Mattel Classic Baseball Game

by Mattel

Product Features

• The original electronic handheld Baseball game
• A classic for a new generation of sports enthusiasts
• Lets kids compete against each other and the computer
• Designed for one or two players
• This electronic ball game lets kids compete against each other and the computer

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 2 inches ; 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005YWNI
• Item model number: 43386
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 - 12 years
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,181 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

It's the original electronic handheld baseball game, a classic for a new generation. Designed for one or two players, this electronic ball game lets kids compete against each other and the computer.

Product Description

Mattel Classic Baseball Game Toy - Mattel 43386.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's KINDA like baseball..., August 22, 2002

By 

Zagnorch (Terra, Sol System) - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mattel Classic Baseball Game (Toy)

Having been a fan of Mattel®'s Classic Football & Football 2 handheld games, I decided to give the rerelease of the company's Baseball rendition a whirl. I found it to be an interesting little diversion. This is a not so much an actual baseball game as it is a baseball-like game. It has some rudimentary features like hitting, walks, strikeouts, and advancing bases. It lacks base-stealing, double- or triple-plays, pitch selection, or bunting. Also, each contest is only five innings long, and the home team can play through the bottom of the fifth even if they have the lead.

Another weird thing is the scoring-- when you get the hang of playing this bad-boy, the final scores on the Pro 1 setting resemble those of an NFL matchup rather than a Major League contest! Final scores on Pro 2 are surprisingly high as well. Speaking of the Pro 2 setting, the only real difference I notice between it and Pro 1 is the faster pitching speed, which leads to more strikeouts and fly-outs.

Although Mattel(r) Classic Baseball has a sound on/off button (something I wished my old Mattel Classic Football games had), it is necessary to keep the sound on if you want to maximize the total bases you'll try to take after contacting the ball. When you make a potential hit, the computer beeps once for a possible single, twice for a possible double, and thrice for a possible triple. So if you want to sneak in a midnight game without rousing the 'rents, you'll hafta settle for hitting singles!

'Late

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "D-Da D-Da D-Da D-Da" [Homerun!], February 13, 2004

By 

mwreview "mwreview" (Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mattel Classic Baseball Game (Toy)

I still have my 1978-dated model of this game and I am glad Mattel is re-releasing this and the classic Football 2 (the favorite handheld of my youth). When my father bought me this game back in the early 1980s it was three times as much as this model, so it is definitely a bargain for Gen. X-ers like myself who wish to recapture their youth.

I am amazed how identical this game is to my vintage game (which I still have and it still works perfectly attesting to the durability of Mattel games--at least in the 1980s). Kids today may not enjoy it as it is a very simple, streamline version of baseball that one would expect came out in 1978. You push the "pitch" button, wait for the pitch, the pitch comes either straight or curved and you push "Hit." If you hit the ball, push "Run" to run the bases. The game beeps indicating whether you hit a single, double, triple or home run. Sometimes you can get more bases if you have a fast player, sometimes you're tagged out if you have a slowpoke. There is no strategy to this game. The game keeps track of balls and strikes, but there is really no way of knowing if a pitch is headed for the strike zone, so you can't be Barry Bonds here. The ball/strike count always seemed to be random to me.

Like Football 2, you do not get to play defense. After the third out, you (or a playing partner) play offense for the other team. Like Classic Football 2, this game has the addition of a sound-off switch. It does not make as much sense with this game because the number of beeps following a hit helps you know how many bases to go for. You may be able to guess with the sound off taking into account how fast the player is. The game plays in glow-in-the-dark red, so it can be played with the lights out which is very cool. Each game is 5 innings. The "Pro 2" setting gives you faster pitches and really tests the reflexes. A fun game to go along with your Classic Football 2. Hopefully, Mattel will also re-release Basketball 2.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Mattel Baseball game, March 19, 2003

By 

seml "seml" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mattel Classic Baseball Game (Toy)

I have had my baseball game since I was a kid. It has seen lots of playing time over the past 16+ years. While I would agree with other reviews that this game is not as "fun" as Mattel's football game, I have enjoyed it.

If you are looking for a fast action game with great graphics, this is not the game for you. The game is well made and the batteries seem to last a very long time. I have found it to be a fun simple game for 1 or 2 players.