and all, about 6 of them. I was hardly selling any new season disks. These sites had thousands of messages saying ‘leave e-mail and we will send you Haffner’s new team disks’. That was the final straw for me.

DB: Describe your role in the development of each product. Were you the sole developer / programmer throughout the entire series of FCBB?

LH: I was the sole developer and generated the team ratings. A guy in St. Louis did the arm, range and run ratings for me. He has passed away. A guy in Missouri did the graphics and Shannon Lynn made them work within the game. The older field displays were created in an older paint program. I was going to use photos of the ballparks from behind home plate but found out they were licensed and they wanted a fortune to use them. Lynn added some commentary to the games. Players played my games for accuracy and speed. They didn’t care about the commentary. Most of them could visualize a Mickey Mantle home run from memory and didn’t need graphics or commentary.

DB: Did anyone else contribute to utilities, season disks, play testing?

LH: I paid a couple of guys to create the past season disks for me. I can’t even remember their names now. Phil Lupi and friends (in the Facebook group) have done all the seasons for all the games since 2006 when I quit. Phil is even working on College Basketball seasons from the 50’s (’59 and ’54 I think). They also did the 4 seasons I never got around to doing (1973, 1974, 1978 and 1979 I believe). They’ve done a lot of good stuff.

DB: Full Count Baseball focused on the gameplay and the engine. Some of your competitors migrated their DOS products to Windows in the early to mid-1990’s and added stadium graphics, sound effects, broadcasters to provide the play-to-play commentary, etc. Did you consider migrating the products to Windows during that timeframe? Did you consider adding any “eye” and “ear candy” to the product? Your competition in that era included APBA, Diamond Mind and Strat-o-Matic for text-based sims along with the Earl Weaver and Tony La Russa Baseball, games which delivered both arcade and simulation options. What were your impressions of those products at the time and in what areas do you feel that the FCBB series excelled in comparison?

LH: I never saw any of those games. I didn’t want to even see what they were doing. They were based on dice rolls. I used actual percentages. There was also Big League Manager by Negameco in Minnesota. I used ballpark ratings which affected home runs. I think I had a foul ball rating affecting foul ball outs behind home plate. I considered myself a creator and developer, not a follower. My motto was always if you start copying someone else, you will always be at least in second place.

As far as graphics were concerned, I never cared for them. Most of my customers didn’t either. My theory was if you want graphics, turn on a real baseball game and watch it. I had a full plate. I didn’t have time or resources to devote to something that would only slow the game down. My game users wanted accuracy & speed. I gave them what they wanted.

DB: Are you currently working in the computer / gaming industry? Do you have any interest in reviving your game on a current platform?

LH: From 2006 to January 2011 I worked at two manufacturing companies. I was fixing to get laid off in 2011 due to the 2007-08 Great Recession caused by Wall Street gamblers. They offered me one year’s severance. So I took it, paid my bills for a year ahead and retired. I substituted part-time for about two years to supplement my income. Kids’ behavior was so bad I finally quit. You couldn’t pay me enough to sub-teach now. I haven’t done anything on the games since about 2006.

Review

Full Count Baseball (version 1.0)

Full Count Baseball is a text-only computer baseball simulation similar in concept and execution to SSI Computer Baseball and Computer Statis Pro Baseball. FCBB compares favorably to those efforts; however by the mid-1980’s, microcomputer hardball fanatics had their expectations raised by graphical simulations such as MicroLeague and Earl Weaver Baseball. The first version of FCBB was released for IBM PC, Apple ][ and Commodore 64. I am utilizing the Commodore 64 edition and the VICE emulator to play a series using the 1986 Team Disk. Upon loading the game, I chose option 1 (“Play a Game”) from the main menu. I was prompted to place the Team Disk in the drive, then entered the display speed (1-100), number of players (1 or 2 humans, or computer vs. computer) and whether to use the designated hitter. To select the visitor and home teams, you need to know the corresponding number of each team. I had to check the disk directory to determine that Cleveland was team # 12 and Texas was team # 19. When choosing your starting lineup or today’s pitcher, you are allowed to bench anyone that may be unavailable due to fatigue. The contest begins after placing the Game Disk back in the drive (does anyone miss swapping floppies?!)

I scheduled a Series between 2 upstart teams from the 1986 campaign – Cleveland and Texas. Knuckleballers Tom Candiotti (16-12, 3.57) and Charlie Hough (17-10, 3.79) squared off in the initial tilt. Pete Incaviglia drove in the first run of the contest with a deep drive to center field over Brett Butler’s head as Oddibe McDowell scored with ease from second base. Steve Buechele deposited a three-run shot into the left field bleachers in the bottom of the second, increasing the Rangers’ advantage to 4-0. Candiotti issued a walk to Darrell Porter, loading the bases for Buechele. I signaled to the bullpen for Rich Yett, who escaped the jam with a groundout to second-sacker Tony Bernazard. In the top of the fourth, Pat Tabler sent an opposite-field tracer to the warning track in right but “Inky” flagged it down. Yett yielded a solo shot to Incaviglia in the home half of the fifth. Successive safeties by Larry Parrish and Darrell Porter sent Yett to the showers in favor of fellow right-hander Dickie Noles. Buechele popped up to Brook Jacoby at third base to end the fifth. Joe Carter legged out a three-base hit with two away in the visitor’s sixth, only the third hit allowed by Hough. The wily veteran stranded Carter when he dazzled Andre Thornton with a flutterball. Incaviglia just missed a 3-run blast in the bottom of the sixth as Butler made a spectacular leaping grab at the wall! John Butcher entered the contest and limited Texas to a base hit by Porter. The Tribe finally got on the board with 2 outs in the eighth. Butler’s patience was rewarded with a base on balls. Julio Franco drilled a two-base knock to left-center, scoring Butler all the way from first base. Joe Carter tapped a slow roller towards first and Pete O’Brien stepped on the bag to retire the side. Curtis Wilkerson led off the bottom of the eighth with a single, stole second and scored on a double down the right field line by McDowell. Bryan Oelkers relieved Butcher, but Scott Fletcher blistered a two-bagger to left as Texas assumed a 7-1 lead. O’Brien put the game out of reach, mashing a two-run tater into the right field seats. The Rangers prolonged their offensive barrage as Gary Ward ripped a single to left, swiped second and came home on a two-run dinger by Parrish. When the dust settled, Hough returned to the mound with the top of the ninth with a 10-run cushion. Mel Hall lined a single to right and Tabler roped a double to left-center, but Hough induced a shallow fly ball to center off Bernazard’s bat. McDowell corralled it for the final out as the hometown Rangers claimed bragging rights with an 11-1 blowout.

Veteran right-hander Phil Niekro (11-11, 4.32) took the hill in the second contest against 20-year-old rookie Ed Correa (12-14, 4.23). Joe Carter reached base with two outs when Steve Buechele booted his grounder to third. Cleveland capitalized immediately as Andre Thornton tagged a long double off the left field wall, scoring Carter all the way from first. Oddibe McDowell sparked the Texas offense with a ringing two-base hit in the bottom of the inning. Scott Fletcher laced a single up the middle to plate McDowell.  Pete Incaviglia clubbed a tape-measure shot off “Knucksie” to provide the Rangers with the 2-1 lead in the home half of the fourth. Texas extended their advantage to 4-1 when Niekro yielded a two-run dinger to Don Slaught.  Cleveland threatened in the sixth when Julio Franco ripped a base hit to left, then advanced to third on a single by Carter. Thornton lofted a soft single to left-center, knocking in Franco. Mel Hall bounced into a 6-4-3 double play as Correa escaped further damage. The Tribe rallied again in the seventh as Pat Tabler and Brook Jacoby delivered back-to-back singles. Tabler raced home and Jacoby jogged down to second on a wild pitch by Correa. Brett Butler popped up to third and Franco whiffed, preserving a 1-run cushion for the Rangers. Scott Bailes relieved Niekro after Fletcher walked leading off the bottom of the eighth. Facing the heart of the Texas’ order, the southpaw retired the side. Tabler rapped a base hit to start the top of the ninth, sending Correa to the showers in favor of Greg A. Harris. Jacoby grounded into a fielder’s choice, erasing the lead runner (Tabler). Tony Bernazard belted the next offering off the top of the right field fence for a two-base knock as Jacoby chugged around the bases to tally the tying run! Carmelo Castillo, batting for Chris Bando, swatted a deep fly ball to center but McDowell hauled it in at the warning track for the second out. Butler hit a two-hopper to Curtis Wilkerson to complete the inning. Ernie Camacho entered the contest for the Indians. Larry Parrish lofted a soft single to left. Slaught slugged a long fly to center that was flagged down by Butler. A base hit off the bat of Buechele placed the winning run on second base with one away. McDowell tripled into the right-center field gap and the Rangers celebrated another victory.

The series transferred to Cleveland as the Tribe endeavored to recover from a 2-0 deficit. Jose Guzman (9-15, 4.54) finished his pre-game tosses in the bullpen while Ken Schrom (14-7, 4.54) jogged to the Municipal Stadium mound. The Indians jumped out to a quick lead when Tony Bernazard blasted a 2-run bomb into the right field stands after Brett Butler reached on an error by third baseman Tom Paciorek. Joe Carter laced a single to center but he was erased with a strong throw by Don Slaught on a stolen base attempt. On the next pitch Cory Snyder jacked a solo shot to left. Guzman whiffed Brook Jacoby but Texas trailed 3-0. The Rangers returned fire in the top of the second as Gary Ward and Larry Parrish rocketed back-to-back doubles into left-center field. In the third inning, Toby Harrah singled to right and Scott Fletcher roped a two-bagger to place runners in scoring position with one out. Schrom struck out Pete O’Brien, then skipped a curveball under Andy Allanson’s glove for a wild pitch to bring Harrah home. Carter delivered a majestic home run to straightaway center field, extending the Indians’ advantage to 4-2. In the home half of the fifth, Carter repeated the feat with a 2-run moon-shot down the left field line. Rich Yett entered the contest after Schrom loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Slaught grounded into a fielder’s choice to cut the Cleveland lead to 6-3, but Yett managed to strike out Paciorek to retire the side. Jacoby started the bottom of the sixth with a base hit up the middle, knocking Guzman from the game. Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams, making his first appearance in the Series, yielded a single to Carmelo Castillo, a double to Pat Tabler and an RBI-single to Butler. Bobby Valentine blew a gasket as he chewed out Williams before ultimately signaled for the right-hander, Jeff Russell. Bernazard beat the relay throw on a fielder’s choice grounder as the Indians notched another tally. Julio Franco flailed at a hard slider from Russell to mercifully bring the frame to a close. Yett supplied 3.2 scoreless innings to complete the 9-3 victory for the Indians.

The opposing managers trotted out a pair of portsiders for Game 4 as Mike Mason (7-3, 4.33) prepared to do battle against Neal Heaton (3-6, 4.24). A pitcher’s duel ensued as both hurlers put up goose eggs through the first 4 frames. Heaton walked the bases loaded in the fifth but extracted himself with a ground out to second base. In the home half of the inning, Brett Butler hit a tracer into the left field corner for a 2-run triple. Joe Carter led off the bottom of the sixth with a double to left-center and later scored on a base hit off the bat of Pat Tabler, knocking Mason from the contest. Brook Jacoby greeted reliever Jeff Russell with a single back through the box and Cory Snyder came around to give the Tribe at 4-0 lead. Mitch Williams entered the match with 2 outs in the seventh after Russell yielded a single to Julio Franco and a base on balls to Andre Thornton. Snyder promptly delivered a single to right. Ruben Sierra fired a rocket towards home plate but Franco slid under Don Slaught’s tag as the Indians padded their lead. Tabler followed with another safety to drive in “Thunder” Thornton. Jacoby narrowly missed a four-bagger as Oddibe McDowell drifted back and made the catch on the warning track. The Rangers threatened in the top of the eighth. Larry Parrish blasted a deep fly ball with 2 outs and runners on second and third, but Cory Snyder sprinted towards the fence and made a leaping grab to preserve the shutout. Heaton retired Texas quietly in the ninth to notch the victory and even the series at two games apiece.

Charlie Hough and Tom “Cotton” Candiotti would keep their catchers busy in the rematch of the dueling knucklers. Texas drew first blood in the third inning when Curtis Wilkerson walked, swiped second and came around on a single to center by Oddibe McDowell. Candiotti proceeded to get into a bases loaded jam but extricated himself with a strikeout of Pete Incaviglia. Gary Ward launched a moon-shot leading off the top of the fourth, putting the Rangers ahead 2-0. Larry Parrish followed with a long double to left-center and he later scored on a pair of wild pitches during Steve Buechele’s at-bat. Candiotti dug a deeper hole when Buechele ripped a base hit, stole second and registered the Rangers’ fourth tally on a triple by Wilkerson. Scott Bailes entered the contest to face the top of the order with one out in the fourth and Cleveland behind by 4 runs. McDowell lifted a medium fly to center, deep enough to score Wilkerson.  The Tribe scratched across their first run on an RBI single by Tony Bernazard. Rich Yett relieved Bailes with 2 outs in the fifth and the sacks full of Strangers. The right-hander issued a walk to Buechele to force in “Inky”.  Wilkerson followed with a 2-run single to right. McDowell belted a long fly to center which Butler tracked down at the wall as Texas comfortably led the contest, 8-1. In the home half of the fifth, a sacrifice fly to left by Andre Thornton inched the Indians a bit closer. Hough cruised into the eighth inning when Jeff Russell replaced him on the mound. Russell got the final four outs as the Rangers returned home up three games to two in the Series.

Back at Arlington Stadium, Texas elected to pitch Ed Correa while Cleveland countered with the wily veteran Phil Niekro. In the top of the first, Julio Franco roped a two-out two-bagger to center and took third on a poor relay throw by Oodibe McDowell. Correa showed his composure in the big moment by inducing Joe Carter to tap a weak grounder to Pete O’Brien. Andy Allanson led off the third with a ringing single to left which Pete Incaviglia misplayed, allowing the Indians’ backstop to advance safely to second. Again, Correa weaved through the top of the Tribe order to escape the inning unscathed. Ruben Sierra put the Rangers on the board with a two-out triple in the home half of the fourth, scoring third baseman Larry Parrish. Don Slaught followed with a base knock to left and Texas took a 2-0 lead. In the fifth, O’Brien lofted a sacrifice fly to right and McDowell barely evaded the tag at home plate following a strong throw by Cory Snyder. Slaught belted a solo shot into the left field bleachers, extending the Rangers advantage to 4-0 in the sixth. Bryan Oelkers relieved Niekro and yielded a round-tripper off the bat of Toby Harrah. Correa continued to confound the Cleveland offense, putting up zeroes through seven frames. Ernie Camacho entered the contest after Oeklers issued a walk to O’Brien leading off the bottom of the seventh. The right-hander whiffed “Inky” and Sierra but got burned on an inside fastball that Slaught mashed for a two-base hit. Correa remained on the mound with a 6-run lead into the ninth inning. Brett Butler coaxed a leadoff walk but he was promptly erased when Franco rapped into a 6-4-3 double play. Carter popped up to shortstop Scott Fletcher and the Rangers greeted Correa at the mound to celebrate their victory! The young right-hander merited Series MVP honors as he held the Tribe to 2 earned runs in 17 innings while striking out 16 batsmen.

