Great Baseball

From Sega Retro

For the game released in Asia, see Great Baseball (1985).

n/a

GreatBaseball title.png

Great Baseball
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega of America (US), Sega Enterprises, Ltd. (EU)
Developer:
Genre: Sports (baseball)

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
US 		5061
Sega Master System
EU 		MK-5061-50
Sega Master System
FR 		250F250[5] MK-5061-50
Sega Master System
UK 		£22.9522.95[4] MK-5061-50
Sega Master System
IT
Sega Master System
KR 		GB-1400

Great Baseball is a sports game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Master System as part of the Great series of sports games.

This Great Baseball should not be confused with the Great Baseball released in Japan and Taiwan. An upgraded version of this Great Baseball would later that year be released in Japan as The Pro Yakyuu: Pennant Race.

Gameplay

The game is a simple baseball game that can be played by one or two players. It uses a low view from behind the pitcher's mound for pitching and hitting, with an inset of the diamond to show the positions of runners on the bases. It switches between a wide overhead view of the outfield and a tighter view of the diamond (depending on the location of the ball) for fielding and baserunning. There are 26 teams, based on the Major League Baseball teams of the day, but the game lacks a license and has fictional rosters and player statistics.

Before each game, players choose a starting pitcher (from four choices), then their specialty pitch (fastball, slowball, slider, or knuckleball) and their stamina (between one and four). Once a specialty pitch or a stamina level is chosen for a pitcher, it cannot be used again when a relief pitcher is called later in the game.

Games are nine innings long. In the event of a tie in a one-player game, the computer wins by default; in a two-player game, the game goes into extra innings until the tie is broken.

Great Baseball 1987 SMS, Defense, Pitching.png

Great Baseball 1987 SMS, Defense, Fielding.png

  • Great Baseball 1987 SMS, Defense, Pitching.png

  • Great Baseball 1987 SMS, Defense, Fielding.png

Defense
When pitching, the player positions the pitcher with Left and Right. The pitcher throws the ball with 2. While throwing the ball, the player can control the pitch with Left and Right for a curve ball, Up for a fastball, or Down for a change-up. The pitcher can throw to base to pick off a runner trying to steal a base by pressing 1 while holding a direction corresponding to a base (Right for first, Up for second, Left for third, or Down for home).

The player can substitute a relief pitcher with Down+1. As when choosing a starting pitcher, the player chooses the pitcher's specialty pitch (fastball, slowball, slider, or knuckleball) and stamina (between one and four) from the remaining choices when selecting a relief.

The fielders are moved with the D-Pad. When playing with automatic fielding, the fielders run after the ball automatically. Once the ball is in possession, it can be thrown to base by pressing 1 or 2 while holding a direction corresponding to the base.

Great Baseball 1987 SMS, Offense, Hitting.png

Great Baseball 1987 SMS, Offense, Running.png

  • Great Baseball 1987 SMS, Offense, Hitting.png

  • Great Baseball 1987 SMS, Offense, Running.png

Offense
When hitting, the player positions the batter using the D-Pad. The batter swings by pressing 2 to step through three batting positions (which can be used for a bunt) or holding 2 for a full swing (or to complete a swing). The player can instruct a baserunner to lead off or to steal a base or to continue running to the next base after a hit by pressing 1 while holding a direction corresponding to a base (Right for first, Up for second, Left for third, or Down for home) or to return to base by pressing 2 while holding a direction corresponding to a base. If no direction is held, the order is given to all runners.

The player can substitute a pinch hitter with Down+1. There are four choices at the beginning of the game, and the player can choose the hitter's specialty (fleet footed, long hitter, spray hitter, or home run hitter). As with pitchers, each hitter and specialty can only be used once per game.

Modes

Great Baseball 1987 SMS, Scoreboard.png

Scoreboard

The game has the following modes:

  • 1 Players Level 1: Starts a one-player game with automatic fielding.
  • 1 Players Level 2: Starts a one-player game with manual fielding.
  • 2 Players Level 1: Starts a two-player game with automatic fielding.
  • 2 Players Level 2: Starts a two-player game with manual fielding.
  • Home Run Contest 1: Starts a one-player home run contest (with no competitor).
  • Home Run Contest 2: Starts a two-player home run contest (alternating turns).

In the home run contest, each player gets 20 pitches and tries to hit as many home runs as possible. There are no fielders or basemen, and pitches are delivered automatically.

