In just one day, Backyard Sports aficionados will be transported back to Eckman Acres when Pablo Sanchez and the crew make their highly anticipated return re-release of Backyard Baseball '97. Playground Productions, a new company dedicated to reviving family-friendly classics, announced this exciting return in August, with plans to bring the game to a new generation of players. On October 10th, fans of Backyard Baseball will have the chance to revisit their early years once again.
Priced at $29.99, the game will be available on Amazon, allowing fans to compete for Backyard League glory as they did decades ago. Sports Illustrated had the privilege of getting early access to the game, and what better way to test it out than to complete an entire season in league mode? Here’s how it all unfolded.
Establishing the Rules
To truly test my skills, I decided to challenge myself. This wasn’t going to be a cakewalk with a team of star players crushing every opponent. I opted for the hardest difficulty setting, removed the pitch locator, and limited my power-up usage to the "More Juice" feature, which boosts a pitcher's stamina. Additionally, I ensured that every player I drafted, regardless of their skill set, had to pitch at least once during the season. This rule was non-negotiable—no unfair playing time here!
Picking the Team
The first order of business was choosing a team name and color scheme. Naturally, I gravitated toward the iconic Humongous Melonheads—the New York Yankees of the Backyard League. Although the Mighty Wombats were a strong contender, the Melonheads felt like the right choice for my grand return.
My roster, however, needed careful consideration. I couldn’t embark on a season without Pablo Sanchez, so he was my top pick. However, I avoided loading up on all-star talent. My only player with a maximum hitting rating was Sanchez, who was followed by two players (Dmitri Petrovich and Stephanie Morgan) with three-point slugging stats, and six players (Kenny is Kawaguchi, Sidney Webber, Alison Webber, it is Ernie Steele, Roberto Garcia was a player and Ricky Johnson) with just two points.
With an offense that leaned heavily on Sanchez, I knew this season could be tough. But we were ready for the challenge. Our first opponent: the rival Fishes, with Kenny Kawaguchi on the mound.
Playing the Regular Season
As soon as the familiar voices of Sunny Day and Vinnie The Gooch filled my screen, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. Their commentary transported me back to the early 2000s, sitting at my family’s PC, ready to dominate the backyard.
The season opener was nothing short of cinematic. With the Melonheads trailing 1-0 against the Fishes in the fourth, Sanchez struck a game-winning two-run home run off a zig-zag pitch to secure the team's first win of the year. We followed this win with a 3–0 triumph over the Bombers and a thrilling 5–3 victory against the Wombats, thanks to Ashley Webber’s walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.
The Melonheads were on fire with a 3–0 record, poised for a strong season—until disaster struck.
Facing the Tough Competition
After dominating the first three games, it quickly became evident that our wins were against some of the league’s weaker teams. When it was time to face the league heavyweights, our shortcomings became glaringly obvious.We lost three straight games to the Hornets, All-Stars, and Giants, which dropped our record to 500.
The offense dried up, and our opponents played nearly flawless baseball. Speed, I realized, was essential in this game, as Ricky Johnson was thrown out at first on what should have been an easy line drive. Meanwhile, Stephanie Morgan’s deep fly ball was caught at the warning track, and Dmitri Petrovich—representing the winning run on third base—was thrown out at home by a solid five feet. These missteps were entirely my fault, and it cost us dearly.
The Quest for Playoffs
With five games left in the season, I needed to climb into the top two spots to secure a place in the BBL All-City Playoffs. At this point, the Melonheads were three games behind the Giants and Hornets, and the chances of making a comeback seemed slim. Unfortunately, that comeback never materialized. Despite valiant efforts, we lost 1–0 to the Wombats and 3–1 to the Hornets. By the time I finally mastered the strike zone without the pitch locator, it was too late. .
My ambitious plan to guide Pablo Sanchez and a diverse group of Backyard Sports kids to victory in the postseason had failed.. To make matters worse, I received a heart-wrenching note from the legendary Mr. Clanky after the season ended. However, this setback only fueled my desire for redemption. Rest assured, Mr. Clanky, I’ll be back next season.
Backyard Baseball '97 Review
Despite my team’s playoff woes, my overall experience with Backyard Baseball '97 was nothing short of delightful. Playground Productions did a stellar job bringing this classic game back to life. It’s almost exactly as I remembered, from the beloved Backyard Sports theme music to the engaging on-field banter that colored my childhood afternoons.
One notable update to the game is the inclusion of Steam achievements and global leaderboards. This feature tracks home runs, grand slams, and strikeouts among players, with the top players being “Backyardified.” Essentially, the game’s artists will create a cartoon rendering of your character, making it look like you’re part of the game—a charming addition that adds a modern twist to this nostalgic experience.
The only downside? It’s currently available exclusively on PC, a limitation stemming from the complex process of remastering the original CD-ROM version. However, Playground Productions has hinted at plans to expand the game’s availability to other platforms in the future.
Pro Tip: If the game opens in a tiny window, simply hit the spacebar and click on “expand screen” This is a simple fix that took me far too long to figure out.
Final Thoughts
For millennials eager to relive their childhood memories or introduce a new generation to the joys of the Backyard Sports franchise, Backyard Baseball '97 is well worth the $9.99 price tag. The game holds up remarkably well, with its charming aesthetics and simple yet addictive gameplay. While the Melonheads may have missed the playoffs in my first season back, the fun I had playing was the true win.
Fans can purchase the game on Steam starting this Thursday, and just remember—don’t make the same mistakes I did. Good luck leading your team to victory!
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