Full Count Baseball 6.0

I downloaded the season disks and related files from the link provided in the Lance Haffner Sports Sims group on Facebook. Here is the link to the Full Count Baseball files in Google Drive.

I simulated the 1977 season to give Rod Carew another shot at the .400 mark. FCBB v6 allowed me to generate the appropriate schedules for the American and National League. I replayed the season one month at a time. On the first of each (simulated) month, I stopped to review the results.

The Twins hosted the Red Sox for their final regular season series. A 2-for-4 effort in Game 160 against Reggie Cleveland and Bill Campbell raised Carew’s BA to .400 with a pair of games remaining on the schedule. One day later he delivered 3 safeties in 4 at-bats against four Red Sox hurlers to raise his average to .402. In Game 162, Bill F. Lee, Bob Stanley and Campbell held Carew hitless in five at-bats dropping his batting average to .399! The Twins’ first baseman also led the League in base hits (248), runs (141), doubles (53) and OBP (.461) while placing runner-up with 16 triples. Rick “Rooster” Burleson (.371), Bob Bailor (.365) and Mickey Rivers (.352) delivered career-highs in batting average. Angels’ outfielder Bobby Bonds easily outdistanced Jim Rice for the home run crown, 48 to 36. Yankees’ relief ace Sparky Lyle collected the ERA title with a mark of 2.23. Garry Templeton secured the N.L. batting title by five percentage points over Ken Griffey, .341 to .336. George Foster bested Bobby Murcer in home runs by a lone dinger, 44 to 43 and teammate Tom Seaver paced the circuit with a 1.72 ERA.

The Yankees and Royals tallied 103 victories apiece to lead their respective divisions by double-digits while the Phillies handily claimed the National League East by 9 games over the Pirates. The Reds claimed the remaining playoff berth by a single game over the division-rival Astros.

Kansas City knocked off New York in five games and Cincinnati prevailed over Philadelphia in four contests to advance to the World Series. I elected to manage the Royals.

ALCS

1 – NYY 0 @ KCR 6

2 – NYY 12 @ KCR 4

3 – KCR 7 @ NYY 1

4 – KCR 3 @ NYY 5

5 – KCR 9 @ NYY 3

KCR wins ALCS 3 games to 2

NLCS

1 – PHI 4 @ CIN 8

2 – PHI 2 @ CIN 6

3 – CIN 0 @ PHI 4   (Bench broke up Lonborg no-no with 2 outs in 7th)

4 – CIN 4 @ PHN 3 (10 innings)

CIN wins NLCS 3 games to 1

Kansas City opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Amos Otis scorched a single to left off Tom Seaver to drive in Hal McRae. Cincinnati knotted the game at 1-1 as Dennis Leonard served up a gopher ball to Johnny Bench in the top of the second. Cesar Geronimo delivered a two-out hit later in the inning to plate Dan Driessen with the go-ahead run. John Mayberry and Al Cowens produced successive singles as the Royals regained the lead, 3-2 in the bottom of the third. Frank White chipped in with a two-out RBI single to tack on the fourth tally for KC. Sparky Anderson aka “Captain Hook” went to the bullpen early as he yanked “Tom Terrific” in favor of Mike Caldwell after McRae slammed a two-base hit off the left field wall leading off the bottom of the fourth. Otis subsequently singled to left and McRae scampered home with the Royals’ fifth run. Manny Sarmiento became the third Reds’ pitcher after Champ Summers batted for Caldwell. He twirled a couple of scoreless frames before giving way to Pedro Borbon to start the home half of the seventh. Consecutive knocks by Mayberry and Cowens placed runners on the corners with nobody out. Darrell Porter singled through the drawn-in infield as Kansas City expanded the lead to 6-2. Throwing errors by Joe L. Morgan and Driessen on successive plays yielded another run for the hometown team. George Brett’s bloop single with the sacks juiced plated two more baserunners. McRae greeted Dale Murray with a two-bagger off the left-field fence. When the dust finally settled, Andy Hassler replaced Leonard on the mound with a comfortable 10-2 cushion. Cincinnati immediately pounced, loading the bases on a double by Morgan, a base on balls to George Foster and a single by Bench. The portsider regrouped and escaped the inning unscathed. Anderson lifted Murray for Rawly Eastwick after Freddie Patek lined an RBI single to center in the bottom of the eighth. Pete LaCock laced a two-out hit to drive in Patek with the twelfth run of the night for the Royals. Hassler allowed an infield hit to Ken Griffey and walked a pair of Reds with two outs in the ninth. Mark Littell trotted in from the bullpen and promptly whiffed Bench to secure the 12-2 win.

Pete Rose coaxed a leadoff walk off Jim Colborn in Game 2. “Charlie Hustle” swiped second and later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Joe L. Morgan. John Mayberry tied the game with a solo shot off southpaw Fred Norman in the bottom of the second. Ken Griffey ripped a double to commence the top of the fourth and he tallied the go-ahead run for the Reds on a two-out, two-base hit by Johnny Bench.  Al Cowens delivered a base knock and Norman issued a pair of walks to place ducks on the pond with nobody out in the home half of the fourth. John “Duke” Wathan cleared the bases with a three-bagger as the Royals claimed a 4-2 advantage. Colborn got into a bases-loaded jam in the visitor’s sixth. He got Bench on a shallow fly ball to left but Dan Driessen legged out an infield hit, cutting Kansas City’s lead to 4-3. Dave Concepcion nubbed a slow roller to third and he was called out on a bang-bang play at first to end the threat. Sparky Anderson called upon Manny Sarmiento after Norman walked Wathan with two gone in the sixth. When Colborn issued a free pass to pinch-hitter Champ Summers in the seventh, I selected the Personnel option to assess my bullpen possibilities. Cincinnati had the switch-hitting Rose due up, followed by left-handed batters in Griffey and Morgan. I elected to bring Larry Gura into the game and noted a message on the bottom of the screen – “Colborn is tiring!” I also noted that there is no mechanism to warm up a pitcher. The move to Gura worked to perfection as Rose grounded into a double play. Anderson called upon the portsider Mike Caldwell in an attempt to maintain Cincy’s one-run deficit. Gura left the game for a pinch-hitter (Cookie Rojas) so Steve Mingori got the ball in the top of the eighth. He retired both of the lefties he faced then gave way to Mark Littell, who finished the frame with a short fly to left off the bat off Reds’ cleanup hitter George Foster. Bench walked to start the ninth and he was promptly replaced on the bases by Ed Armbrister. Driessen drilled a line drive that was snared by Mayberry. Armbrister strayed too far from first base and Mayberry stepped on the bag for a double play! Cowens gloved Concepcion’s liner to right as the Royals triumphed 4-3. The Series headed to the Queen City with KC up two games to none.

George Brett reached on an error by Joe L. Morgan leading off Game 3. Jack Billingham served up a long double to Al Cowens as Brett raced around the bases to record the first tally of the contest. “Little Joe” swiftly atoned for his error when he rocked a solo blast off Paul Splittorff with two outs in the bottom of the first. George Foster ripped a two-bagger to left and Johnny Bench’s subsequent single put the Reds in front, 2-1. Splittorff issued a base on balls to Dave Concepcion and then Dan Driessen capitalized with a towering big-fly that barely evaded Cowens’ leaping attempt in the wall for a three-run circuit clout. Cesar Geronimo followed with a single to right but KC finally nailed down the third out of the inning as Billingham whiffed. Splittorff settled down and matched Billingham with five scoreless frames. In the top of the fifth, Ken Griffey made a circus catch of Hal McRae’s opposite-field shot to the right field wall. Two batters later, Geronimo robbed John Mayberry at the center field fence with two outs and two runners on base as Cincinnati maintained a 5-1 advantage. McRae drilled a two-out double in the seventh and Cowens plated him with a base hit to center. Doug Bird held the Reds in check during his relief appearance. Billingham remained on the bump in the eighth as the Royals attempted to rally. Darrell Porter lined a single to right and John Wathan came on as a pinch-runner. Frank White laced a two-out single into right-center, sending “Duke” to third. KC announced Tom Poquette as the pinch-hitter. Billingham stared in for the sign, Bench put down a pair of digits and Poquette just got under it for a harmless pop fly to Morgan. Concepcion hammered a two-bagger up the gap in left-center off Royals’ reliever Marty Pattin and advanced to third on Driessen’s ground out. Pattin walked Geronimo intentionally to bring up the pitcher’s spot. Billingham hit into a fielder’s choice as Cincy tacked on an insurance run. Cowens produced a two-out single in the ninth but Foster caught Mayberry’s shallow pop fly to left for the final out as the Reds secured the 6-2 victory. Billingham went the distance, scattering 11 hits but yielding only one earned run.

Cincinnati looked to even the Series at two games apiece as their ace, Tom Seaver, took the hill against Kansas City in Game 4. The Reds seized an early lead when Cesar Geronimo belted a low fastball from Royals’ starter Dennis Leonard deep into the right field seats for a three-run bomb in the bottom of the second. KC got one back in the third inning when Frank White reached on a two-base error by Reds’ shortstop Dave Concepcion. Leonard laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to advance White ninety feet and George Brett registered an RBI on a fielder’s choice ground out to short. The Royals drew closer when White singled with one out in the fourth, pilfered second base and scored on base hit grounder through the right side off the bat of Leonard. Ken Griffey drilled a line drive off Leonard’s leg in the home half of the fourth. The manager and trailer came out to assess the situation and Marty Pattin replaced the injured starter on the mound with two runners aboard and nobody out. Joe L. Morgan grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and George Foster bounced out to White as Pattin rallied the troops and escaped without any damage. The Reds tacked on an unearned run when Geronimo lofted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Dan Driessen in the bottom of the sixth. Mark Littell became the third KC pitcher after Tom Poquette batted for Pattin in the seventh. He promptly loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of walks sandwiched around a safety by Pete Rose. Larry Gura was summoned to face Morgan. “Little Joe” flew out to the warning track in center field, driving in “Tom Terrific” with Cincy’s fifth tally. Foster’s subsequently tapped a slow roller to shortstop for a fielder’s choice and Rose raced home to give the Reds a comfortable 6-2 lead. In the eighth, Seaver added an insurance run when he clubbed a two-base knock off the left field fence. Geronimo scored all the way from first. “The Franchise” yielded base hits to Darrell Porter and Freddie Patek in the ninth but he got White to hit a high chopper to Driessen for the final out of the contest. The Reds prevailed 7-2 and knotted the Series at 2-2.

Veteran hurlers Fred Norman and Jim Colborn squared off in Game 5. George Brett smacked a triple into the right-field corner leading off the game for the visitors. Al Cowens hit a deep drive to the opposite field with one away. Ken Griffey drifted back to the warning track and timed his leap perfectly to rob Cowens of extra bases. Brett tagged and raced home with the Royals’ first run. Cincinnati registered four straight hits against Colborn in the bottom of the first. Joe L. Morgan belted a two-run triple up the gap in right-center to drive in Pete Rose and Ken Griffey. George Foster followed with a single to left to plate “Little Joe”. Colborn got the quick hook with two outs in the first in favor of portsider Andy Hassler. Cesar Geronimo drew a free pass to load the bases and Norman drove in a pair with a line drive single to right field as the Reds batted around. Frank White snared a shot by Rose to end the frame with Cincy out in front, 5-1. In the top of the second, White responded with a two-run single down the left field line. Larry Gura replaced Hassler on the hill after Cookie Rojas batted for the southpaw in the previous inning. Griffey coaxed a base on balls, advanced to third on a wild pickoff attempt and scored on a single by Morgan. The Reds held a 6-3 advantage heading into the home half of the fourth. Kansas City went to the bullpen again as the manager called upon Marty Pattin to keep his club in the game. Reds’ manager Sparky Anderson lived up to his “Captain Hook” moniker went he summoned Dale Murray with the sacks juiced and two down in the fifth. The Royals’ skipper countered, sending Darrell Porter to the dish in place of John Wathan. Murray won the battle as he froze Porter with a strike on the inside corner to retire the side. Freddie Patek laced a three-bagger between Geronimo and Griffey. White lashed a single to center and KC now trailed 6-4. Brett absolutely demolished Murray’s offering but it was only a solo blast as Pattin had bounced into a double play after twice failing to bunt White over to second base. Pattin redeemed himself with another scoreless frame in the bottom of the sixth. Amos Otis drilled a single to right with one away in the sixth and Anderson signaled for right-hander Pedro Borbon. The visitors tied the contest at 6-6 when John Mayberry and Porter produced back-to-back singles against the Reds’ reliever. After Patek flew out to right, White delivered a two-out opposite field hit and Mayberry scampered home with the go-ahead run. Tom Poquette batted for Pattin and grounded out to Morgan. Mark Littell took the mound for the visitors in the bottom of the seventh with his squad holding a 7-6 lead. He shut down the Big Red Machine in order. Hal McRae slashed a one-out single to right and Anderson went to his bullpen. This time it was Manny Sarmiento who got the call. The right-hander made quick work of Cowens and Otis.  Littell worked out of a jam in the eighth, inducing Rose to ground out to second base after Champ Summers rapped into a 4-6-3 double play. Rawly Eastwick became the Reds’ fifth pitcher of the day. Morgan walked with one out and Foster nearly left the yard, rattling the left-center field wall for a game-tying two-bagger! Littell issued an intentional pass to Johnny Bench. Steve Mingori, pitching from the left side, came in to face the lefty-swinging Dan Driessen. Anderson sent Ed Armbrister to run for Foster at second base. Driessen blasted one towards the right field wall. Cowens turned and raced back, made a valiant effort but the ball ricocheted off the wall. Armbrister breezed around the base paths and registered the winning tally as Cincinnati came from behind to sweep the three games at Riverfront Stadium. As the teams headed back to Kansas City, the momentum had shifted in favor of the Reds.

