Backyard Baseball ’01 launches July 8 for PC, iOS, and Android

by

On July 8th, as announced by both Playground Productions (the publisher) and Mega Cat Studios (the developer), the classic game titled Backyard Baseball ’01 will be made available for PC, iOS, and Android devices via Steam.

Nearly 90% of the original 31 Major League Baseball players are coming back to play again. Among them are stars like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Cal Ripken Jr. The game will also incorporate authentic MLB branding elements, such as team logos, names, and player likenesses.

As a passionate fan myself, I’m thrilled to share that Playground Productions is privileged to collaborate with MLB to introduce this timeless game into the realm of contemporary gaming platforms for the very first time. Back in the days, Backyard Baseball ’01 revolutionized the scene—bringing sports legends into the Backyard universe. I can hardly contain my excitement as we prepare to let fans re-experience the thrill of constructing their ultimate team, combining our cherished original characters with the greatest baseball pros from that iconic era.

Jamie Leece, MLB’s senior vice president of gaming and virtual reality, commented, “Backyard Baseball holds a unique spot in the hearts of many fans due to its charming qualities and distinctive features that were quite unusual for games during its era. We are thrilled to contribute in some way by authentically incorporating MLB branding into this revival, and eagerly await the nostalgic experience when those who enjoyed this classic game as kids can now pass it on to their own families and friends.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

Step Up to the Plate

Re-live the second installment of the “Backyard Sports” series, improved this time around. Choose your ideal team, join a casual pick-up match, or embark on a complete season – whatever you prefer! Get ready at bat and enjoy the game that turned baseball into an entertaining pastime for all!

In “Backyard Baseball ’01”, you can combine the Backyard kids with legendary MLB players who have been specially adapted. Design your own Backyard team, personalize their uniforms, and devise strategies to conquer the Championship. Choose to play a one-off game, go through an entire season, or compete against other “Backyard Baseball” players across the nation. With its user-friendly controls suitable for all ages, “Backyard Baseball ’01” offers an engaging experience!

Swing Back Into Baseball

Enjoy baseball like it’s 2001!

  • 30 charming backyard kids.
  • Legendary professional players.
  • MLB team marks.
  • Hilarious bloopers.
  • Eight classic ballparks.
  • Nine pitching power-ups and four batting power-ups.
  • Lively commentary from Sunny Day and Vinnie.

As a gamer, diving headfirst into this game, I’m picking my batter and squaring off against Mr. Clanky in a friendly batting session. It’s here that I’ll master the art of timing my clicks perfectly, ensuring my chosen batter connects with the ball!

The G.O.A.T. Returns

Experience the fun alongside the iconic figure, Pablo Sanchez. Construct a team using a lively group of 30 comedic young athletes and 31 timeless sports legends who turned Backyard Baseball ’01 into a cherished sports masterpiece.

Game Modes

Choose from three modes of play (Easy Mode, Medium Mode, Hard Mode).

  • Random Pick-Up – A quick way to jump right in! The computer chooses a random team for you and itself and the game starts immediately.
  • Single Game – You take turns with the computer choosing players from a random pool of characters.
  • Season – You pick your home field, create a team, and manage the team through a 14 game series. The opposing teams are computer generated. At the end of the season, the best two teams advance to the BBL playoffs (best of three). If you keep winning, you’ll compete in the Super Entire Nation Tournament and Ultra Grand Championship of the Universe Series!

Additional Information

Fundamentally, we’re enthusiasts at heart, not just for video games, but particularly for the cherished Backyard Sports series. For quite some time, fans have been yearning for straightforward and legitimate means to replay their initial Backyard games, and we’re thrilled to provide such an opportunity!

In simpler terms, since we don’t have the original source code, there are significant restrictions in the type of user experience we can develop. For instance, it’s not feasible to use the old 32-bit code to run on modern versions of macOS. No matter how ingenious the workaround, macOS is incapable of running these binaries due to its architecture.

The 2001 version of Backyard Baseball performs smoothly, boasts an enhanced appearance, is packed with Steam achievements, introduces additional challenges to test your skills, and lays down a fresh foundation for digital archiving within the Backyard Sports series, enabling newer fans to develop a fondness for the game.

Watch the launch trailer below.

Launch Trailer

Read More

2025-06-30 16:31