Super League (スーパーリーグ), known in the United States as Tommy Lasorda Baseball, is a Mega Drive baseball game developed by Sega R&D 2 and published by Sega in 1984.[2][3]
The American version of the game was endorsed by Tommy Lasorda, who was manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time. It was one of the console's launch titles in that region.
Gameplay
The game is a major league baseball game. The Western versions features teams modeled after Major League Baseball, while the Japanese version teams are based on the Nippon Professional Baseball league. Player names and statistics are fictional. Player one is always the visitor and bats first.
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Batting Order and Starting Pitchers
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Before each game, players can change the batting order and the starting pitchers.
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Defense
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When pitching, and position the pitcher on the mound and throws the ball. During the pitch, holding throws a slider, throws a curve, and throws a change-up (which can be combined with the others to throw a slow slider or a slow curve). While pitching, the player can change the position of the fielders by pressing while pressing a direction on the D-Pad. The fielders can move two steps in any direction. Moving the fielders in makes it easier to catch ground balls and bunts, while moving the fielders back better positions them to field fly balls from hard hitters.
The stamina of the pitcher is shown under his ERA in the bottom-right corner of the screen. When a pitcher is low on stamina, the ball becomes harder to control. The player can substitute a relief pitcher by pausing the game with START and choosing a substitute.
Pressing when there are runners on base shows an overhead view of the diamond. From this view, the pitcher can throw the ball to a base to pick off a runner trying to steal a base by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to the base ( for first, for second, for third, or for home). The pitcher can run the ball to a base himself for a tag-out by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to the base.
When fielding, the D-Pad controls the fielder closest to the ball; the computer controls the other fielders. A yellow dot on the miniature field in the bottom-right corner of the screen tracks the ball as it moves; a yellow circle flashes to show where the ball will land, to help position a fielder to catch it. Wind can affect the trajectory of the ball's flight (if enabled). After catching the ball, it can be thrown to base by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to the base.
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Offense
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When hitting, the D-Pad positions the batter in the batter's box. Holding performs a complete swing; only tapping does a check swing (which can be done multiple times, depending on the positioning of the batter, but the batter completes the swing if the bat passes over home plate). Pressing holds a bunt (or pressing again releases it). Tapping or aims the bunt in a direction.
Before the pitch, the player can lead-off by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to the destination base ( for first, for second, for third, or for home). After the wind-up, the player can steal a base in the same way. The player can have a runner return to base by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to the destination base.
The player can call in a pinch hitter or substitute a runner by pausing the game with START before the pitcher winds up and selecting a substitute.
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Modes
The game modes are named differently depending on the region of the game:
- U.S. East/West Mode and World East/West Mode (C-League Mode and P-League Mode in the Japanese version): Starts a 30-game season. This mode is for one player competing against computer-controlled teams. The name of the mode indicates the league and the division (or just the league in the Japanese version) of the teams available. If the player wins the league championship, the player's team progresses to the World Series in the Western versions or the Nippon Series in the Japanese version, a best-of-seven game playoff series. The game uses a password for continuing.
- Open Game (Open Mode in the Japanese version): A single game for one player against a computer opponent. The player can choose any team to play and for the opponent.
- Exhibition Game (Vs Mode in the Japanese version): A single game for two players competing against one another. Players can choose any team to play.
In the options, the player can set the computer difficulty (Easy, Normal, or Hard) and whether to bias the game towards pitchers or batters or have an equal game of skill between both. There are also toggles for fielding errors and the ball marker (that shows where the ball will land) and three settings for wind (Off for no wind, Easy for slight wind effects on the ball, and Hard for possibly major wind effects on the ball, especially when it is hit high into the air).
Teams
No versions of Super League carry official licenses from baseball organisations. However, both the Japanese and Western versions use teams inspired by their real life counterparts. Likewise, all player names are fictional.
Western versions
In the West, teams are based on those that competed in the 1989 Major League Baseball season. The "U.S. League" corresponds to the American League, and the "World League" corresponds to the National League.
League |
Division |
Team |
Based on
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U.S.
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Eastern
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DET |
Detroit Tigers
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TOR |
Toronto Blue Jays
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MIL |
Milwaukee Brewers
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NY |
New York Yankees
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BOS |
Boston Red Sox
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BAL |
Baltimore Orioles
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CLE |
Cleveland Indians
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Western
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MIN |
Minnesota Twins
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KC |
Kansas City Royals
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OAK |
Oakland Athletics
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SEA |
Seattle Mariners
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CHI |
Chicago White Sox
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CAL |
California Angels
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TEX |
Texas Rangers
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World
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Eastern
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STL |
St. Louis Cardinals
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NY |
New York Mets
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MON |
Montreal Expos
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PHI |
Philadelphia Phillies
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PIT |
Pittsburgh Pirates
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CHI |
Chicago Cubs
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Western
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SF |
San Francisco Giants
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CIN |
Cincinnati Reds
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HOU |
Houston Astros
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LA |
Los Angeles Dodgers
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ATL |
Atlanta Braves
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SD |
San Diego Padres
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Japanese version
In Japan, the teams are based on those of the 1989 Nippon Professional Baseball season.