Teams

Teams are based on Major League Baseball teams. In one-player games, the player can choose any team to play, and the game automatically chooses an opponent from the same league. In two-player games, players can choose any team, but they must be from the same league.

League Division Team Based on
A League Eastern Baltimore (BAL) Baltimore Orioles
Boston (BOS) Boston Red Sox
Cleveland (CLE) Cleveland Indians
Detroit (DET) Detroit Tigers
Milwaukee (MIL) Milwaukee Brewers
New York (NY) New York Yankees
Toronto (TOR) Toronto Blue Jays
Western California (CAL) California Angels
Chicago (CHI) Chicago White Sox
Kansas City (KL) Kansas City Royals
Minnesota (MIN) Minnesota Twins
Oakland (OAK) Oakland Athletics
Seattle (SEA) Seattle Mariners
Texas (TEX) Texas Rangers
N League Eastern Chicago (CHI) Chicago Cubs
Montreal (MON) Montreal Expos
New York (NY) New York Mets
Philadelphia (PHI) Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh (PIT) Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis (STL) St. Louis Cardinals
Western Atlanta (ATL) Atlanta Braves
Cincinnati (CIN) Cincinnati Reds
Houston (HOU) Houston Astros
Los Angeles (LA) Los Angeles Dodgers
San Diego (SD) San Diego Padres
San Francisco (SF) San Francisco Giants

Production credits

Source:
Uncredited


Hints

Magazine articles

Main article: Great Baseball/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
71
[7]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
70
[8]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
70
[9]
Console XS (UK) PAL
85
[10]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
76
[11]
Génération 4 (FR)
69
[5]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
70
[12]
Power Play (DE)
70
[13]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
67
[14]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[15]
Sega Pro (UK)
74
[16]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
75
[17]
Soft Today (DK)
60
[18]
Tilt (FR)
60
[19]
Tilt (FR)
65
[20]
Sega Master System
 69
Based on
15 reviews

Great Baseball

Master System, US (℠ variant)
GreatBaseball SMS US Box SM.jpg
Cover
Master System, US (® variant)
GreatBaseball US cover.jpg
Cover
GreatBaseball SMS US Cart.jpg
Cart
Greatbaseball sms us manual.pdf
Manual
SegaAdventure SMS US Poster Back.jpgSegaAdventure SMS US Poster Front.jpg
Poster
Master System, US
"Made in Taiwan" variant
GreatBaseball US TW cover.jpg
Cover
Greatbaseball sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
GreatBaseball SMS EU Box NoR.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU (Sega®)
GreatBaseball EU cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU ("No Limits")
GreatBaseball SMS EU Box NoLimits.jpg
Cover
Master System, IT

Master System, KR

Great Baseball SMS KR cart top.jpg
Great Baseball SMS KR cart back.jpgGreat Baseball SMS KR cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 10ed6b57
MD5 1d126c6ac8e4d7b612e9db3d56d9e78e
SHA-1 b332344eb529bad29dfb582633e787f7e42f71ae
128kB Cartridge (EU/US)

References

  1. ↑ http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Santos
  2. ↑ Computer Entertainer, "April 1987" (US; 1987-04-xx), page 14
  3. ↑ File:1988 89 SMS UK Catalogue.pdf, page 2
  4. ↑ ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 166
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Génération 4, "Eté 1988" (FR; 1988-0x-xx), page 58
  6. ↑ Sega Consumer History, Enterbrain, page 37
  7. ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 57
  8. ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 98
  9. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 57
  10. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 141
  11. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-16), page 141
  12. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 133
  13. ↑ Power Play, "Ausgabe 6" (DE; 1988-07-25), page 92
  14. ↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-05), page 18
  15. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 57
  16. ↑ Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 41
  17. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71
  18. ↑ Soft Today, "Februar 1989" (DK; 1989-01-xx), page 25
  19. ↑ Tilt, "Mai 1988" (FR; 1988-0x-xx), page 100
  20. ↑ Tilt, "Julliet/Août 1988" (FR; 1988-0x-xx), page 83


Great Baseball

GreatBaseball title.png

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Games in the Great sports series
Soccer (1985) | Baseball (1985) | Tennis (1985) | Golf (1986) | Ice Hockey (1986) | Baseball (1987) | Basketball (1987) | Volleyball (1987) | Football (1987) | Golf (1987)
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