Editing Baseball

{{italic title}}
{{about|the Game Boy game|other uses|[[Baseball (disambiguation)]]}}
{{game infobox
|image=[[File:Baseball Game Boy Cover.jpg|250px]]
|developer=[[Nintendo Research & Development 1|Nintendo R&D 1]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|release='''Game Boy:'''<br>{{release|Japan|April 21, 1989|USA|July 31, 1989|Europe|1990}} '''Virtual Console (3DS):'''<br>{{release|Japan|June 7, 2011|USA|July 13, 2011|Europe|July 28, 2011|Australia|July 28, 2011}} '''Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online:'''<br>{{release|USA|May 14, 2024<ref name=NSO>Nintendo of America (May 14, 2024). [https://youtu.be/LeYLP5uerGQ Game Boy – May 2024 Game Updates – Nintendo Switch Online]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved May 14, 2024.</ref>|Japan|May 15, 2024<ref>Nintendo 公式チャンネル (May 14, 2024). [https://youtu.be/T4czuDKwgc8 ファミリーコンピュータ & スーパーファミコン & ゲームボーイ Nintendo Switch Online 追加タイトル <nowiki>[2024年5月15日]</nowiki>]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved May 14, 2024.</ref>|Europe|May 15, 2024|Australia|May 15, 2024<ref>@NintendoAUNZ (May 15, 2024). [https://x.com/NintendoAUNZ/status/1790577966042194310 "''Three classic games are now available to play for #NintendoSwitchOnline members! #GameBoy: ☑️ Super Mario Land ☑️ Alleyway ☑️ Baseball''"]. ''X''. May 15, 2024.</ref>|South Korea|May 15, 2024}}
|genre=Baseball
|modes=Single player, multiplayer
|ratings=
|platforms=[[Game Boy]], [[Virtual Console]] ([[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]]), [[Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online]]
|media={{media|gb=1|3dsdl=1|switchdl=1}}
|input={{input|gb=1|3ds=1|joy-con=1|switchpro=1}}
}}

'''''Baseball''''' is a [[Game Boy]] version of the [[nwiki:Baseball (NES)|Nintendo Entertainment System game of the same name]]. The game is based on the {{wp|Baseball|eponymous sport}}. It was released as a launch title for the Game Boy in both Japan and the United States, alongside ''[[Super Mario Land]]'', ''[[Tetris]]'', and ''[[Alleyway]]''. The game's cover in the Western release features [[Mario]] pitching a baseball, but the Japanese cover does not. This is the first ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' game that involves baseball, and it is the predecessor to the [[Mario Baseball (series)|''Mario Baseball'' series]], similarly to the [[Golf (series)|''Golf'' series]]' relation to the [[Mario Golf (series)|''Mario Golf'' series]]. 

The game was re-released on the [[Nintendo 3DS]]'s [[Virtual Console]] in 2011 and on the [[Nintendo Switch]]'s [[Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online]] service in 2024 in celebration of the Game Boy's 35th anniversary.

==Gameplay==
There are two modes: "USA MODE," which has English character names, and "JPN MODE" (short for Japan Mode), where the characters' names are Japanese names. Aside from the names of the characters, "JPN MODE" also changes how the ball speed is indicated, the display order of the ball count, and the background music played. Both modes have two teams: [[White Bears]] (referred to in-game as W-BEARS) and the [[Red Eagles]] (displayed in-game as R-EAGLES), which always bat first and pitch first respectively. Mario and [[Luigi]] both appear as pitchers in the "USA MODE," both playing for opposite teams. The player can control the players catching the balls out on the field, something that the NES version does not allow for. The player can opt out and allow the game to control the players in the field by not pressing any buttons, as pressing a button during this scene will let the player take control. By using the [[nwiki:Game Link Cable|Game Link Cable]], it is possible to play the game with two players.

==Characters==
The stats for players are ranked with letters, A through C (with the exception of batting; batting is A through E). A is the strongest stat possible, while C (or E) is the weakest. 

