The beloved children’s sports gaming franchise has made its return after being absent from the lineup for several years, and it still proves to be enjoyable—provided you’re still a child at heart.
By Mark Delaney on October 8, 2024 at 7:44AM PDT
It’s the bottom of the ninth in the final game of the Super Ultra Championship of the Universe Series. My Mighty Monsters are behind by two runs and down to their last out. Kenny Kawaguchi, renowned as the league’s top pitcher after a remarkable season of strikeouts, is at the plate. While he’s unbeatable on the mound, batting has never been his forte. With runners positioned on first and third, the count is full—could it get any more intense? The 3-2 pitch comes inside, but Kenny connects beautifully. In a stunning turn of events, the ball is sent flying. Despite only hitting four home runs all season, this one could mean everything. It’s high enough if it has the speed. Back, back, back… it’s out of here! The Monsters have triumphed! A walk-off three-run home run by the team’s pitcher etches the squad of neighborhood friends into the annals of the Backyard Baseball League’s history. Do you believe in miracles?
This personal tale of sporting achievement unfolded about 24 years ago on one of those vibrant Mac computers that many owned during the late ’90s and early 2000s. Backyard Baseball, once merely a reward found in a cereal box, blossomed into a cherished staple in the childhoods of countless Millennial kids, and if you’re of a similar age, you might share in that nostalgia. Now, over twenty-five years since the game’s initial launch, Backyard Baseball ’97 has become available on Steam—where neither dubious download links nor eBay price inflation can disturb your experience. It has been a delightful surprise to see the game still stands strong, even if it is clear that I am no longer its primary audience.
Backyard Baseball ’97 marks a return of the original game that launched the Backyard Sports series. With new rights-holders at the helm, there are plans to revive several games lost to obscurity, paving the way for a Backyard Sports multimedia universe. The first release of this endeavor has turned out to be a delightful success, potentially serving as the series’ much-anticipated re-emergence. Although it’s claimed the game is remastered, it appears indistinguishable from my somewhat hazy memories and gameplay videos available online.
This vibrant 2D sports game features a lineup of 30 unique children, each boasting their individual attributes, voice acting, theme songs, nicknames, bios, and personalities. It is these characters, alongside the approachable baseball mechanics, that render Backyard Baseball timeless. Many former fans would readily recall their favorite characters and the cherished memories associated with them.
Among the roster is Pete Wheeler, the dim-witted speedster capable of stealing any base—if he can figure out which direction to dash. Then we have Keisha Phillips, a tall girl who loves cracking jokes and hitting home runs. The Webber twins, Sidney and Ashley, come from wealth but willingly engage on the field with players from various backgrounds, as long as they share a team. Achmed Khan, a kid obsessed with music, always plays games with his headphones on, alongside his adoring younger brother Amir, who looks up to him in the sweetest way possible.
However, none are as unforgettable as Pablo Sanchez, known as The Secret Weapon. Ironically, he is sports’ worst-kept secret. There’s nothing he can’t accomplish, and despite the difficulty of obtaining games in recent years, the legacy of Pablo has been celebrated repeatedly, with real-life athletes paying tribute to him in various forms. Nearly every team begins with Pablo, yet each character is well-developed and feels like a distinct individual; they all bring their own unique charm to the game.
The emphasis on character and embracing the charm of childhood extends into the various playing fields. There are different parks where you can engage in games, each one embodying the inventive spirit of neighborhood kids forming teams or leagues. Tin Can Alley features high walls that favor defense and a short outfield, obstructed by items like a dumpster and a shipping container. Sandy Flats is situated on a beach, with an outfield “wall” created from a windswept fence in the sand. Some games take place in the kids’ own backyards, such as Ernie’s Steele Stadium, where home runs land in a neighbor’s swimming pool, and Kimmy’s Eckman Acres, boasting professional landscaping apparently financed by her parents.
Each location feels reminiscent of scenes from animated shows like Hey Arnold or Recess, and partaking in the games themselves continues to evoke this lively and youthful vibe. A commentary duo, the ultra-professional Sunny Day paired with the humorously shady Vinny The Gooch, guide you through each matchup, likening scoring plays to snagging Halloween candy and providing commentary on special pitches, like a Slo-Mo ball that whimsically disregards the laws of physics.
Everything is presented through the lens of childhood wonder. Between at-bats, which are brought to life by catchy walk-up theme songs, players continually exchange playful banter, such as, “We want a batter, not a broken ladder!” The field is always buzzing with energy, just like the atmosphere when kids gather. Each inning is filled with excitement, reminiscent of a joyful weekend with friends. There’s a sense of magic in the moments shared.
Above all, the enduring appeal of Backyard Baseball can be attributed to these elements. It’s a vibrant world that feels both familiar and relatable, while also offering a richly textured alternate universe where each character is someone’s favorite and every game brings joy. Even in 2024, Backyard Baseball ’97 is overflowing with personality. I often wondered if part of the reason these games faded away was that later sequels sought licenses from leagues and players’ unions, like the MLB and MLBPA, which may have become too expensive. Newer titles featured several professional players, such as Randy Johnson and David Ortiz, to boost sales, leading me to think the creators viewed this addition as essential. However, I never had much interest in those players; my heart always belonged to the original Backyard kids. They are the true stars of this beloved series.