The Royals faced a must-win situation on their home turf in Game 6. Paul Splittorff endured a shaky first inning as the Reds loaded the bases before Dave Concepcion swung and missed at a heater on the outside corner for the third out. Cincinnati plated the first run when Bill Plummer drew a base on balls with one away in the second, advanced to third on Jack Billingham’s single to center, and scored on a Pete Rose groundout. Splittorff got the Royals even with a deep fly into the right field seats in the home half of the third inning. George Brett laced a two-out triple in the fifth frame that evaded Ken Griffey and rattled around in the right-field corner but he was stranded at third as the score remained tied at 1. The Big Red Machine pulled ahead in the top of the seventh when Rose lashed a base hit to right and Griffey followed with another single to the same spot. Al Cowens booted the ball which allowed Rose to scamper home. Cincinnati was six outs away from claiming the Championship. Billingham completed his warm-up tosses and stared in for the signal from Plummer as Brett took a few practice cuts. “Mullet” lined a sharp single to right leading off the inning. Hal McRae served a looping single that dropped in front of Cesar Geronimo as Brett raced to third. Cowens made up for his earlier miscue when he legged out an infield hit and Brett streaked home with the tying run. John Mayberry scolded a hot grounder between first and second. McRae just slid under the tag as the Royals took the lead, 3-2 with Cowens and Mayberry taking the extra base on the throw home. Pedro Borbon relieved Billingham. Amos Otis coaxed a walk to load ‘em up for Darrell Porter. Borbon continued to struggle with his control as Porter drew a free pass to force in a run. Freddie Patek flew out to shallow left for the first out. Frank White lofted a high fly towards Griffey. Mayberry tagged up and barely grazed the dish with his hand. Pinch-hitter Tom Poquette grounded out to shortstop and Kansas City entered the ninth with a 5-2 advantage. Mark Littell replaced Doug Bird on the bump and Sparky Anderson sent Dan Driessen up to bat in the pitcher’s slot. Driessen’s drive sent Cowens back to the warning track in right but the ball stayed in the park. Rose bounced out to Patek but Littell issued consecutive walks to Griffey and Morgan, bringing the dangerous George Foster to the plate representing the tying run. Littell fired one in on Foster’s hands and he lifted a high pop fly towards shortstop. Patek settled under it and made the catch for the final out. The Royals survived with a final score of 5-2 to push the Series to a seventh game.

Pete Rose lined a single to center field leading off Game 7 but Dennis Leonard whiffed two of the next three Cincinnati batsmen to put up a zero in the top of the first. Tom Seaver recorded a scoreless frame for the Big Red Machine after setting the Royals down in order. The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the third on a couple of walks by Rose and Joe L. Morgan sandwiched around a Ken Griffey base hit. Leonard extracted himself from the jam when he induced a fly out to center field off the bat of the Reds’ cleanup hitter, George Foster. Frank White led off the home half of the third with a single to left. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Leonard and tallied the first run of the game on a base knock to left by George Brett. Cincinnati addressed their 1-0 deficit in the fourth when Dan Driessen ripped a one-out double to right and picked up an extra base on Al Cowens’ throwing miscue. The first sacker scored on Dave Concepcion’s grounder to short. Hal McRae motored into third base with a triple to commence the bottom of the sixth. John Mayberry drew a base on balls with one away. Amos Otis produced a medium fly ball to left. Foster camped underneath it, snagged the ball and fired home. McRae dashed for the plate, slid head-first and brushed his hand across the dish as Johnny Bench applied the tag… SAFE! Royals took the 2-1 lead and the crowd went berserk! Sparky Anderson tried to generate some offense with two outs and no runners on base in the seventh, sending Champ Summers up to bat instead of Seaver. Summers sent the ball on a high arc towards the right field corner. Cowens climbed the wall, reached up and made the catch! Manny Sarmiento replaced “Tom Terrific” on the hill. White laced a one-out triple up the gap in right-center with one down in the bottom of the seventh. Pete LaCock batted for Leonard and lofted a fly ball to center. Cesar Geronimo’s throw home was off the mark as White registered an insurance run. Larry Gura entered the game in the top of the eighth to face the top of the Reds’ lineup. Rose ripped a single to left and Griffey followed with a two-bagger to center. “Charlie Hustle” scored, cutting KC’s advantage to 3-2 but Griffey was cut down at third by a strong throw from Otis. Steve Mingori relieved Gura and yielded a base hit to center by Morgan. Mark Littell was summoned from the pen and he plunked Foster to place runners on first and second with only one out in the inning. Morgan and Foster perfectly executed a double steal, so the Royals elected to issue a free pass to Bench. Driessen delivered a sac-fly to left, knotting the game at 3-3! Concepcion silenced the hometown crowd with a single up the middle, scoring Foster and pinch-runner Ed Armbrister. The Royals’ fourth hurler of the inning, Andy Hassler, came in to retire Geronimo on a lazy fly to left but the damage was done. The Royals had six outs remaining in their season. Cowens started the frame with a sharp single to left. He made a wide turn at first base but wisely decided not to challenge Foster’s arm. Mayberry clobbered Sarmiento’s next offering deep into the right field seats to tie the contest at 5-5! The fans feverishly applauded as the first baseman jogged around the bases. Pedro Borbon was called upon to quiet the Royals’ bats. Darrell Porter coaxed a one-out walk and Kansas City sent John Wathan into the contest as a pinch-runner. Freddie Patek whiffed on a 3-2 offering and Wathan was pegged at second by the backup backstop, Don Werner. Marty Pattin took over for Hassler to begin the ninth and he set down the Reds with ease. LaCock roped a one-out base hit to left field off Rawly Eastwick and immediately exited the contest in favor of pinch-runner Joe Zdeb. Brett grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to send the game into extra innings. Pattin pitched a scoreless tenth and his skipper elected to send Tom Poquette up to the dish when Anderson brought Dale Murray into the game in the bottom of the frame. The pinch-hitter responded with a base hit into right field, setting the table for the heart of the Royals’ batting order. The crowd went into a frenzy when Cowens belted one deep to right but Griffey scaled the wall and hauled it in for a game-saving grab! Poquette had to scramble back to first. Mayberry nearly bounced into a 3-6-3 twin-killing but he just beat Concepcion’s relay to keep the inning alive. Otis worked a walk and Wathan strolled to the plate with the potential winning run standing out at second base. The play-by-play from the national broadcast – “Murray kicks and fires… line drive past Rose and Concepcion… Mayberry scores! Kansas City defeats Cincinnati, 6-5!!” The World Series MVP was awarded to Mayberry who produced 9 hits in 28 at-bats (.321 BA) along with two round-trippers and 5 runs batted in.

World Series

1 – CIN 2 @ KCR 12

2 – CIN 3@ KCR 4

3 – KCR 2 @ CIN 6

4 – KCR 2 @ CIN 7

5 – KCR 7 @ CIN 8

6 – CIN 2 @ KCR 5

7 – CIN 5 @ KCR 6 (10)

Ratings

Note – ratings below for Full Count Baseball 6.0 – deduct 1 point for Graphics, Box Score, Strategy, 2 points for Artificial Intelligence, Rosters, Statistics, Usage/Injuries/Ejections, Commentary and 3 points for Ballparks/Park Factors in Full Count Baseball (version 1)

Graphics – [2] The screen in version 1 is divided into 3 sections. The top portion of the display contains a typical scoreboard. The mid-section provides basic information regarding the current batter and pitcher along with the on-deck hitter. Batting data consists of the player’s last name, handedness, batting average and home runs while the pitcher’s stats are limited to last name, throwing hand, won-loss record and earned run average. The inning, number of outs and infield status (infield in, in at corners, or blank for normal infield depth) are listed below the pitcher. Baserunners (if any) are enumerated below the batting and pitching record. The lower third of the screen conveys the strategy menu or the play-by-play text. Stadium images are added in version 6 with commentary superimposed in the upper center of the screen. Offensive and defensive menus are relegated to the lower left corner. The scoreboard runs along the bottom center of the screen while current batter and pitcher information is reported in the lower right corner. Defensive player names and fielding data are anchored around the diamond in the appropriate locations.

Sound – [1] Full Count Baseball does not feature any music or sound effects.

Strategy – [3] Managerial options are a bit limited in the first edition of Full Count Baseball compared to contemporary offerings. On defense, there is no way to hold a runner on base or call for a pitchout. The program does not allow you to warm up a relief pitcher or visit the mound for a conference. Your only option is to substitute the current pitcher with a reliever. The “Hold Runner” function is included in version 6.

Artificial Intelligence – [4] The computer manager will generally pinch-hit and replace the pitcher at appropriate intervals in the game. Version 1 does not utilize left/right split stats, so the manager does not take the platoon advantage into account. One problem that I encountered in both V1 and V6… After pinch-hitting for my catcher with an outfielder, I was not prompted to adjust my defense (player out of position) so I inadvertently retained the outfielder as my catcher in the ninth inning. Version 6 includes the ability to edit and generate schedules. A highly customizable “Programmable Manager” grants the ability to fine-tune each skipper’s tendencies.

Box Score – [4] In version 1, the post-game box score contains 5 screens: the line score, the visitor and home batting results, along with the pitching results for both teams. Wild pitches, passed balls and balks are omitted. The user may print the box score and/or compile statistics. If you choose the Compile option, you are prompted to insert a user-provided disk. You can select the Look At Compiled Stats option from the main menu. This provides an account of the team’s record along with the accumulated batting and pitching statistics (4 total screens) for the currently selected team. The game does not keep track of league standings. However it maintains each team’s won-loss record which appears when reviewing compiled statistics. Version 6 features expanded box scores and includes notes when an individual feat occurs. For example, in my 1977 replay, Mickey Rivers legged out a pair of three-base hits in ALCS Game 2. The first line at the top of the box score highlights this accomplishment – “M.RIVERS HIT MORE THAN 1 TRIPLE(S).”

Rosters – [4] – Version 1 affords the use of a 29-man roster (17 batters and 12 pitchers). You have the option to save lineups and load previously saved lineups. Roster sizes are expanded to 45 in version 6.

Statistics – [4] – In the original edition of Full Count Baseball, you can choose to create a new team, draft a team or edit an existing team. The program tracks the standard statistics – no more, no less. Version 6 offers the ability to trade players (batters for batters, pitchers for pitchers) and tracks advanced statistics as well as standard statistics.

Usage/Injuries/Ejections – [4] – I did not encounter any injuries or ejections during the 6 games that I played. You are prompted to select any players that are unavailable prior to entering lineups and choosing the starting pitchers for the current match. I also noticed a ‘-T-‘ next to several of my relievers during the fifth game. I don’t have a copy of the manual but assume that indicated that they were (T)ired. Version 6 allows the user to toggle injuries and pitcher fatigue on/off for a game or entire season.

Ballparks / Park Factors – [4] – Version 1 does not appear to account for any park factors and you do not have the ability to select different ballparks. Version 6 allows you to specify the ballpark after selecting lineups and starting pitchers. Park and weather effects are incorporated into V6.

Commentary – [3] – The commentary appears on the bottom third of the screen, replacing the strategy menus when the ball is in play. There is a brief delay between sentences. The descriptions and variety are minimal. “Franco hits a deep fly ball to CF… Double… Throwing error by O. McDowell.” In version 6, the play-by-play appears in the middle of the screen. A nice touch is the ability to enter umpire names. This feature is only utilized in the commentary and box scores (you can’t enter umpire tendencies, for instance.)

Scale:  Ratings from 1 (worst) to 5 (best)

Full Count Baseball (version 1) – Total Score: 17 out of 50

Full Count Baseball 6.0 – Total Score: 33 out of 50

Observations

Full Count Baseball evokes memories of SSI Computer Baseball and Computer Statis Pro Baseball and offers a straight-forward rendition of our National Pastime – enjoyable but lacking in some of the bells and whistles offered by competitors during that timeframe. Later editions built upon the original’s foundation with the features necessary to cement FCBB’s standing in the text-only simulation market. I haven’t had any success locating versions 2 through 5 so please reply in the comments if you’ve played those iterations of the game.

Be sure to check out Jason Leonard’s website, LHGAMES.net, where he offers Full Count Baseball v6 for current Windows, Macintosh and Linux operation systems!

Please add a comment below if you spent a significant amount of time and/or have any recollections of Full Count Baseball.

Screenshots

Full Count Baseball (version 1)

Full Count Baseball 6.0

Articles in the Series

	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

Additional Links

Full Count Baseball 6.0 – https://archive.org/details/msdos_Full_Count_Baseball_1994

Playthrough – HardballRetro

Fisher, Lew and Eric Faust. “Full Count Baseball.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 37, May 1987, p26. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_37.pdf

McCauley, Dennis. “Atop the Mound: Baseball Slides Head-First Into Your PC”. Computer Gaming World. July 1996. p76. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_144.pdf

Trunzo, James V. “Lance Haffner Games.” Compute! Issue 83, April 1987, p66.      https://archive.org/details/1987-04-compute-magazine

https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc-booter/full-count-baseball

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Architects – Volume 1 (American League)“, published in July 2020 and
“Hardball Architects – Volume 2 (National League)”, published in April 2022, examine the trades, free agent acquisitions, draft picks and other transactions for the 30 Major League Baseball franchises, divided into a 2-volume set. Both books are available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. All key moves are scrutinized for every team and Sabermetric principles are applied to the roster construction throughout the lifetime of the organization to encapsulate the hits and misses by front office executives. Team performances are analyzed based on transaction type with graphs depicting the WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in every decade. Individual results for each player-transaction is charted over the duration of their stint with the franchise. Every team chapter includes All-Time Rosters and Single-Season Leaders based on transaction type. The Team Trade Record chronicles the WAR and WS (Win Shares) accumulated by players acquired in comparison to those traded to opposing teams. The opening chapter is devoted to the Evolution of the General Manager and incorporates a discussion with former Dodgers GM Fred Claire (along with former Angels and Red Sox GM Mike Port and current Reds GM Nick Krall in Volume 2) on a variety of front office topics.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com.  Hardball Retroactive is a modest collection of selected articles that I have written for Seamheads.com along with my Baseball Analytics blog since 2010. Exclusive content includes the chapter on “Minors vs. Majors” which assesses every franchise’s minor league successes and failures in relation to their major league operations.

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com. In Hardball Retrospective, I placed every ballplayer in the modern era (from 1901-present) on their original teams. Using a variety of advanced statistics and methods, I generated revised standings for each season based entirely on the performance of each team’s “original” players. I discuss every team’s “original” players and seasons at length along with organizational performance with respect to the Amateur Draft (or First-Year Player Draft), amateur free agent signings and other methods of player acquisition. Season standings, WAR and Win Shares totals for the “original” teams are compared against the real-time or “actual” team results to assess each franchise’s scouting, development and general management skills.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here. 

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. 

Note: article originally posted on January 25, 2020.