League |
Team |
Based on
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Central
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Dracons |
Chunichi Dragons
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Gaints |
Yomiuri Giants
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Carves |
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
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Sallows |
Yakult Swallows
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Whoels |
Yokohama Taigou Whales
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Tiders |
Hanshin Tigers
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Pacific
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Leopons |
Seibu Lions
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Buffals |
Kintetsu Buffaloes
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Figers |
Nippon-Ham Fighters
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Brives |
Orix Braves
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Hawkas |
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
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Orvons |
Lotte Orions
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Production credits
- Planner: Mae
- Chief Programmer: Yamaichi
- Assistant Programmer: Mizoran
- Graphic Coordinator: Tamun, Wood One, Autumn
- Ground Designer: Tamun
- Fielder Designer: Wood One, Autumn, Big Island, Toyo Ozaki
- Sound Coordinator: Roge
- Director: Yamaichi, Mae
- Special Thanks: Ryuchan, Min, Works Nishi, Kota, Si Extra, Morii, Stresteles, Lee, Lander, Kuma, Uru Uru, Tatsu, Usida Moo, Nekoda Nya, Inuda Wan, Umada Hihiin
- Presented by: Sega
Source: In-game credits[10]
Source: Sega TV Game Genga Gallery[11]
Hints
Magazine articles
- Main article: Super League (Mega Drive)/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Print advert in
(JP) #0: "Extra issue of
Beep!" (1989-04-27)
Print advert in
(US) #11: "June 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
- (US) #12: "July 1990" (1990-xx-xx)[12]
Print advert in Computer Games (GR) #3: "Ioúnios 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
Print advert in
(US) #1: "June/July 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
- (US) #13: "August 1990" (1990-xx-xx)[13]
- (US) #12: "July 1990" (1990-xx-xx)[14]
- (US) #18: "July 1990" (1990-0x-xx)[15]
Physical scans
Mega Drive version
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Division by zero.
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Based on 0 review
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Super League (Mega Drive)
Mega Drive, JP
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 Cover
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 Cart  Manual
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Mega Drive, US
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 Cover
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Mega Drive, EU
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 Cover
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Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; black)
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Mega Drive, AU
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 Cover
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Mega Drive, BR
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 Cover
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Mega Drive, CA
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 Cover
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Mega-Tech version
Technical information
- Main article: Super League (Mega Drive)/Technical information.
ROM dump status
System |
Hash |
Size |
Build Date |
Source |
Comments |
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?
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CRC32
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aa3965db
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MD5
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1d4e55cb51b89942e12d27f9794122c2
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SHA-1
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057004754c9bfd8bbbc107a69681ae0977b664de
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512kB
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1989-05
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Cartridge (US)
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Tommy Lasorda Baseball
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✔
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CRC32
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4fb50304
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MD5
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9edf4e2024d5bba29748b580930a1ea4
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SHA-1
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dde1b2465f54f4f6f485c1ba063ff47c5d1baf27
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512kB
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1989-05
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Cartridge (US)
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Tommy Lasorda Baseball (Rev. A)
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?
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CRC32
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55baec6e
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MD5
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fe966e29f7dda9084261fdfd648c3f50
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SHA-1
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fefc7abc2f9fbcc7992b1420b62eb3eb3d5ad1bb
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512kB
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1989-05
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Cartridge (EU)
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Super League
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✔
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CRC32
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ea13cb1d
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MD5
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731d1675352961fa7254a720432c0bbb
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SHA-1
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9e975ba4c396617ff9535d51d0929f6d592478fc
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512kB
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1989-02
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Cartridge (JP)
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Super League
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?
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1989-04-30
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Page
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References
- ↑ File:SuperLeague MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Computer Entertainer, "October 1989" (US; 1989-10-20), page 15
- ↑ GamePro, "February 1990" (US; 19xx-xx-xx), page 51
- ↑ Sega Visions, "August/September 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 20
- ↑ Sega Channel schedule (US; 1994-06-01)
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MERwuwZK9YM (Ghostarchive)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Raze, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-02-28), page 53
- ↑ Sega Power, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-07), page 21
- ↑ File:Super League MD credits.pdf
- ↑ Sega TV Game Genga Gallery, Graphic Sha, page 128
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 9
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "August 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 7
- ↑ GamePro, "July 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 61
- ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1990" (US; 1990-0x-xx), page 59
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 249
- ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Januar 1990" (DE; 1989-1x-xx), page 58
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 72
- ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 36
- ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 49
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 134
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-14), page 76
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1989" (US; 1989-xx-xx), page 13
- ↑ Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 115
- ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "November 1989" (JP; 1989-10-07), page 49
- ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 80
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
- ↑ Play Time, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-06), page 94
- ↑ Score, "Srpen 1994" (CZ; 1994-08-01), page 58
- ↑ Sega Power, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-07), page 20
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 30
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87