*Batting (A&ndash;E) indicates likelihood to hit the ball when batting.
*Skill (A&ndash;C) indicates chance of a successful {{wp|Bunt (baseball)|bunt}} when batting. 
*Stamina (A&ndash;C) indicates how easily the character gets tired, A being the toughest to tire. This stat is exclusive to pitchers.
*Speed (A&ndash;C) indicates how fast (on average) the character pitches. As such, this stat is exclusive to pitchers.
*Changeup (A&ndash;C) indicates sharpness of a curveball and screwball when pitching. As such, this stat is exclusive to pitchers.

===USA mode===
====White Bears====
:'''US instruction manual description:''' ''Has a strong cleanup and ace, MARIO. One offensive team!''

{| class=sortable align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=3 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial;"
|-
!Name
!Position
!Batting average
!Type
!Batting
!Skill
!Stamina
!Speed
!Changeup
|-
|[[Mario]]
|Pitcher
|.150
|Right over arm
|E
|A
|B
|A
|C
|-
|Paul
|Pitcher
|.150
|Right under arm
|E
|A
|B
|B
|C
|-
|Eric
|Pitcher
|.150
|Left over arm
|E
|A
|B
|A
|C
|-
|Jimmy
|Pitcher
|.150
|Left under arm
|E
|A
|A
|B
|C
|-
|Mike
|Batter
|.301
|Left
|B
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Tom
|Batter
|.278
|Right
|D
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Jim
|Batter
|.333
|Right
|A
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|John
|Batter
|.341
|Right
|A
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Bob
|Batter
|.326
|Left
|B
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Rick
|Batter
|.291
|Right
|C
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|David
|Batter
|.270
|Right
|D
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Eddie
|Batter
|.248
|Right
|E
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Jack
|Pinch hitter
|.292
|Right
|C
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Alan
|Pinch hitter
|.280
|Left
|C
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Fred
|Pinch hitter
|.266
|Left
|D
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|}

====Red Eagles====
:'''US instruction manual description:''' ''Team batting centers on left handed batters, and pitching on left handed speed ball pitcher RANDY. This is a team of strong individuals.''

{| class=sortable align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=3 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial;"
|-
!Name
!Position
!Batting average
!Type
!Batting
!Skill
!Stamina
!Speed
!Changeup
|-
|[[Luigi]]
|Pitcher
|.150
|Right over arm
|E
|A
|B
|A
|C
|-
|Phil
|Pitcher
|.150
|Right under arm
|E
|A
|B
|B
|B
|-
|Randy
|Pitcher
|.150
|Left over arm
|E
|A
|A
|B
|C
|-
|Sam
|Pitcher
|.150
|Left under arm
|E
|A
|A
|B
|B
|-
|Joe
|Batter
|.295
|Left
|B
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Louis
|Batter
|.286
|Right
|C
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Teddy
|Batter
|.323
|Left
|B
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Steve
|Batter
|.358
|Left
|A
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Peter
|Batter
|.301
|Left
|B
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Scott
|Batter
|.282
|Right
|C
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Brian
|Batter
|.264
|Left
|D
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Jeff
|Batter
|.247
|Right
|E
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Duke
|Pinch hitter
|.290
|Right
|C
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Jason
|Pinch hitter
|.285
|Left
|C
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Mac
|Pinch hitter
|.271
|Left
|D
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|}

===Japan mode===
====White Bears====
:'''US instruction manual description:''' ''Dynamite batting lineup explodes! High-ranking batters are the star players.''

{| class=sortable align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=3 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial;"
|-
!Name
!Position
!Batting average
!Type
!Batting
!Skill
!Stamina
!Speed
!Changeup
|-
|Igawa
|Pitcher
|.150
|Right over arm
|E
|A
|B
|C
|B
|-
|Mura
|Pitcher
|.150
|Right under arm
|E
|A
|A
|C
|A
|-
|Kane
|Pitcher
|.150
|Left over arm
|E
|A
|C
|B
|B
|-
|Natsu
|Pitcher
|.150
|Left under arm
|E
|A
|A
|C
|A
|-
|Waka
|Batter
|.301
|Left
|B
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Michi
|Batter
|.278
|Right
|D
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Wan
|Batter
|.333
|Left
|A
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Cho
|Batter
|.341
|Right
|A
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Kohji
|Batter
|.326
|Right
|B
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Buchi
|Batter
|.291
|Right
|C
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Isao
|Batter
|.270
|Left
|D
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Yoshi
|Batter
|.248
|Right
|E
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Kake
|Pinch hitter
|.292
|Left
|C
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Morio
|Pinch hitter
|.280
|Right
|C
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Dai
|Pinch hitter
|.266
|Right
|D
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|}

====Red Eagles====
:'''US instruction manual description:''' ''Strong-armed pitcher INAHO, has an excellent battling lineup to support him.''