The current article reflects revisions posted in August 2022:

• Full Count Baseball 6.0 credits, review, ratings, screenshots, additional links
• interview with programmer and designer Lance Haffner

Amiga version:

IBM version:

Publisher – Electronic Arts

Release Year – 1987

Platforms – Amiga, Apple ][, IBM PC, Macintosh

Credits

Review

Earl Weaver Baseball represented a transformation in the computer baseball gaming experience from a text-based or minimally animated exercise into an authentic re-creation of America’s Pastime. From the realism of the statistical engine to the striking audio and visual effects, EWB signified a tremendous leap forward in sports simulations and set an extremely high bar that most challengers in the past 3 decades have failed to achieve. When I first cast my gaze upon the Amiga version, I was captivated by the sound effects, speech and graphics. After playing a few series I discovered that the variety of strategic options, ability to create ballparks and the accurate game outcomes contributed to a remarkable product unlike anything I had seen before. Many years later, I purchased an Amiga 500 for the sole purpose of playing this game. However in 1987 I had to settle for the Apple ][ version (which omitted several key features due to memory constraints). I regrettably sold my Apple ][e Enhanced system in the early Nineties. Although I currently have the Amiga and IBM versions, I’m using emulation for the sake of convenience. In order to provide an objective comparison of the versions I scheduled a series against Earl using both the IBM (PC / MS-DOS) edition and Amiga games.

The IBM series featured the teams that lost the 1982 AL and NL Championship matchups in a what-if World Series – Atlanta Braves vs. California Angels. I managed the Angels squad while “Earl” skippered the Bravos. After selecting the teams and game options, I was prompted to enter my season ticket number from the wheel of copy protection:

After selecting the starting pitchers and lineups, Game 1 was underway. Geoff Zahn (18-8, 3.73) took the mound for the home team against veteran knuckleballer Phil Niekro (17-4, 3.61). Claudell Washington split the defenders in left-center field gap and the ball rolled all the way to the wall. Fred Lynn retrieved the ball but Washington raced around the bases and beat the relay throw for an inside-the-park homer! Zahn settled in and retired the next 3 Braves in order. Brian Downing laced a flutterball into the right field corner for a two-bagger to lead off the bottom of the first for the Halos. Rod Carew walked and was promptly erased on a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop as Reggie Jackson safely reached base. With runners on the corners and one away, Fred Lynn drew a walk to load the bases. Don Baylor ripped a two-hopper to Rafael Ramirez at short, forcing Lynn at second. Baylor beat the relay to first as Downing crossed home plate, knotting the score at 1-1. Doug DeCinces hit into a 6-4 force at second base for the final out. In the home third, Carew and Jackson blooped successive singles in front of Washington to set up a first-and-third situation for Lynn with one down. Hubbard scooped up Lynn’s slow roller and flipped to Ramirez for the second out, but the relay was too late allowing Carew to cruise home as the Angels took a 2-1 lead. Braves’ third baseman Jerry Royster sparked a rally in the fifth with a single and a pair of stolen bases. Glenn Hubbard’s dribbler up the third base line was slow enough to score Royster with the tying run. Jackson and Lynn delivered back-to-back opposite-field doubles in the home half of the frame to re-take the lead. Atlanta roared back in the top of the sixth when Ramirez legged out an infield hit to third and Bob Horner lashed a two-base knock up the right-center field gap. Bob Watson tagged a long fly ball over the center field fence, giving Atlanta a 5-3 advantage. I gave the signal for the right-hander Don Aase as Zahn marched slowly to the dugout. Aase whiffed Terry Harper and Royster to end the inning. Bobby Grich smacked a double down the right-field line to open the bottom of the sixth and Tim Foli followed with a base hit to left, cutting the Braves’ lead to 5-4 as Foli advanced to second base on the throw home. Earl visited the mound but elected to leave Niekro in the game to face the #9 hitter, Bob Boone. California evened the score at 5 runs apiece when Boone delivered a solid single to left. Harper gobbled it up and fired home but Foli evaded the tag. Atlanta rallied again in the seventh when Hubbard singled up the middle and Aase plunked Bruce Benedict. Luis Sanchez entered the contest after Washington flied out to right and Hubbard tagged up to put runners on the corners with one out. Ramirez tripled to right-center, plating Hubbard and Benedict with the go-ahead runs. Sanchez issued an intentional pass to Dale Murphy. Horner followed with a ground-rule double to left and Watson supplied a sacrifice fly as the Braves tacked on two more runs. Earl brought Steve Bedrosian into the match in the bottom of the seventh as Atlanta had a four-run cushion. The Angels threatened when DeCinces cracked a double off the left field wall with one away, placing runners on second and third. “Bedrock” doused the blaze by striking out Grich and inducing pinch-hitter Ron Jackson to lift a harmless fly ball to right. Dave Goltz hurled a scoreless eighth for the Halos. Boone and Downing started the bottom of the frame with successive safeties to left. Carew tapped a slow roller towards first. Watson wheeled and fired to second base but Downing beat the throw. Jackson stepped to the dish with the sacks full and nobody out. He took a mighty cut but hit a three-hopper towards Hubbard, who shoveled to Ramirez to get the lead runner (Carew). Earl stormed from the dugout when the first-base umpire called Jackson safe on the relay throw. Boone crossed home plate on the play to bring California within 3 runs at 9-6. The subsequent play yielded another 4-6 fielder’s choice with Lynn safe at first and Downing scoring. Bedrosian struck out Baylor and the Braves retained a 9-7 lead. In the ninth, Grich coaxed a one-out walk and pinch-hitter Juan Beniquez knocked Bedrosian out of the game with a long double to left. Earl called upon Gene Garber to close out the contest.  Boone greeted Garber with a medium fly towards left-center. Grich and Beniquez tagged up on the play and witnessed a collision between Murphy and Harper. Murphy scrambled to recover the ball as Grich raced home and Beniquez scooted to third. On Murphy’s throw home, the potential winning run (Boone) tiptoed into second. The side-arming Garber whiffed Downing for the second out. Earl gestured towards his battery that he wanted to intentionally walk Carew. Garber and Benedict complied, bringing “Mr. October” to the plate in a bases loaded, 2 out, bottom of the ninth confrontation. Jackson’s patience paid off as Garber issued a base on balls to force in the tying run. Lynn drilled a hard grounder to Royster who fired down to Hubbard, sending the game into extra innings. Bruce Kison gave up back-to-back base hits to Harper and Royster to start the top of the tenth. Hubbard hit into a 4-6-3 double play with Harper advancing to third base. Benedict grounded out to Rob Wilfong at shortstop to suppress the threat.  Garber retired the Angels in order in the home half of the tenth and Kison returned the favor in the visitor’s eleventh. Beniquez sent Garber to the showers with a ground-rule double that one-hopped the right-center field fence. Earl summoned the left-hander Al Hrabosky to pitch to the veteran backstop Boone. “The Mad Hungarian” had trouble finding the plate and Boone drew a walk. Downing’s slow roller up the middle evaded Hrabosky’s glove and the Braves were only able to secure the out at second. Carew strolled to the dish with one out and runners at the corners. “Hungo” walked the perennial All-Star on four pitches. Wilfong lashed a line drive to right as the Angels walked off with a 10-9 victory!

Rick Mahler (9-10, 4.21) squared off against Ken Forsch (13-11, 3.87) in Game 2. Chris Chambliss lifted a fly ball to Reggie Jackson leading off the top of the second. The ball glanced off Jackson’s glove for a two-base error. Chambliss advanced to third on a fly out to right off the bat of Glenn Hubbard, then tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly by Larry Whisenton. California loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second inning on a fielder’s choice, an errant throw by Rafael Ramirez and a walk. Dale Murphy raced into foul territory to snare Brian Downing’s sky-high pop up to extricate Mahler.  In the third, Rod Carew flicked an opposite field two-base hit into the left field corner. “Mr. October” launched Mahler’s next offering into the right-center field bleachers for a 2-run jack. Fred Lynn legged out an infield hit and came all the way around from first when Don Baylor drilled a double up the gap in right-center. Doug DeCinces reached on Ramirez’s second error of the inning. Baylor scooted home on a Tim Foli groundout to increase the Angels’ advantage to 4-1. The Halos resumed their offensive barrage in the fourth. Downing led off with a single to center and Jackson drew a one-out walk. Lynn lofted a can of corn towards the right field line. Claudell Washington lost it in the sun and the ball bounced over the wall for a two-base error with Downing scored. Earl replaced Mahler with Pascual Perez. DeCinces drew a base on balls with two away but Grich grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the frame. Atlanta got a run back in the top of the fifth. Bruce Benedict lined a shot off Forsch’s hip. Forsch recovered but threw the ball past Carew for an error. Brett Butler hit a frozen rope to right-center sending Benedict to third, but Jackson cut down Butler when he tried to stretch a single into a double. Washington knocked in the Braves’ backstop with a three-hopper to second. Atlanta crept closer in the visitor’s sixth. DeCinces booted a hot smash off the bat of Bob Horner. Both runners were safe on a slow grounder by Chris Chambliss. After a walk to Whisenton loaded the bases with one out, Benedict beat the relay on a potential double-play ball to extend the inning and allow Horner to cross the plate. Butler batted into a 6-4 force with the Angels clinging to a 5-3 lead. California came storming back in the bottom half of the sixth. Carew and Jackson supplied back-to-back singles, then Lynn absolutely crushed a moon-shot to straightaway center. Earl grimaced and cussed at no one in particular as his favorite weapon, the 3-run homer, effectively extended the Angels advantage to 8-3. The Braves scratched a run across against Andy Hassler in the eighth when Benedict doubled into the right-field corner to knock in Chambliss. Washington skied a sacrifice fly to right to bring the Braves within 3 runs. Ramirez walloped reliever Doug Corbett’s sinker to the left field wall, but the sure-handed Downing gloved it to retire the side. In the top of the ninth, Corbett clipped Chambliss with a changeup then yielded a two-out double to Hubbard. Luis Sanchez relieved Corbett and induced pinch-hitter Jerry Royster to hit a slow roller towards the third base line. DeCinces fielded the ball and made a diving stab at Hubbard, who avoided the tag to keep the inning alive. Rufino Linares smacked a fly ball to medium center where Lynn corralled it for the final out. The Angels boarded a plane bound for Atlanta holding a 2-0 advantage in the Series.

A pair of young right-handers got the call in Game 3 as sophomore Mike Witt (8-6, 3.50) prepared for his first post-season assignment versus Bob Walk (11-9, 4.87). Atlanta handed the Halos a cheap run in the first when Walk failed to get out of the way on Don Baylor’s pop-up to the infield, resulting in a collision with Glenn Hubbard. The ball dropped untouched allowing Reggie Jackson to score from second base. Claudell Washington commenced the bottom of the first with a ringing double into the right field corner. Rafael Ramirez followed with an infield hit. Mike Witt struck out Dale Murphy with a knee-buckling curve, but he issued a free pass to Bob Horner to load the bases. The Braves tied the game on a wild pitch to Chris Chambliss as Washington scurried home. California put ducks on the pond in the top of the second after successive singles by Bobby Grich and Tim Foli. Bob Boone bunted the ball towards Walk who wheeled and fired to Horner at third base, but Grich avoided the tag. Brett Butler snagged Brian Downing’s long fly to center as Grich tagged and tallied the Angels’ second run. Rod Carew rapped a clean single past Horner and into left field to knock in Foli. Jackson whiffed then Fred Lynn walked to re-load the bases for Baylor. “Groove” took a healthy hack but fouled it high in the air behind home plate. Biff Pocoroba whipped off his catcher’s mask, ran back towards the screen and made a fancy sliding catch, eliciting cheers from the hometown crowd. Washington whacked a clean single to right, stole second and came around on a base hit to center by Murphy. Horner knotted the score at 3-3 with a bullet off the left field wall. Earl relieved Walk with two down in the fourth and two runners on base. Gene Garber struck out DeCinces to conclude the frame. Washington sliced a three-base hit up the left-center field gap with two away in the bottom of the fourth. Ramirez lined one sharply over Foli’s head to plate Washington with the go-ahead run. Murphy dunked a bloop double that hugged the left field line, advancing Ramirez to third. Witt delivered four consecutive balls to Horner. Down 4-3 with the sacks full of Braves, I brought Steve Renko in to face Chambliss. Foli flawlessly fielded Chambliss’ bounding ball to short and flipped to Grich for the force at second. Facing Al Hrabosky to start the top of the eighth, Foli cracked a two-bagger that one-hopped the left field wall. Pinch-hitter Ron Jackson and Downing hit consecutive groundouts that prevented Foli from advancing. Carew drew a walk, bringing Jackson to the plate with the tying run in scoring position. “Mr. October” served a soft single to center and Foli zipped home to tie the game at 4-4. “Hungo” rebounded to strike out Lynn. Ken Dayley relieved Hrabosky in the top of the ninth. Baylor led off with a screaming liner towards right-center that Washington misplayed into a three-base error. The Angels immediately capitalized when DeCinces thumped a low liner back through the box and into center for a base hit. Baylor trotted home as California took the 5-4 lead. Grich’s fourth hit of the contest sailed into the left field seats to endow the visitors with a 3-run cushion. Joe Ferguson left the yard with a solo shot to left-center, prompting Earl to call down to the pen for another arm. Rick Camp jogged to the mound to face the top of the order. Downing hit a high chopper behind third. Horner fielded the ball and airmailed it into the first-base stands for a 2-base error. Camp retired Carew on an easy two-hopper to short, then yielded to southpaw Carlos Diaz. Luis Sanchez closed out the ninth, allowing only a two-out single to Chambliss. The Braves fell behind 3 games to none in the Series, setting the stage for a possible sweep by the visiting club.

