Thirty years ago, Milton Bradley produced a board game called Championship Baseball. At the time, I was twelve years old and if I had to guess... I'd say that this game's target audience was my age group.
However up until a few years ago, I had no idea this game existed.
Each game included a set of thirty cards produced by Topps. Over the years, I've seen my fair share of singles from this set in quarter bins, but didn't know too much about them.
Then a few months ago I stumbled across the actual board game, while walking around the flea market. I was pretty impressed with the overall setup of the game. When constructed, the board becomes a pretty cool looking stadium with an actual score board.
But if you know me, the baseball cards were the key reason I was interested in the game. They have a solid card design that sort of fits the "oddball" genre. The only downside (at least for me) is the airbrushing of the team logos.
But if you know me, the baseball cards were the key reason I was interested in the game. They have a solid card design that sort of fits the "oddball" genre. The only downside (at least for me) is the airbrushing of the team logos.
Most of the card backs feature 1983 statistics, along with dice combinations that were used in the game. The game was obviously designed to be high scoring, because based on his card Rickey would have reached base safely ten out of twenty-one times.
The four pitchers in the set didn't have the dice combinations printed on their cards. Instead they had the standard 1983 statistics on their backs.
Complete board games will typically cost you $20 to $30 on eBay. I picked up a sealed game for $24.99 (free shipping) back in May. If you're interested in just the cards, they'll typically run you $6 to $12 delivered on eBay.
Alright... are you ready? Let's play some ball...
Happy Monday and sayonara!
12 comments:
I've seen the cards but never the game. Thanks for posting that.
Great post. I wasn't familiar with the game.
When we were kids we created our own game much like that using our baseball cards. If we would have known that a game already existed with a cool stadium set up. Our lives would have been so different.
All we had was a huge green piece of fabric we drew a baseball field on. The opposite side had our much more popular football field that got tons more use.
I pull a lot of those cards from the 100 card rack pack repack.....er.....packages.
Say that 10 times fast.
Fuji great find. I would gave snapped it up myself.. At the last shoe I went to a guy had two of the Milton Bradley games from 1969 complete in the box. A little pricier at $100.00 a game. I passed
That game package is pretty cool. The cards are okay -- it's that logo thing -- but the game looks pretty sharp.
That's cool to see, especially for a baseball board game nerd like myself. It makes me want to haul out my Statis-Pro or Cadaco games. :-)
I remember wanting this game so bad. I never did get it. I actually forgot about this game. Thanks for opening old wounds :P
I do want to grab those Guidry and Winfield cards for my Yankees odd ball collection.
SWEET!. I'd have done the same thing. I actually pick up vintage games at yard sales, when I see them. Never lucky enough to spot that one........YET. I do have a few copies of that Murphy though.
Instead of 'play ball' it's more 'roll the dice' ;)
Pure vintage goodness, what a score, Fuji! Both the cards and the "board" playing field just look awesome.
I would have been all about this game when I was younger if I had known about it. Great post!
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