{| class=sortable align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=3 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial;"
|-
!Name
!Position
!Batting average
!Type
!Batting
!Skill
!Stamina
!Speed
!Changeup
|-
|Tonbi
|Pitcher
|.150
|Right over arm
|E
|A
|B
|C
|B
|-
|Yama
|Pitcher
|.150
|Right under arm
|E
|A
|B
|C
|B
|-
|Keshi
|Pitcher
|.150
|Left over arm
|E
|A
|A
|C
|B
|-
|Inaho
|Pitcher
|.150
|Left under arm
|E
|A
|C
|B
|A
|-
|Fuku
|Batter
|.295
|Left
|B
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Jiroh
|Batter
|.286
|Right
|C
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Hario
|Batter
|.323
|Left
|B
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Futo
|Batter
|.358
|Right
|A
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Kado
|Batter
|.301
|Left
|B
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Ochi
|Batter
|.301
|Left
|B
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Nomu
|Batter
|.264
|Right
|E
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Toyo
|Batter
|.247
|Right
|E
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Hide
|Pinch hitter
|.290
|Left
|C
|C
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Erito
|Pinch hitter
|.285
|Right
|C
|B
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Irose
|Pinch hitter
|.271
|Left
|D
|A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|}

==Nintendo eShop description==
;North American version
<blockquote>''Re-live the glory of this 1989 Game Boy™ classic.''

''As the pitching team, deliver a series of fastballs while adjusting curve and speed, but be careful not to wear out your pitcher. If the batter connects, your outfield or infield will back you up.''

''As the batting team, shift your batter on the home plate and time each swing at the incoming ball. Try to safely reach the next base, or swing for a home run.''</blockquote>

;European version
<blockquote>''Strategy, skill and determination: it takes all three to win in Baseball!''

''Choose a starting pitcher from your bullpen (Mario is an old favourite). Hurl fastballs past the batter. If he connects, your outfield backs up to snag a fly. A sturdy infield backs you up on grounders and pop-ups. Three outs later and your team is up. Take a strike to feel out the pitcher, then drive a long one - it's a home run!''

''You can even choose between American or Japanese-style modes.''</blockquote>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
BaseballJapan.jpg|Japanese cover
Baseball4.png|Game title screen
Game Boy Baseball Character Select.png|USA MODE, starting pitcher character selection
Baseball1.jpg|Mario pitching to Teddy
Baseball2.png|Phil pitching to Tom
Baseball5.png|Luigi pitching to Mike
Baseball3.png|Out on the field
</gallery>

==Trivia==
*The game includes a character named "Yoshi" that plays in the game's Japanese mode for the [[White Bears]] as a batter. This game was released a year before [[Yoshi]]'s very first appearance in the Japanese release of ''[[Super Mario World]]'', and thus the connection is merely coincidental. In real life, Yoshi is a name in the Japanese language that can be a first name, a last name, or a commonly used shortened nickname for a longer name.

==External links==
{{NIWA|NWiki=Baseball (Game Boy)|StrategyWiki=Baseball (Game Boy)}}
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/bsa/index.html Japanese site]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/50010000006755 Japanese game page (Virtual Console)]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/baseball-3ds/ North American game page (Virtual Console)]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Nintendo-3DS-/Baseball-275484.html UK game page (Virtual Console)]

==References==
<references/>

{{Super Mario games}}
{{GB}}
{{Virtual Console}} 
[[Category:Baseball|*]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Super Mario games]]
[[Category:Sports games]]
[[Category:Game Boy games]]
[[Category:1989 games]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]