Geoff Zahn and Phil Niekro opposed each other in a rematch of Game 1 starters. Rod Carew and Reggie Jackson generated back-to-back safeties to place runners on the corners with one away in the opening frame, but “Knucksie” escaped the jam without conceding a run. Claudell Washington walked, swiped second and scored on a triple by Rafael Ramirez. An infield hit to deep short by Dale Murphy plated Ramirez with the Braves’ second run. Chris Chambliss rocked a two-base hit into the right field corner and Atlanta led 3-0. Brian Downing swatted an opposite field big-fly leading off the visitor’s third. Two-out safeties by Fred Lynn and Doug DeCinces followed by a base on balls to Bobby Grich provided a golden opportunity to Don Baylor. Niekro presented another Houdini act as “Groove” lofted an innocuous fly to Rufino Linares in left field, who camped under it and made the catch for the final out. Ramirez beat out a dribbler to DeCinces, pilfered second and recorded a tally on a double to right-center by third-sacker Bob Horner. Bob Watson slashed a two-bagger with two outs to extend the Atlanta advantage to 5-1. California rallied in the top of the fifth. Jackson registered an infield single and Lynn pounded a double down the line in right. A sacrifice fly to left by DeCinces brought the Angels within 3 runs. Grich grounded out to Ramirez allowing Lynn to score. Dave Goltz relieved Zahn to commence the bottom of the fifth with the Angels trailing 5-3. Ramirez laced his third base hit to right and Murphy walked. Horner put a charge into a Goltz fastball but Lynn flagged it down in deep center as Ramirez tagged up and cruised into third. Watson’s looping liner evaded Tim Foli’s outstretched glove, increasing the Atlanta lead to 6-3. Niekro issued a free pass to Jackson to open the seventh. Lynn thumped a sharp single to center, bringing DeCinces to the dish as the potential tying run. The wily veteran held the Halos at bay once again, provoking a weak fly ball to right by DeCinces and a two-hopper by Grich to his opposite number (Glenn Hubbard). Baylor opened the eighth with a base hit to left. Al Hrabosky relieved Niekro and promptly served up a single to pinch-hitter Juan Beniquez. Baylor scored when Ron Jackson bounced a high chopper behind third for an infield hit. Downing batted into a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play, with Beniquez advancing to third. Carew rapped a base hit up the middle, cutting the Braves’ lead to a lone run. Jackson tied the game when his long blast to center sailed over Murphy’s head and one-hopped the wall as Carew dashed around the bases. Lynn drew a walk but DeCinces struck out to quash the rally. Doug Corbett allowed a two-out double to Bruce Benedict, then pinch-hitter Jerry Royster ripped a single to center to knock in the go-ahead run. Earl called upon Pascual Perez in the top of the ninth. Beniquez and “Papa Jack” supplied consecutive two-out singles, placing runners on first and third. Steve Bedrosian entered the match to face Downing. The Halos pulled even at 7-7 when a laser beam off the bat of Downing pierced the left field wall. A subsequent bloop hit to center by Carew tallied 2 more runs for the visiting squad. Earl came out to argue the call at home plate, kicking up a severe dust storm in the process. Bruce Kison shut down the hometown Braves in the final frame as Watson flew out to Downing to end the Series. California claimed the World Championship with a 4-game sweep!

Using the 1988 Team Disk for the Amiga series, I elected to match up the worst teams in the American League (Mariners vs. Orioles) in the Battle for the Basement. Flamethrower Mark Langston (15-11, 3.34) faced off against junkballer Jeff Ballard (8-12, 4.40) in Game 1. Bill Ripken rocked a one-out double to the base of the center field wall at the Kingdome with one out in the opening frame. Langston settled down and retired Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray to end the inning. Alvin Davis scorched a changeup off the right field fence for a long single leading off the bottom of the second. Ballard set down the next 6 Mariners in order until Henry Cotto dialed long distance in home half of the fourth. Successive singles by Fred Lynn and Rick Schu gave the O’s a first-and-third situation with one away in the fifth. Langston escaped the jam when Rene Gonzales and Pete Stanicek lofted shallow flies to left. Glenn Wilson dove headfirst into the bag to sneak in safely with a two-base hit under Bill Ripken’s tag. Harold Reynolds’ soft liner to left barely evaded the reach of the “Iron Man”. Wilson was running at the crack of the bat with two outs and scored easily while Reynolds sprinted into second on the throw home. Steve “Bye-Bye” Balboni hammered a deep drive down the left field line which crashed into the second deck, extending the M’s lead to 3-0 with 2 outs in the bottom of the sixth. Baltimore rallied with 3 straight safeties off the bats of Rene Gonzales, Pete Stanicek and Bill Ripken to open the eighth. Michael Jackson came on to duel Cal Ripken in relief of Langston. “Rip” took a mighty cut and struck out swinging on a slider. Murray belted Jackson’s next pitch towards right-center but Wilson made the catch. Gonzales tagged up and scurried homeward to put the O’s on the board. Wilson camped under Mickey Tettleton’s fly ball to close out the inning with the Mariners holding a 3-1 advantage. Mickey Brantley drilled a two-bagger off the base of the center field wall. Earl visited the mound and opted for Doug Sisk to replace Ballard. Davis walked on four pitches. Balboni delivered an insurance run with a ringing single to left-center. Scott Bradley batted for Dave Valle and Earl countered with the lefty Mark Thurmond. Bradley lobbed a soft liner to left, scoring Davis. Another pitching change ensued as Tom Niedenfuer trotted in from the pen. Wilson hit a weak grounder to second and the Ripken brothers completed the force play. Mike Schooler entered the game in a non-save situation. Lynn flied out to the warning track in right and pinch-hitter Joe Orsulak whiffed, but Reynolds dropped an infield fly off the bat of Larry Sheets to keep the Orioles’ hopes alive. Gonzales whacked a sizzling three-hopper to short which was scooped up by Rey Quiñones and fired to Reynolds covering second base for the final out.

Rookie right-hander Jose J. Bautista (6-15, 4.30) headed to the mound for the Orioles in Game 2 to face veteran Mike Moore (9-15, 3.78). Baltimore set up a potential scoring opportunity in the top of the second when Larry Sheets doubled to deep center after Eddie Murray led off the frame with a sharp single to right. Fred Lynn plated “Steady Eddie” with a ringing single over the outstretched glove of Harold Reynolds. Moore avoided further damage with a shallow pop fly and a pair of strikeouts. Larry Sheets laced an opposite-field single down the left field line to knock in Brady Anderson in the top of the third with the O’s second run. Bautista worked around a single, a balk and a walk in the fourth to maintain the 2-0 advantage. Murray belted a 2-run round-tripper to left-center, doubling the Orioles’ lead to 4-0. Seattle got on the board when Henry Cotto rapped a two-base hit and came around to score on a Bill Ripken throwing error. Alvin Davis brought the M’s within one, crushing a 2-run shot to right off Bautista with one out in the bottom of the sixth. In the seventh, Reynolds rapped a double down the left field line but the third base coach wisely held Jim Presley at third. Bautista buckled down and retired Cotto on a medium fly to Lynn in left field. Brady Anderson opened the top of the eighth with a double to center off M’s reliever Jerry Reed. Anderson took off for third base on a stolen base attempt and Scott Bradley’s errant throw sailed past Presley into left field. Anderson quickly rose to his feet and scampered home to add a run to Baltimore’s tally. Reed got into further trouble by walking Murray and plunking Sheets. Bill Wilkinson entered the contest and induced Lynn to hit into a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Kennedy punched a routine grounder to short that Rey Quiñones booted as Murray glided home. Seattle went quietly in the ninth as Bautista completed an eight-hit, 6-3 victory to even the Series at one game apiece.

Both teams hopped on cross-country flights bound for Baltimore. The Series resumed one day later at Memorial Stadium where Scott Bankhead (7-9, 3.07) prepared to oppose Jay Tibbs (4-15, 5.39). A solo blast to right-center by Bill Ripken put the home team on the board in the bottom of the third. Neither team mustered any offensive threats until the top of the ninth. Tibbs was masterful through eight scoreless frames, limiting the Seattle lumberjacks to 3 singles. Henry Cotto, pinch-hitting for Bruce Fields to start the visitor’s half of the ninth, doubled up the right-center field gap. Earl signaled for right-hander Tom Niedenfuer to succeed Tibbs on the mound. The crowd roared and Tibbs tipped his cap as he walked off the mound. Mickey Brantley timed Niedenfuer’s heater perfectly and smoked a single past Cal Ripken Jr. Cotto raced towards home and deftly maneuvered around Terry Kennedy’s swipe tag to tie the game at 1-1. Clearly agitated by the turn of events, Earl bolted out of the dugout and yanked Niedenfuer in favor of Doug Sisk. Alvin Davis delivered a safety up the middle, moving the go-ahead run into scoring position with nobody out. Steve Balboni lashed a long single to left-center off southpaw Mark Thurmond as Brantley came around to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead. Pinch-hitter Jay Buhner grounded into a fielder’s choice but beat the relay throw to first. Earl chewed out the first base umpire, then called upon his fourth reliever of the inning, Don Aase. Jim Presley pulled the ball through the hole between short and third, extending the M’s advantage to 3-1. Mike Schooler entered the contest to do battle against the heart of the O’s order in the bottom of the ninth. He plunked Ripken in the ribs with a slider. Eddie Murray hit into a fielder’s choice and Jim Traber flew out to right field. Fred Lynn drilled a line drive to right but Mike Kingery snared it as the Mariners reclaimed the Series lead at 2 games to 1.

Mark Langston and Jeff Ballard toed the rubber in a rematch of Game 1 starters. Harold Reynolds led off with a sharp single to left and promptly stole second. Ballard issued a one-out walk to Mickey Brantley, then Alvin Davis plated Reynolds on a low liner to right field. Brantley scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Steve Balboni to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead. Baltimore rallied in the bottom of the fourth when Mickey Tettleton blasted a two-bagger off the warning track in center field, scoring Cal Ripken Jr. to cut the M’s lead in half. In the bottom of the seventh, Tettleton coaxed a base on balls. Fred Lynn, batting for Larry Sheets, surprised everyone with a two-strike bunt down the third base line for an infield hit. Rene Gonzales drove Langston’s heater down towards the left field corner. Brantley quickly cut off the ball and relayed it back to the infield, but “Froot Loops” easily cruised home with the tying run. Stanicek drew a walk to load the bases, but Bill Ripken lifted a routine fly ball which settled into Brantley’s glove to end the inning. Reynolds started the eighth with a base hit back through the box and swiped second. Ballard retired the next 3 Mariners in order to maintain the 2-2 tie. Mike Jackson hurled a clean inning for the M’s as Langston headed for the showers after 7 solid innings. Steve Balboni took a free pass to commence the ninth frame. Ballard’s 0-2 changeup struck Dave Valle in the left elbow, moving pinch-runner Mike Kingery into scoring position. None of which mattered when Jay Buhner connected on a mammoth 3-run home run that cleared the left-center field bleachers! Mike Schooler struck out 2 of the 3 batters that he faced to notch the save in Seattle’s 5-2 victory.

Baltimore attempted to stave off elimination as Seattle held a convincing 3 games to 1 advantage heading into Game 5. Mike Moore finished his pre-game bullpen session while rookie right-hander Oswaldo Peraza (5-7, 5.55) fired his warm-up tosses. The umpire bellowed “Play Ball!” and Harold Reynolds stepped into the batter’s box. Peraza set the M’s down in order. Joe Orsulak led off the bottom of the first with a one-hop double against the right-center field wall. He moved to third on a grounder to second off the bat of Brady Anderson. Cal Ripken Jr. delivered a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Orsulak to tag up and score effortlessly. Mickey Tettleton rocked a two-base hit over Glenn Wilson’s head following an Eddie Murray single, setting up a second-and-third with two outs situation for Fred Lynn. I held an impromptu conference on the mound to settle Moore down. Lynn hit a hot smash towards third but Jim Presley smothered it and threw over to first to minimize the damage. Presley walloped a Peraza fastball off the center field scoreboard, knotting the score at 1-1. Seattle loaded the bases with a hit batsmen (Rey Quiñones) and consecutive singles by Reynolds and Cotto to open the sixth. Mickey Brantley’s chopper was fielded cleanly by Peraza, who flipped the ball to Terry Kennedy for the out at home plate. Alvin Davis slapped a slow grounder up the middle and the Ripken brothers got the force at second, but Reynolds raced home for the go-ahead run. Bill Wilkinson, Jerry Reed, Mike Jackson and Mike Schooler each hurled scoreless frames in relief of Moore to clinch the Series as the Mariners edged the Orioles in the finale, 2 to 1.

Ratings

Graphics – [5] As the pitcher delivers the ball towards home plate, we are treated to a split-screen view with the playing field on two-thirds of the display (left side) and the batter-pitcher matchup in the rightmost section (the view of the right fielder is obscured). The scoreboard is positioned at the top of the screen, indicating the total runs, hits and errors for both teams along with the inning, number of outs and the ball-strike count on the present batter. In the batter-pitcher segment, the current hitter’s actual batting average, home runs and RBI are posted as well as his runner (speed) rating while the hurler’s ERA, won-loss record and fatigue rating are revealed. Once the ball is put into play or another event results in baserunner movement, the split screen disappears in favor of a full field view. The animation of the players is very fluid and smooth. Umpires signal out or safe, baserunners slide and fielders move their gloves into position at the last second. The close-up batter-pitcher confrontation is lifelike, a great achievement giving the state of personal computer graphics in mid-Eighties. The Instant Replay option allows you to review the previous play in real-time or slow motion (frame-by-frame).

Sound – [5] The Amiga and IBM versions perform John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” during the introduction and as the batter rounds the bases during a home run trot. The music in the IBM game is a series of bleeps and bloops while the Amiga edition faithfully emulates the actual instruments. Similarly the IBM sound effects are fairly minimal in contrast to sweet resonances emanating from the Amiga such as the authentic crack of the bat, roar of the crowd or a ball nestling in a glove. Additionally the Amiga incorporates speech synthesis from the umpire’s calls to the enunciation of player names prior to each at-bat.

Strategy – [4] You can get fairly granular when adjusting your fielders’ depth and position. You cannot shift an infielder beyond the second base bag (i.e. no extreme shifts with 3 infielders on one side of the infield). As a manager, you have the ability to pitch around a hitter, have one or both corner infielders charge on a bunt attempt and determine baserunner aggressiveness. The squeeze play is an option and you can tell one or more baserunners to attempt a stolen base.

Artificial Intelligence – [4] Earl essentially made appropriate decisions with regards to batter and pitcher substitutions. The computer manager applied suitable in-game strategies such as when to bunt, hit-and-run and steal on offense or fielder positioning and intentional walks on defense.

Box Score – [4] The upper half of the post-game screen depicts the line score including innings, time, attendance, double plays and game-winning RBI along with the pitchers credited with the win, loss and save (if applicable). The lower-left corner allows the user to select the visitor or home sections of the box scores (batting and pitching) while the lower-right offers the ability to toggle output between the screen, printer or disk, view an instant or slow-motion replay from the final play of the game, Update Players Stats and/or Update W/L Records. The batting box score is enumerated in the correct order. However first names (or initials) are absent, making it difficult to differentiate between players with the same last name. The omission of defensive positions in the box score is an unfortunate oversight. The standard offensive statistics are compiled along with sacrifice hits, caught stealing, errors and passed balls while hit batsmen, wild pitches and balks are recorded with the conventional pitching data.

Rosters – [3] – Each team is permitted a 25-man roster. You can enter split statistics for batters and pitchers to indicate how they fare against righties and lefties. Each player is rated in several categories on a 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent) scale. Batter ratings include Power, Hit & Run, Bunt, Runs, Range and Arm while pitchers are graded on Speed (Velocity), Control, Fatigue, Bunt and Fielding ability. Players can be drafted, traded and cloned. In the Amiga version only, you can modify the phonemes for each player to tweak the pronunciation of their first and last name.

