Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball

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Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Mindscape
Developer: Acme Interactive
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Sports (baseball)
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code US 1992 T-87046 AU 199x
Non-Sega versions Super NES

Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball is a 1992 baseball game for the Sega Mega Drive by Mindscape. The Mega Drive version was only released in the US. The game carries an endorsement by professional baseball player Cal Ripken Jr., who played for the Baltimore Orioles and received the MLB's Most Valuable Player award in 1983 and 1991.

The game was first announced as Mindscape Baseball, changing its name when Cal Ripken Jr. came on board to endorse it.

Gameplay

The game is based on Major League Baseball. However, due to a lack of licensing, the game lacks MLB team names and logos, stadiums, and real player names. Cal Ripken Jr. is the only non-fictitious player in the game.

Players can choose from three stadiums: Maxwell Park is an indoor park with a long outfield and astroturf, which is faster to run on; Patrick Field is an outdoor park with a shorter outfield and a small foul area, making it ideal for hitting home runs; and Stevens Park is an outdoor park with the smallest outfield but tall green walls that make it harder to get home runs. Players do not choose a starting pitcher or arrange a batting line-up before starting a game but can make substitutions during gameplay.

	Defense
	When pitching, the pitcher moves on the mound with and and throws the ball with . Positioning on the right side is better against right-handed batters (who stand on the left-side of the screen), and positioning on the left side is better against left-handed batters (who stand on the right-side of the screen). While throwing, holding or curves the ball, holding throws a change-up (slow pitch), and holding throws a fastball. Faster pitches are harder to hit but more likely to travel far or result in a home run, and they also wear out pitchers faster. The player can substitute a pitcher by pausing the game with  START  and picking a relief. The pitcher can pick off a baserunner trying to steal a base by holding a direction corresponding to a base ( for first, for second, for third, or for home) and pressing . Before throwing a pitch, the player can reposition the defense by pressing . The positions of the fielders are shown on the baseball diamond in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Positioning the defense inward is better for catching ground balls from slow pitches, while positioning the defense outward is better for catching catching fly balls and hits from fast pitches. When fielding, the player controls the fielder with the best chance of catching the ball, who can be moved using the D-Pad. A shadow on the ground shows the flight of the ball when it is in the air, and the positions of fielders and baserunners are shown on the baseball diamond in the bottom-right of the screen (with the active fielder shown with a yellow dot). The player can switch to the fielder closest to the ball (if not the active fielder) with or cycle through the fielders with . The active fielder can jump for the ball with . After catching the ball, the fielder can throw it to base by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to the base (or no direction for first) or run it to base for a tag-out by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to the base (or no direction for first). The defensive player with the ball must throw the ball back to the pitcher to end the play (which is done automatically after a moment).
	Offense
	When hitting, the batter is positioned in the box using the D-Pad. The batter swings by holding ; releasing before the swing is complete does a check swing. The batter bunts with +, which can be directed toward third base by holding or first base by holding . The player can substitute batters and runners by pausing the game with  START  and picking a relief. In Exhibition games, a player can call Cal Ripken Jr. as a pinch hitter one time per game, regardless of what team they are playing, by pressing + on the Player Substitution screen. Before the pitcher winds up, baserunners can lead-off or attempt to steal a base by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to a base ( for first, for second, for third, or for home). Pressing the direction one time takes a short lead, two times takes a medium lead, and three times takes a long lead (attempts to steal). After hitting the ball, the runners advance automatically, but they can be ordered to take another base by pressing and holding a direction corresponding to the next base or retreat by pressing and holding a direction corresponding to the previous base. They can pause running by holding +; they resume when the buttons are released. The positions of fielders and baserunners are shown on the baseball diamond in the bottom-right of the screen.

Modes

Home Run Derby

There are the following modes:

• Exhibition Game: Plays a single game. For one or two players. To play a two-player game, player two must select a team first (using the second control pad). Otherwise, if player one selects a team first, the game assumes a one-player game and asks to choose the computer opponent after. Player one is always the home team (starting on defense).
• League Game: Plays a 20-week season. For one player. The player chooses a team and a home stadium. The teams are divided into two leagues of eight teams, then further divided into two divisions. If the player's team ends the season with the best record in the division, the team advances to the playoffs. If the player's team wins the pennant, the team advances to the championship. There is a password system for continuing.
• Home Run Derby: A competition to get as many home runs as possible. For one player. The player chooses a team, the number of innings, and a batter. The computer throws nine pitches over the plate per inning. At the end of the inning, the player is scored on the number of singles (1 point), doubles (2 points), triples (3 points), and home runs (4 points) hit.
• Team Rosters: Views the rosters for all of the teams in the game.

Computer players have three difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, and Hard).

Teams

Team select

There are 16 regular teams in the game, identified only by locale and divided into two nameless leagues.

The first league is identified by blue markers and approximates the American League:

• Chicago
• Oakland
• Minnesota
• Texas
• New York
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Detroit

The second league is identified by red markers and approximates the National League:

• San Francisco
• Los Angeles
• Atlanta
• Cincinnati
• Chicago
• New York
• Pittsburgh
• St. Louis

In addition to these teams, there is an All Stars team and an MVPs team.

Production credits

• Developer: Acme Interactive, Inc.
• Producer: Ian McGee
• Associate Producer: Linda C. Norton
• Business Group Senior Vice President: Mark Beaumont
• Product Marketing Assistant: Debra L. Milliken
• Quality Assurance: Phil Handy, Jon Howe, Marty LaFleur, Scot Lane, Randy Lee
• Quality Assurance Director: Jim Molitor
• Quality Assurance Assistant: Lisa Folcarelli-Gordon
• Technical Support: Douglas J. Valente, Milton Hodges, Christopher R. Kosel, Kevin P. Costello, Dave Locke, Larry Coffey, Stephen Feaster
• Technical Support Manager: Dave BuonCristiani
• Senior V P / Chief Technical Officer: David P. Grenewetzki
• Marketing Project Manager: Julie A. Lippold
• Writers: B.A. Debo, Chris Debo, Anne Schwimer
• Graphic Design: Myrna Peskin, Caroline G. Rennard, Leanne York
• Trafficking: Mary H. Eaves, Shannon Van Scotter
• Creative Director: Lyza Swearingen Latham
• Marketing Director: Craig Harper
• Public Relations: Tracy Egan, Doug Mealy
• Legal Services: Ted Grabowski, Paul Jakab

Special thanks to Phil Handy and Marty LaFleur for their efforts above and beyond the call of duty.

Source:

US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #11: "February/March 1993" (199x-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 40 Computer & Video Games (UK) 62 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 76 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-U 73 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U 84 Sega Force (UK) PAL 67 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 52

	65
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Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball/Technical information.