Double-Play Baseball (1979) Board Game

Double-Play Baseball is a classic board game released in 1979 by Lakeside. It is a two-player game that combines elements of dice rolling and sports, making it a fun and engaging experience for players of all ages.

Game Components of Double-Play Baseball

Pitcher die

Superstar die (red)

5 all-star hitters dice (yellow/orange)

3 team player dice (blue)

2 dice cups

4 yellow pegs

1 blue peg

1 red peg

Playing field

How To Setup Double-Play Baseball

To set up the game, players decide who will be the home team and who will be the visitor team, with the visitor team batting first. Each player creates their batting order using the nine batting dice and records it on a sheet of paper to follow between innings.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

The game consists of nine innings with players alternating turns as the batting team.

The defensive team rolls the pitcher die, which features symbols for balls and good pitches.

If a good pitch is rolled, the batting player rolls the die for their next batter, with the symbol determining the outcome.

Players swap roles once the batting team gets three outs.

The objective is to score the most points after nine innings. In case of a tie, extra innings are played.

Player Experience

Playing Double-Play Baseball is a quick and straightforward experience, lasting about 15-20 minutes. The game requires a basic understanding of baseball but is largely driven by luck rather than strategy. Players have minimal decisions to make beyond setting their initial batting order, as the outcome of each turn is determined by dice rolls.

Pros

Easy to learn and play.

Quick gameplay.

Simple and accessible for young players.

Cons

Highly reliant on luck rather than strategy.

Unrealistic batting averages (e.g., red die has a .666 batting average, orange dice .500, and blue dice .166).

Walking a batter is almost non-existent.

Limited depth in gameplay mechanics.

Personal Thoughts on Double-Play Baseball

Double-Play Baseball is ideal for those seeking a light, fun, and quick dice game that simulates baseball. It’s perfect for young fans of the sport or for casual game nights where complexity is not desired. However, it may not satisfy players looking for deeper strategy or more realistic baseball simulations. Despite its simplicity, it can still provide a enjoyable experience for those who appreciate the essence of baseball in a condensed, luck-driven format.

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