Statistics – [4] – Upon conclusion of a “League” game, the user has the ability to Update Players Stats and/or Update W/L Records. You can display actual and accumulated stats and standings using the main program. The optional (but highly recommended) Commissioner’s Disk affords the end-user with additional enhancements to the main Earl Weaver Baseball software. You can modify split and total statistics for any player using the Advanced Stats Editor. View and print the actual or accumulated statistics by individuals and teams, change the sort method (overall or by position) and specify minimum at-bats or innings pitched via the Advanced Stats Display. Accumulated statistics are merged into a single file using the Combine Accumulated Stats option. You may bestow days off to entire divisions, teams or individual players with Grant Days Off. This allows you to simulate travel days or modify injury status. Teams, divisions and league names can be modified via the League/Division Editor. Schedules can be created and sent to a printer, disk or the screen. With the exception of the IBM version, Earl Weaver Baseball does not adhere to generated schedules within the game program – this option simply allows you to generate a schedule that you will need to track manually. Create A Brand New League and Draft A League permit the creation of new leagues from scratch and the selection of players from an existing team disk. This utility allows you to trade, sign and cut players from a team’s roster.

Usage/Injuries/Ejections – [4] – Injuries can occur during the game (the user can toggle this feature on or off). Injured and fatigued players are denoted prior to each contest with the number of games that they are unavailable. This can be modified using the “Grant Days Off” option. The manager will argue an umpire’s call on occasion but I don’t believe players or managers can be ejected from the game.

Ballparks / Park Factors – [5] – 32 ballparks are included with the game – the 26 parks that were utilized in the late Eighties along with the Polo Grounds and 5 imaginary stadiums. The Commissioner’s Disk includes Advanced Ball Park Editor. You can fine-tune park factors (wind direction and speed), stadium dimensions (distance to fences, wall height and color, number of decks, foul ball area), capacity and turf type.

Commentary – [4] – The announcer in the Amiga version keeps us informed through the built-in speech synthesis with regards to the current batter (“At bat.. Cal Ripken”) as well as any player substitutions (“Now pitching.. Lee Smith”). When the computer manager calls down to the bullpen, the human manager is notified: “Earl’s got.. Kent Tekulve.. throwing in the pen”. During a pitching change – “Earl’s taking out.. Ron Guidry… Dave Righetti .. is now in the game.” In the Apple and IBM editions, the commentary scrolls across the center of the screen before any action takes place.

Scale:  Ratings from 1 (worst) to 5 (best)

Total Score: 42 out of 50

Observations

Earl Weaver Baseball offers an engaging computer baseball game that will stimulate your mind and your senses. Despite evolutions in console and computer processing power in addition to sound and graphics capabilities over the past 30+ years, I consistently find myself returning to EWB. Other games have come close and even surpassed EWB in certain respects, but this game just feels like baseball to me.

There are several key differences between the Amiga, IBM and Apple versions of EWB. The Amiga game utilizes the built-in speech synthesis and features the best graphics, sound and music. The Apple edition only comes with 2 teams (AL 00-30 and NL 00-30) and the game manual enumerates a number of glitches that were present at the time of release. The bugs include issues with the recording of strikes, errors and hit types along with several visual anomalies (fielders running through walls, balls rolling off the screen). I’m not sure if a patch was released to correct any of those flaws. With regards to the IBM version, I have EWB 1.5 and the manual references versions 1.0 and 1.1. According to designer and programmer Eddie Dombrower, version 1.1 addressed “several minor bug fixes” while 1.5 provided “some additional graphics and audio enhancements (like newer/additional sound card support) and possibly even an additional graphics resolution update”.

In the process of researching this article, I stumbled upon several references and a video of a prototype of Earl Weaver Baseball for the Sega Genesis. According to Mr. Dombrower, “While we were working on EWB 2, we were working on a Genesis version of EWB which, for reasons I cannot recall, never got finished and/or released.” The video confirms a 1991 copyright date and the EWB computer versions received many accolades, so I can’t imagine why Electronic Arts cancelled this project. EA whiffed on that decision!

Please add a comment below if you spent a significant amount of time and/or have any recollections of Earl Weaver Baseball.

Screenshots

Earl Weaver Baseball (Amiga version)

Earl Weaver Baseball (IBM version)

Articles in the Series

	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

Additional Links

Play Earl Weaver Baseball in your browser! –

https://archive.org/details/msdos_Earl_Weaver_Baseball_1987 *-copy protection code wheel required

Playthroughs – Hardball Retro

Computer Chronicles – “Games” episode (1987) – Eddie Dombrower demonstrates Earl Weaver Baseball on an Amiga 1000 (14:50 – 19:45).

SABR Stay at Home – Don Daglow

SABR Stay at Home – Eddie Dombrower

SeasonTool utility by Daniel Guenther – for use with one of the older (pre-2005) versions of the Lahman Baseball database (comma-delimited file) to import 1901-2005 seasons into EWB 1.5. Just follow the instructions in the SeasonTool readme file! -> http://www.jtc-ufo.com/ewb/

Connor, Peter. “Screen Test – Earl Weaver Baseball.” Advanced Computer Entertainment. October 1987, Issue 1, p68-69. https://archive.org/details/ACE_Issue_01_1987-10_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n67

Dombrower, Eddie. Text message to author. 27 Dec. 2019 and 2 Jan. 2020.

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

https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-49/page/n85

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

https://magazine.pomona.edu/2013/summer/putting-bytes-into-the-old-ball-game/

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

https://archive.org/details/05-commodore-magazine/page/n49

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

https://archive.org/stream/DragonMagazine260_201801/DragonMagazine126#page/n85/mode/1up

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

https://archive.org/stream/DragonMagazine260_201801/DragonMagazine127#page/n79/mode/1up

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

https://archive.org/stream/DragonMagazine260_201801/DragonMagazine132#page/n84/mode/1up

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

https://archive.org/details/1989-10-compute-magazine/page/n116

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

https://archive.org/stream/1988-02-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_093_1988_Feb#page/n49/mode/1up

Sipe, Russell and Johnny Wilson. “An Interview With Earl Weaver.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 36,

April 1987, p36-39.  http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_36.pdf

Wilson, Johnny. “Bezbol Been Berry, Berry Good To Me!” Computer Gaming World. Volume 36,

April 1987, p6-8.  http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_36.pdf

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

https://web.archive.org/web/20050904184735/http://www.sportplanet.com/features/articles/ewb

Shot97. “Earl Weaver Baseball Review.” AmigaLove. October 9, 2021.

https://www.amigalove.com/viewtopic.php?t=2010

FAQ – https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/564318-earl-weaver-baseball/faqs/21689

https://amigalove.com/games.php?game_id=22

https://www.mobygames.com/game/earl-weaver-baseball

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKp_fP06f0Q&t=7s (Earl Weaver Baseball – Amiga gameplay video by TheBaldingChimp)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWDHbPgc4ck (Earl Weaver Baseball – Apple ][ gameplay video by TheVideogameDatabase)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s3Gq8d-X7o (Earl Weaver Baseball – IBM PC gameplay video by Squakenet)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s2LDanhlz4 (Earl Weaver Baseball – Sega Genesis prototype video by azn3349)

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Architects – Volume 1 (American League)“, published in July 2020 and
“Hardball Architects – Volume 2 (National League)”, published in April 2022, examine the trades, free agent acquisitions, draft picks and other transactions for the 30 Major League Baseball franchises, divided into a 2-volume set. Both books are available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. All key moves are scrutinized for every team and Sabermetric principles are applied to the roster construction throughout the lifetime of the organization to encapsulate the hits and misses by front office executives. Team performances are analyzed based on transaction type with graphs depicting the WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in every decade. Individual results for each player-transaction is charted over the duration of their stint with the franchise. Every team chapter includes All-Time Rosters and Single-Season Leaders based on transaction type. The Team Trade Record chronicles the WAR and WS (Win Shares) accumulated by players acquired in comparison to those traded to opposing teams. The opening chapter is devoted to the Evolution of the General Manager and incorporates a discussion with former Dodgers GM Fred Claire (along with former Angels and Red Sox GM Mike Port and current Reds GM Nick Krall in Volume 2) on a variety of front office topics.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com.  Hardball Retroactive is a modest collection of selected articles that I have written for Seamheads.com along with my Baseball Analytics blog since 2010. Exclusive content includes the chapter on “Minors vs. Majors” which assesses every franchise’s minor league successes and failures in relation to their major league operations.

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com. In Hardball Retrospective, I placed every ballplayer in the modern era (from 1901-present) on their original teams. Using a variety of advanced statistics and methods, I generated revised standings for each season based entirely on the performance of each team’s “original” players. I discuss every team’s “original” players and seasons at length along with organizational performance with respect to the Amateur Draft (or First-Year Player Draft), amateur free agent signings and other methods of player acquisition. Season standings, WAR and Win Shares totals for the “original” teams are compared against the real-time or “actual” team results to assess each franchise’s scouting, development and general management skills.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here. 

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. 

Publisher – Electronic Arts

Release Year – 1986

Platforms – IBM PC

Credits

Review

Radio Baseball eschews the graphical rendering of a ballgame in favor of re-creating the sensation of listening to an entire contest over the airwaves through the use of vivid play-by-play descriptions. The simulation encompasses an array of statistical and strategy options that were only found in the rival product, “APBA Major League Players Baseball”. I hope to review the APBA game in the near future, however the Apple version is missing the flip side of the Team Disk and I don’t have the IBM (MS-DOS) version circa 1985.

Through the magic of emulation I was able to spin up a series of Radio Baseball contests using DosBox. Upon starting Radio Baseball the user is greeted by the Pre-Game Options menu. I chose to “Begin a New Game” then had to pick the visiting and home clubs from 2 team sets. The “Superstars” set encompasses the Greats, Heroes, Legends and Stars while the “Champs” include 8 former World Series winners.  I elected to manage the “Greats” and the computer manager (Abner) will be the skipper for the “Stars” squad. On the game settings menu I enabled the Designated Hitter rule, sound and league game (so I could view compiled statistics and standings later). The human manager(s) can enter their name when asked “Who will manage this team?” During pre-game, you have the option to bench players who are ineligible due to injury or fatigue. A feature that might be useful for novices was presented: “When the Stars team is up, do you want Abner to reveal before each play if his team will hit away, steal, bunt, or hit-and-run?” The Game Mode screen allows you to select either Regular or Fast Play. Regular delivers the play-by-play descriptions with several seconds of delay between each line while Fast reduces the pause. There are 2 saved lineups available for every team or you can enter your own lineup. In both cases you may adjust the defensive positions and/or lineup slots prior to game time. Another interesting feature is the ability to select baserunners who will have the “green light” during today’s contest, allowing them to use their own judgment whether to steal a base. This choice can be modified in-game. Finally you have an option to print scorecards before the contest begins.

Bob Feller took the mound for the “Greats” against the “Stars” ace Sandy Koufax. Mickey Mantle pulled an inside fastball down the left-field line for a two-out double. Koufax whiffed Joe DiMaggio to strike out the side. With one out in the bottom of the third, Jackie Robinson legged out a triple to right-center field. “Rapid Robert” struck out Willie Mays and induced Stan Musial to ground out to Joe Gordon.  Koufax struck out the side in order (Ted Williams, Mantle, DiMaggio) to cruise through the fourth frame. Hank Aaron stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the fourth. “Aaron hits the ball deep into left… Chasing back is Williams… GOODBYE!! Aaron hits it over the boards! Hank runs around the bases.” Eddie Mathews tried to follow in “Hammer’s” footsteps. “Mathews takes Feller deep to left. Williams is at the wall… He jumps… Williams makes an incredible catch for the out!” Roy Campanella jumped all over a hanging curve ball from Feller: “Campanella hits it deep into left… Going back is Williams… He’s running out of room… This ball just might get out of here… ADIOS!! Campanella hits it over the boards! Roy runs around the bases.” Joe Morgan coaxed a base on balls, prompting a mound visit. Hoyt Wilhelm started throwing in the Greats bullpen as I strolled to the mound and advised Feller to stop serving up long balls. Feller thanked me sarcastically for my words of wisdom and I returned to the corner of the dugout. Pee Wee Reese hit a two-hopper to Luis Aparicio to end the threat as the Stars led 2-0. Koufax was masterful, striking out 10 Greats through 5 innings and allowing only one hit. In the top of the sixth he encountered a bit of trouble, issuing consecutive walks to Rod Carew and the “Splendid Splinter” after retiring Brooks Robinson and Aparicio on groundouts.  The potential go-ahead run at the plate, “The Commerce Comet” went down swinging to close out the frame. Following a base on balls to Aaron with one out in the bottom of the sixth, Sparky Lyle replaced Feller to face Mathews. “Cap’n Eddie” worked the count and eventually drew a walk. “Campy” drove a long fly to center but “Joltin’ Joe” flagged it down. “Little Joe” Morgan laced a hard smash towards third but the “Human Vacuum Cleaner” calmly gathered it in and fired a strike to Carew at first base to retire the side. Yogi Berra tagged a high fly to left in the top of the seventh but Stan Musial caught it with his back against the wall. Rollie Fingers entered the contest in the bottom of the seventh to face Reese, Robinson and Mays. He yielded a single and stolen base to Reese but completed the inning without allowing a run. In the eighth, Aaron led off with a base hit to left against Billy Pierce. The Stars loaded the bases with a pair of walks, then Morgan lofted a fly ball to center that was deep enough to score Aaron with the third run. Ernie Banks, batting for Reese, popped out to short center for the last out of the inning. Koufax climbed the hill in the top of the ninth having posted 12 strikeouts and allowing only Mantle’s double in the first.  He squared off against the top of the Greats batting order.  Carew led off with a ground-rule double to right. Abner instructed Koufax to walk “Teddy Ballgame” intentionally, a curious move as it brought the tying run (Mantle) to the plate with no outs. Mantle bounced into a fielder’s choice as Banks threw to first with Carew and Williams advancing to third and second base, respectively. Attempting to set up the double play again, Abner ordered another intentional walk to “The Yankee Clipper”. The sacks were juiced with one out and Frank Robinson at the dish. “Robinson nubs the ball just in front of home. Roy Campanella grabs it… Campanella steps on the plate for the forceout at home. Over to first… Double play!!” The Stars emerged with the victory, 3-0.