Effective gameplay mechanics in baseball enhance the unforgettable characters and settings of the game, even with a unique control scheme. Backyard Baseball employs point-and-click mechanics similar to other titles from its original publisher, Humongous Entertainment. While it might seem unusual for a sports game, it proves to be quite effective. Pitching and batting hinge on precise placement and timing, and various on-screen aids can make batting more accessible, particularly features like pitch-locator UI elements that assist in better aligning your swings.
When on the field, you simply click to direct your players, and the closest player to your click will rush to the ball’s unmistakable shadow, enabling you to execute plays such as turning a double play or snagging a fly ball. Players will attempt to tag up and run home once you secure a catch in the outfield, and while you can’t perform pick-offs on baserunners, having a reliable catcher can be crucial in preventing a stolen base versus allowing runners to slip safely into second base.
Mishaps can still happen, so it’s vital not to place a player with lower fielding skills in high-impact positions like shortstop or center field. By frequently playing with your kids, you’ll discover their best positions, allowing you to adjust their roles on the field or in the starting lineup easily through the pause menu. For instance, I enjoy having Pete and Pablo in the outfield because they’re incredibly quick, while Stephanie Morgan really prefers playing shortstop—which works well for me since she excels in that role.
The game’s straightforward controls make it easy for children or anyone unfamiliar with gaming to pick up. I cherish memories from my childhood when Backyard Baseball even inspired my dad to form a team and play a full season alongside us, despite the fact that he had hardly ever played video games before.
As someone who enjoys gaming and has grown beyond the age of childhood that marked the turn of the millennium, I realize that I’ve outgrown this game in some significant ways. Although it’s a fantastic children’s game, even at its most challenging settings—where I’ve increased the difficulty, turned off pitch-locator tools, and consciously avoided power-ups like the aluminum bat that guarantees a home run or the rapid fireball that’s nearly impossible to hit—the game just doesn’t present a formidable challenge anymore.
In my initial game, I struggled for a few innings, managing only five hits as a team in a scoreless affair until the fourth inning. However, once my hitters found their rhythm, I ended up crushing the CPU 22-0. Subsequent games in my quest for championship victory mirrored this experience. It seemed that it took some time to regain my timing, and once I did, the tension of the game evaporated. While I implemented self-imposed limitations to tighten the score margins, I still never felt the kind of threat that injected my first championship experience with compelling drama a quarter of a century ago.
This isn’t necessarily a flaw in the game; it’s clearly tailored for a younger audience. However, when revisiting the project, the developers opted not to make any adjustments, even knowing that nostalgic fans would likely return as adults. I understand the argument for preserving the purity of the game—purists will appreciate that it remains unchanged from its original form—but this also means many players may not find enough challenge to keep them engaged for long. In this case, they might be better off waiting for Backyard Productions, the new rights holders aiming for multimedia expansion, to possibly bring the game’s beloved characters into a television show or perhaps a brand-new installment with increased difficulty for those seeking a tougher experience.
With only options for pick-up games and a season mode, the game also seems to overlook the potential for modern features like multiplayer, co-op, or additional modes made possible by today’s technology. I sincerely hope that a modding community emerges from this re-launch, and perhaps the new studio behind the series is counting on that as well.
A “remaster” of this game, more aligned with the usual interpretation of the term, could have included valuable quality-of-life enhancements. However, Backyard Baseball ’97 appears to have overlooked that aspect entirely. One of its standout features has always been the ability to trick CPU baserunners into advancing when they really shouldn’t. For instance, if a CPU player safely hits a single, you can avoid tossing the ball back to the pitcher and instead throw it to another infielder or even two. This deceptive tactic often leads the CPU to believe they have a chance to advance, allowing you to effortlessly trap them in a pickle.
You can execute this maneuver repeatedly; it’s a tactic that has always been part of the game and remains in this fresh Steam edition. Just as I had to deliberately refrain from using power-ups on offense or defense to add a layer of challenge for myself, players of all ages will need to tap into their sense of integrity and avoid exploiting the CPU simply because it might offer an easier path to victory. While not everyone is aware of this clever strategy, for those who stumble upon it, it’s akin to finding a lost wallet and returning it to its rightful owner; it’s ultimately up to you to make the ethical choice.
If that’s not a perfect opportunity for parents and kids to bond, it certainly represents one of many such moments this game provides, and that’s typically a positive thing. The game offers a wonderful experience for younger players, especially when parents, siblings, or other loved ones join them, possibly teaching them about video games, baseball, or both. This nurturing environment seems to foster the creation of new memories with this eclectic cast of characters and the beloved sport they are so passionate about.
I once relished the game as a player during its peak audience age. While I may have outgrown that demographic, the game has taken on new significance for me as a parent. The fundamental gameplay remains enjoyable and accessible, which has made sharing my favorite characters with my children a truly rewarding experience. Watching them select their own favorites has added an element of excitement as well. Although I can no longer engage in competitive play, having matured beyond that, I realize that I can never truly outgrow the vibrant characters that influenced my childhood. I’m sure other parents, irrespective of whether they played the game in their youth, will feel a similar sense of enchantment when they share it with their children.