The second matchup pitted 1961 AL Cy Young winner Whitey Ford against the two-time NL Cy Young honoree Bob “Hoot” Gibson. In the home half of the first, Willie Mays singled with one out and then proceeded to steal second and third with Stan Musial at the plate. “The Donora Greyhound” delivered a sacrifice fly to left to bring Mays home with the first run. The “Say Hey Kid” knocked in Pee Wee Reese to give the Stars a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third. Musial blasted a two-bagger to right-center field which allowed Mays to score easily from first base. I visited the mound after Ford issued a base on balls to the “Big Cat” Johnny Mize. “Prince” Hal Newhouser began to loosen up in the pen. Successive strikeouts of Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews by “The Chairman of the Board” concluded the frame. Leading off the top of the fourth inning, Ted Williams smacked a liner into the left-center field gap for a two-base hit. Gibson settled down and retired Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Frank Robinson. Reese blooped a single into right and registered the Stars’ fourth tally when Jackie Robinson crushed a double to straightaway center over DiMaggio’s head. Musial launched a moon-shot to right field in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Stars lead to 5-0. Ford hit the showers, replaced on the mound by Newhouser. Mize greeted him with a sharp single to left, then Aaron hammered the next pitch over the left field fence! Later in the frame, the Stars loaded the bases with a hit and a pair of walks. Jackie Robinson slapped a base hit to right which brought home 3 runs when Frank Robinson airmailed the throw home over Yogi Berra’s head. Bob Lemon relieved Newhouser as the game had devolved into a 10-0 blowout. Mays stroked a line drive to left which Williams fielded on one-hop. The throw home was too late to get Robinson. Musial walked but he was cut down on the back-end of a double steal attempt. Mize flew out to right to bring closure to an inning in which the Stars piled on 7 runs on 5 hits, 4 walks and an error. The Greats unloaded their bench in the sixth inning. Carl Yastrzemski batted for Williams and promptly ripped a double to right. Following consecutive strikeouts, Gibson balked “Yaz” over to third. Al Kaline, substituting for Frank Robinson, laced a long drive into the gap in left-center but Musial made a fine running catch for the third out. In the bottom half of the frame, Rod Carew slid over to second base. “Yaz” stayed in the game as the left fielder and Kaline trotted out to right. The revamped defensive alignment included Lou Boudreau (SS), Bill Freehan (C), Harmon Killebrew (1B) and Al Rosen (3B). Lemon courted trouble when he walked the bases loaded. He nearly escaped when Reese tapped back to the box and the throw home nailed Mathews for the force play. With two outs, Jackie Robinson connected on a long drive to center field which ended up as a three-run triple! Hoyt Wilhelm strolled in from the pen as the Stars had pinned 14 tallies on the Greats not-so-great pitching staff. Mays flailed helplessly at a flutterball from “Old Sarge”. Rosen drilled a two-base knock over Mays’ outstretched glove with one down in the seventh. Boudreau lashed a solid single to center which was too shallow to send Rosen home. Carew’s blooper to left field fell softly in front of Musial delivering the first run for the Greats. “Yaz” subsequently stroked a two-run double to center field, plating Boudreau and Carew. Mantle coaxed a base on balls, then DiMaggio zipped a single through the left side of the infield to tally another run for the visitors. Still no bullpen action for the Stars despite the 10 hits and 4 runs allowed by “Gibby” as the Stars retained a 10-run advantage. Kaline skied a lazy fly ball and Mays made his patented basket catch to retire the side. Wilhelm forced in 2 runs with 5 consecutive walks in the bottom of the seventh.  Early Wynn came on and yielded a sacrifice fly to Reese, then Jackie Robinson legged out another triple to increase the Stars’ lead to 19-4. The Greats responded with 2 singles and a walk, putting ducks on the pond for Carew in the top of the eighth. Gibson caught Carew looking at a low-and-away heater for the second out of the inning, then “Yaz” strolled to the plate. “Here’s the pitch… Yastrzemski takes Gibson deep to right. See you later!! GRAND-SLAM!! Carl is congratulated by his teammates.” Abner was content to allow Gibson to complete the game despite yielding 13 hits and 8 runs through 8 frames. He inserted Ron Santo into the game as a defensive replacement for Mathews.  Running on fumes, “Gibby” gave up a single to DiMaggio followed by walks to Kaline and Killebrew. Rosen lifted a high fly ball to center, scoring “Joltin’ Joe” with the Greats’ ninth run. Boudreau tagged a deep drive to center but Mays hauled it in at the warning track. Final score: Stars 19, Greats 9.

Eager to salvage the third and final match, Jim Palmer climbed the hill for the Greats to square off against Juan Marichal. Rod Carew drew a leadoff walk and Ted Williams ripped a single to right field. Mickey Mantle grounded the next offering to second-sacker Joe Morgan, who flipped to Pee Wee Reese covering second for the force play on Williams. Mantle beat the relay to first, placing runners on the corners with one away.  The “Dominican Dandy” walked Joe DiMaggio intentionally. Frank Robinson slowly approached the dish and stared down Marichal. The right-hander induced a high infield pop-up off the bat of “The Judge” for the second out. Yogi Berra hit a bounding ball up the middle. Morgan ranged far to his right and made a diving stop, but he didn’t have a play at any base. Carew scored and the bases remained full for Harmon Killebrew. The “Killer” smoked a hard liner towards Reese who dropped it like a hot potato for an error as Mantle scampered home. “The Little Colonel” redeemed himself on the next ball in play as he snared a line drive off the bat of Brooks Robinson for the final out. In the top of the third, “The Mick” scorched a deep fly ball to center but Willie Mays tracked it down.  Roy Campanella connected on a long double leading off the bottom of the third for the Stars after Palmer retired the first 6 batters in order. Reese and Jackie Robinson coaxed one-out walks to load the bases. Palmer’s wild streak continued as he walked Mays, cutting the Greats’ lead in half. Stan Musial missed a golden opportunity when he popped up to the first baseman Killebrew for the second out. Carew fielded Johnny Mize’s grounder and flipped it to Lou Boudreau as the Greats quelled the uprising. “Cakes” found his groove in the fourth as he struck out the side (Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Campanella). The “Splendid Splinter” clubbed a one-out double off Marichal in the fifth. “Campy” dropped the third strike to Mantle, but he hastily grabbed the ball and tagged him out. “Manito” confounded “Joltin’ Joe” with a screwball. DiMaggio’s looping liner settled into third baseman Jackie Robinson’s glove for the third out. Robinson led off the bottom of the fifth with a two-base knock to straightaway center field but his teammates stranded him at second base. One inning later, “Hammer” belted a two-bagger with 2 outs but Palmer whiffed Mathews to close out the frame. “Little Joe” Morgan hooked a Palmer fastball around the right-field foul pole to knot the game at 2-2 with one out in the seventh. Killebrew started the top of the ninth with a clean single to left. Aparicio pinch-ran for “Killer” and Carl Yastrzemski batted for Brooks Robinson. “Little Louie” swiped second base on the first pitch. Marichal struck out “Yaz” and got pinch-hitter Al Rosen on an easy grounder to Morgan. The Stars went down swinging in the bottom of the ninth as Palmer whiffed Mathews, Campanella and pinch-hitter Willie “Pops” Stargell. Marichal and Palmer remained on the mound as the battle persisted into extra innings. Ernie Banks batted for Reese to commence the bottom of the tenth. “Banks drives the ball into deep left… So long, sports fans! That one’s a round-tripper!! Ernie jogs around the bases.” The Stars complete the sweep with a 3-2 victory.

Ratings

Graphics – [1] The display window is divided into 3 sections. The upper left contains the scoreboard against a red background with the line score, number of outs, current batter and pitcher, and the name and occupied base for any baserunners. The upper right corner shows the current lineup for both teams against a blue background. The manager’s options are listed in the bottom half of the screen against an orange background. Once the managers make their selections, the play-by-play result is output to the bottom window against a black background.

Sound – [1] I enabled the sound option before each game but did not hear any music or sound effects. Apparently the sounds are limited to signifying typing mistakes.

Strategy – [3] With a runner on first base, the defensive options include hold the runner, guard the lines, or issue an intentional walk. Offensively you can elect to sacrifice bunt, hit-and-run, or attempt to steal. With a runner on third, I had the option to bring the infield in. In a bases loaded scenario, the “suicide squeeze” appeared as one of the choices.

Artificial Intelligence – [3] “Abner” warmed up pitchers at the appropriate times and sat them down at the end of an inning. On 2 occasions he substituted Ernie Banks for Pee Wee Reese as a pinch-hitter in the late innings of a low-scoring game. Abner also replaced Eddie Mathews with Ron Santo for defensive purposes twice.

Box Score – [3] Post-game options include viewing the box score from today’s contest, printing the game statistics or starting a new game. The first screen includes the line score and visitor’s offensive stats. The lineup order is listed properly but the fielding positions are omitted. Screen 2 displayed the home team’s offensive results. Screen 3 shows the pitching lines for both teams. It includes thirds of an inning along with several statistics omitted from earlier computer baseball simulations such as hit by pitch, balks and wild pitches. The latter half is devoted to a listing of errors, passed balls, game-winning RBI along with the winning and losing pitchers.

Rosters – [3] – Each team is permitted a 25-man roster (15 batters and 10 pitchers). Separate “Draft” and “Trade” programs are included. To my knowledge you need to utilize the players included in the Team Disks as I could not locate an option to edit existing player data. “Trade” permits 1-for-1 swaps between existing teams within the same Team Set while “Draft” allows you to create new teams from a list of players in a Team Set.

Statistics – [3] – At the end of the contest, I was asked whether I wished to store the statistics in a disk file in order to compile them with the Stats program. The “Stats” program allows you to view the standings and league leaders along with individual and team totals.

Usage/Injuries/Ejections – [3] – Injuries and ejections can occur during the game. You may bench injured or fatigued players prior to the start of each contest (such as the computer team’s starting pitcher from the previous game or two). However injuries must be managed manually (the computer does not maintain an injured list.)

Ballparks / Park Factors – [1] – Radio Baseball does not account for any park factors. The end-user does not have the ability to select a stadium.

Commentary – [3] – Play results materialize one line at a time in the bottom half of the screen. For example, Johnny Mize is batting for the Stars in the second inning of Game 1.

“Here’s the pitch… Mize grounds the ball through the right side… The ball gets through… Frank Robinson will handle it in right. Johnny stands on first with a single.”

The next 3 batters that are “due up” are announced in the play-by-play commentary upon completion of each half-inning.

Scale:  Ratings from 1 (worst) to 5 (best)

Total Score: 24 out of 50

Observations

Radio Baseball transports the user back to a time when many people feverishly followed their favorite baseball team through the play-by-play descriptions that were broadcast on the radio. A very accessible interface along with an authentic representation of our National Pastime immerses the end-user in the intricacies of managing a big-league ballgame.

Please add a comment below if you spent a significant amount of time and/or have any recollections of Radio Baseball.

Screenshots

Articles in the Series

	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

Additional Links

Play Radio Baseball in your browser! –

https://archive.org/details/msdos_Radio_Baseball_1986

Playthrough – HardballRetro

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

http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_33.pdf

https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/radio-baseball

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2JFnntLITk (Radio Baseball gameplay video by Squakenet)

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Architects – Volume 1 (American League)“, published in July 2020 and
“Hardball Architects – Volume 2 (National League)”, published in April 2022, examine the trades, free agent acquisitions, draft picks and other transactions for the 30 Major League Baseball franchises, divided into a 2-volume set. Both books are available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. All key moves are scrutinized for every team and Sabermetric principles are applied to the roster construction throughout the lifetime of the organization to encapsulate the hits and misses by front office executives. Team performances are analyzed based on transaction type with graphs depicting the WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in every decade. Individual results for each player-transaction is charted over the duration of their stint with the franchise. Every team chapter includes All-Time Rosters and Single-Season Leaders based on transaction type. The Team Trade Record chronicles the WAR and WS (Win Shares) accumulated by players acquired in comparison to those traded to opposing teams. The opening chapter is devoted to the Evolution of the General Manager and incorporates a discussion with former Dodgers GM Fred Claire (along with former Angels and Red Sox GM Mike Port and current Reds GM Nick Krall in Volume 2) on a variety of front office topics.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com.  Hardball Retroactive is a modest collection of selected articles that I have written for Seamheads.com along with my Baseball Analytics blog since 2010. Exclusive content includes the chapter on “Minors vs. Majors” which assesses every franchise’s minor league successes and failures in relation to their major league operations.

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com. In Hardball Retrospective, I placed every ballplayer in the modern era (from 1901-present) on their original teams. Using a variety of advanced statistics and methods, I generated revised standings for each season based entirely on the performance of each team’s “original” players. I discuss every team’s “original” players and seasons at length along with organizational performance with respect to the Amateur Draft (or First-Year Player Draft), amateur free agent signings and other methods of player acquisition. Season standings, WAR and Win Shares totals for the “original” teams are compared against the real-time or “actual” team results to assess each franchise’s scouting, development and general management skills.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here. 

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. 

Publisher – MicroLeague Sports Association

Release Year – 1984

Platforms – Amiga, Apple ][, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC

Credits

Review

MicroLeague Baseball is the computer hardball simulation that consumed a significant percentage of my youth. I owned the game, GM/Owner and Box Score/Stat Compiler disks for my Commodore 64 and purchased the same disks several years later for my Apple ][e. My friends and I spent many hours with MicroLeague Baseball over a five-year period. The competition was fierce as the opposing managers sat next to each other and shared the keyboard. The defensive manager had to shield their view with the strategy card while the offense selected their play. Several managers looking for an edge resorted to cheating (partially or pretending to cover their eyes). We created numerous team and league disks and even composed a pair of teams from our stickball statistics! Due to a lack of a quick-play option, we never completed a full season but I always smile when I reminisce about the MicroLeague days.

In order to show the various features and offer a comprehensive review, I launched the Commodore 64 edition of MicroLeague Baseball – Box Score/Stat Compiler in the VICE emulator. The Main Menu appears following a passing glimpse of MicroLeague Stadium:

I chose ‘P’ to play a game, whereas I was prompted to place the Game Disk in the drive. Once the Game program loads, I selected ‘N’ to start a new game. You can choose from 25 Great Teams available on the Game Disk, or insert a Team Disk.

I scheduled a rematch of the 1984 National League Championship Series between the Cubs and Padres, utilizing the original lineups from each contest. A friendly reminder:  before commencing each game, press the ‘R’ key to prevent players from running on and off the field after each inning. This will slice at least ten minutes off your total game time. The animation may have been amusing at first but the interminable wait detracts from the experience after repeated viewing.

Eventual 1984 NL Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe (20-6, 3.64) and Eric Show (15-9, 3.40) initiated the festivities with a pitcher’s duel in Game 1. In the bottom of the third inning, Rick Sutcliffe reached on a fielder’s choice (a sacrifice bunt in which the lead runner Larry Bowa was cut down at second). Sutcliffe lumbered into second on Bob Dernier’s groundout to Steve Garvey and advanced to third when second-sacker Ryne Sandberg laced a single to center field. Gary “Sarge” Matthews popped up to Alan Wiggins to end the threat.  Sutcliffe carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Tony Gwynn slapped a clean hit between shortstop and third base with one out, but he was promptly caught stealing with a laser peg by the backstop Jody Davis. Show was lifted for pinch-hitter Bobby L. Brown as he was due to lead off the top of the eighth as the contest remained scoreless. Sutcliffe whiffed Brown and escaped further harm by inducing Garvey to ground out to shortstop after plunking Gwynn with 2 outs. Craig Lefferts came on in relief to begin the bottom of the 8^th to do battle against the top of the Cubbies’ lineup. Dernier lofted a fly ball towards the right-field line that Gwynn misplayed into a two-base error.  Sandberg launched a long ball into the stands in left-center, giving Chicago a 2-0 lead. Lefferts recovered to set the next 3 Cubs down in order. Lee Smith began to warm up in the Cubs’ pen as Sutcliffe marched to the mound in the hopes of twirling a shutout. He retired Graig Nettles and Terry Kennedy on soft line drives to the infield and then got Kevin McReynolds on a lazy fly ball to Dernier for the final out.

A pair of lefties squared off as Mark Thurmond (14-8, 2.97) took the hill against Steve “Rainbow” Trout (13-7, 3.41) in Game 2. Ryne Sandberg blasted a shot off the ivy in left-center which Kevin McReynolds played into a triple. Gary Matthews scored Sandberg on a groundout to second base. Chicago struck again in the second frame when Larry Bowa drove in Jody Davis with a single to the right field gap. In the home half of the fifth inning, Trout hammered a two-bagger off the wall in left-center to knock in Bowa for the third run. Thurmond recovered to finish 5 frames and then exited the game for a pinch-hitter (Bobby L. Brown) to start the sixth inning. Rich “Goose” Gossage entered in the bottom of the sixth as the Friars trailed 3-0. Ron Cey doubled with one out and Davis followed with a solid safety to right, placing runners at the corners. Leon Durham beat out a slow dribbler to Alan Wiggins and Cey skipped home with the fourth run. After Bowa grounded into a fielder’s choice, Trout stroked his second hit to left, extending the lead to 5-0. Bob Dernier hit a two-hopper to Luis Salazar to conclude the inning. The “Goose” was cooked when Cey belted a 3-run bomb to left-center following a pair of walks to begin the bottom of the seventh. Trout held the Padres hitless through 7 1/3 innings when Salazar drilled a hard ground ball back through the box and into center field. Sandberg booted Garry Templeton’s bouncer to second, but Trout wriggled off the hook. Dave Dravecky pitched a scoreless eighth inning, yielding only a base knock to Dernier. Trout caught McReynolds looking at a back-door slider to complete his one-hit shutout! The Cubs took a 2-game lead as the series headed to San Diego.

Dennis Eckersley (10-8, 3.03) opposed fellow veteran right-hander Ed Whitson (14-8, 3.24) in Game 3. Ryne Sandberg tattooed a solo shot down the left field line to put the Cubs on the board in the top of the first. Whitson issued back-to-back walks to Gary Matthews and Leon Durham. Keith Moreland ripped a single up the middle, scoring Matthews. San Diego averted disaster when Ron Cey and Jody Davis were retired on fly balls to finish the frame. The Friars finally plated their first run of the series in the bottom of the third. Whitson led off with an opposite-field single and Alan Wiggins bunted for a hit. Tony Gwynn grounded into a fielder’s choice, leaving runners at the corners with one out. Steve Garvey slapped a single back through the box to drive home Whitson. Graig Nettles rocked “Eck’s” next offering, clearing the left-center field for a three-run blast!  Whitson cruised through 7 innings, yielding only 4 hits while Eckersley settled down and pitched effectively for 6 innings. Rich Bordi came on in relief to start the seventh. Wiggins doubled up the left-field alley and Gwynn laced a single to center, increasing the Padres’ lead to 5-2. Garvey walloped Bordi’s next offering into the bleachers as the Friar fans went nuts! After retiring Nettles on a pop fly, Terry Kennedy poured gasoline on the fire when he crushed another batting-practice fastball from Bordi into the right-center field seats. The Cubs mercifully relieved Bordi, bringing in veteran Dick Ruthven to put out the dumpster fire. Durham swatted an opposite-field big-fly in the top of the eighth, cutting the deficit to 8-3. Moreland doubled and attempted to score on a Davis single to left field, but he was gunned down at the dish on a strong throw from Carmelo Martinez. Kennedy walloped a three-run bomb down the right field line off Ruthven in the bottom of the 8^th as the San Diego squad extended their advantage to 11-3. Whitson completed the contest on a harmless fly ball to McReynolds off the bat of pinch-hitter Gary Woods.

The Game 4 matchup showcased Scott Sanderson (8-5, 3.14) versus southpaw Tim Lollar (11-13, 3.91). Lollar immediately got into trouble in the opening frame, loading the bases with walks to Bob Dernier and Gary Matthews along with an Alan Wiggins error on Keith Moreland’s potential double-play grounder. Lollar got Ron Cey on an infield fly for the second out but subsequently walked Jody Davis to force in a run. Leon “Bull” Durham smoked a single between shortstop and third, plating Matthews and Moreland. Larry Bowa lofted an easy fly to left to retire the side with the Cubs claiming a 3-0 advantage. Chicago threatened in the top of the third when Cey lined a base knock to right which skipped off Tony Gwynn’s glove. “Mr. Padre” recovered in time to peg Moreland at the plate attempting to score all the way from first. Kevin McReynolds led off the bottom of the fifth with an opposite-field wallop to reduce the Padres’ deficit to 3-1. Warren Brusstar relieved Sanderson as Chicago took the field in the bottom of the eighth. Bobby L. Brown, batting for Lollar, singled between Cey and the new shortstop Tom Veryzer. One out later Gwynn delivered a base hit to right-center to plate Brown and bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Lee Smith entered the contest looking for a 5-out save. Moreland corralled Steve Garvey’s can of corn for the second out. Graig Nettles bounced into a fielder’s choice as Veryzer elected to go the short route to Ryne Sandberg to retire the side. San Diego’s skipper inserted portsider Craig Lefferts to oppose the #9 hitter Smith followed by the top of the Cubs’ batting order. Lefferts worked around a one-out knock by Dernier. After whiffing Sandberg for out # 2, the Padres called a pitchout and nailed the Cubs fleet-footed center fielder to end the threat. Terry Kennedy walked on 5 pitches against Smith to start the bottom of the ninth. McReynolds belted a curveball into right-center and Kennedy lumbered into third. With the infield playing in to cut off the tying run, Carmelo Martinez went down swinging for the first out. Garry Templeton blooped Smith’s next offering down the right-field line as Kennedy tallied the tying run, but Moreland rifled a shot to third to cut down McReynolds. Smith recovered to strike out pinch-hitter Tim Flannery, yet the Padres were alive and kicking as the game headed to extra innings. Dave Dravecky took his warm-up tosses as the Chicago bench shook the heads in stunned silence.  Facing the heart of the Cubs order, Dravecky set them down 1-2-3. The top of the Padres’ lineup prepared to do battle against Tim Stoddard, but they proved to be no match for the towering right-hander. Tom Veryzer cuffed a two-out seeing-eye grounder between Wiggins and Garvey. Steve Lake, batting for Stoddard, ripped a base hit through the hole on the left side and pinch-runner Henry Cotto scurried from first to third. Bob Dernier hammered Dravecky’s next offering between Nettles and Templeton as the Cubs reclaimed the lead. Greg A. Harris trotted out to the mound, attempting to limit the damage. “Ryno” crushed Harris’ offering deep into the left-center field bleachers, extending the Cubbies’ advantage to 7-3. Harris then plunked Gary Matthews in frustration but he remained in the game and got Moreland to mercifully ground into a fielder’s choice to complete the half-inning. Nettles stepped to the dish to face Rich Bordi. Cey snared a line drive off Nettles’ bat for the first out. Kennedy scalded an atom ball to Durham and the Friars were down to their final out. McReynolds clubbed a long drive towards the right field wall, but defensive replacement Henry Cotto settled under it just shy of the warning track. The Cubs won the pennant!!!

Ratings

Graphics – [3] A generic ballpark is displayed with the scoreboard at the top of the screen listing the teams, runs, hits, errors, inning and outs. The bottom left corner shows the current and on-deck batter while the bottom right names the current pitcher along with a prompt to input your strategy option on offense or defense. The play-by-play is delivered 2 or 3 lines at a time on the scoreboard while the on-screen action occurs on the field. The players move accurately and the physics of the ball in flight are captured adequately, although specific plays will soon become apparent as there are no variations from the pre-programmed outcomes. That is, the trajectory of the ball for each event type will always follow the same flight path and the patterns will become easily discernable. The attention to detail enhances the experience and boosts the graphics rating. The defensive whips the ball around the horn after a strikeout and convene at the mound to conference with the pitcher and manager. Runners slide into bases and batters scamper off the field after making an out.

Sound – [2] The tail-end of the “Star-Spangled Banner” plays prior to the start of every game. “Charge!” blares from the speakers during rallies. Hits, walks, runs, outs, and strikeouts produce a variety of bloops, beeps and razzes. A descending 3-note sequence denotes the end of an inning. The Seventh-Inning Stretch features a brief rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”.

Strategy – [3] Most plate appearances are resolved by showing the pitch which results in a ball in play, walk or strikeout. Exceptions include a pitchout, foul bunt or a stolen base attempt. In a 2 player game, the offense is prompted to enter their strategic selection, followed by the defense. The offense has several additional options when there are runners on base: swing away with aggressive or safe running, steal, hit & run, sacrifice bunt. With no runners on base, the offense can only choose to swing away or bunt for a hit. The defense has 4 pitches (fastball, curveball, slider, off-speed/changeup) and 4 strategy options: pitchout, corners in, infield in, intentional walk. Either manager can view the lineup and pitching screens by pressing the ‘9’ key while the ‘0’ key triggers a mound visit on defense. You may save a game in progress or restart a previously saved game.

Artificial Intelligence – [2] The computer manager will generally pinch-hit and replace the pitcher at appropriate intervals in the game. MicroLeague Baseball does not utilize left/right split stats, so the manager does not take the platoon advantage into account.

Box Score – [3] The post-game box score consists of at least 4 pages: the visitor and home offense results, pitching outcomes for both teams, and individual listings for errors, extra-base hits, stolen bases, etc. All of the standard pre-USA Today newspaper-style statistics are included. The final line score is omitted, which makes it difficult to reconstruct when each team scored their runs. The user has the ability to print the box score or compile statistics. If you choose the Compile option, you are prompted to select the teams or create new teams if this is the first time that you are compiling statistics for a particular team.  You can view compiled stats by selecting ‘S’ from the main menu (See or print compiled stats). This provides 3 screens worth of offensive statistics along with 2 pitching screens. The box score / stat compiler disk does not keep track of the standings.

Rosters – [1] – Each team consists of a 25-man roster (15 batters and 10 pitchers). Each team disk includes a “Reserve List” roster which grants the General Manager the flexibility to temporarily swap out from an existing team’s roster.

Statistics – [3] – The General Manager / Owner Disk provides the user with a range of options to customize team disks. Among the available tasks – copy teams from another disk, delete or rename teams on the current disk, create a new team, view teams or verify team’s status. You can edit stats or change a roster for existing teams. Additional Season-by-Season, Special Edition and Franchise History disks were offered for purchase. In addition to the standard statistics, each player is assigned a fielding rating at their primary and secondary position (if applicable) between 0 (poor) – 3 (excellent). Every player receives a speed rating between 1 (slow) – 5 (fast).

Usage/Injuries/Ejections – [1] – Injuries, ejections and fatigue do not occur in the game and player usage is not a factor.

Ballparks / Park Factors – [1] – The simulation does not appear to account for any park factors and you do not have the ability to select different ballparks.

Commentary – [2] – Play-by-play text appears in the scoreboard as the pitch is delivered and continues one line at a time while the play is in progress. There’s not much variety here… once you’ve played a few games, you’ll have the majority of the commentary and the corresponding graphics memorized.  

Scale:  Ratings from 1 (worst) to 5 (best)

Total Score: 21 out of 50

Observations

MicroLeague Baseball represented a leap forward in graphics and sound from SSI Computer Baseball and Computer Statis Pro Baseball. The text descriptions provided additional flavor but still fall a bit short. I heartily recommend MicroLeague Baseball to replay a short series but would probably look elsewhere if you’re looking to re-create a full season’s worth of games.

Please add a comment below if you spent a significant amount of time and/or have any recollections of MicroLeague Baseball.

Screenshots

Articles in the Series

	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

Additional Links

Play MicroLeague Baseball in your browser! –

Archive.org – MicroLeague Baseball (Apple ][)

Playthrough – HardballRetro

Trunzo, James V. “An Interview With the Designer of MicroLeague Baseball.” Computer Gaming World. Volume 28. May 1986. p22-23. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_28.pdf

Oxner, Bill. “Play Ball!” Computer Gaming World. Volume 5.3, June-July 1985, p25.

http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_5.3.pdf

MicroLeague Baseball manual – https://www.scribd.com/document/119942396/MicroLeague-Baseball

https://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/microleague-baseball/credits

http://www.stadium64.com/gameinfos/microleaguebaseball/microleaguebaseball.htm

http://www.stadium64.com/gameinfos/microleaguebaseball/microleaguebaseball.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroLeague_Baseball

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDkz8n9i8e8 (MicroLeague Baseball for the Apple II,

video by Highretrogamelord)

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Architects – Volume 1 (American League)“, published in July 2020 and
“Hardball Architects – Volume 2 (National League)”, published in April 2022, examine the trades, free agent acquisitions, draft picks and other transactions for the 30 Major League Baseball franchises, divided into a 2-volume set. Both books are available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. All key moves are scrutinized for every team and Sabermetric principles are applied to the roster construction throughout the lifetime of the organization to encapsulate the hits and misses by front office executives. Team performances are analyzed based on transaction type with graphs depicting the WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in every decade. Individual results for each player-transaction is charted over the duration of their stint with the franchise. Every team chapter includes All-Time Rosters and Single-Season Leaders based on transaction type. The Team Trade Record chronicles the WAR and WS (Win Shares) accumulated by players acquired in comparison to those traded to opposing teams. The opening chapter is devoted to the Evolution of the General Manager and incorporates a discussion with former Dodgers GM Fred Claire (along with former Angels and Red Sox GM Mike Port and current Reds GM Nick Krall in Volume 2) on a variety of front office topics.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com.  Hardball Retroactive is a modest collection of selected articles that I have written for Seamheads.com along with my Baseball Analytics blog since 2010. Exclusive content includes the chapter on “Minors vs. Majors” which assesses every franchise’s minor league successes and failures in relation to their major league operations.

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com. In Hardball Retrospective, I placed every ballplayer in the modern era (from 1901-present) on their original teams. Using a variety of advanced statistics and methods, I generated revised standings for each season based entirely on the performance of each team’s “original” players. I discuss every team’s “original” players and seasons at length along with organizational performance with respect to the Amateur Draft (or First-Year Player Draft), amateur free agent signings and other methods of player acquisition. Season standings, WAR and Win Shares totals for the “original” teams are compared against the real-time or “actual” team results to assess each franchise’s scouting, development and general management skills.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here. 

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com.