Nolan Ryan's Baseball
Encyclopedia
Nolan Ryan's Baseball is a baseball video game based on the retired baseball player Nolan Ryan
. The game has no licensing from Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association
; meaning that Nolan Ryan
is the only non-fictional ballplayer in the entire game. All the other players have names that appear to be given name
s while Nolan Ryan uses his surname
. This game was reviewed on the January 1992 (32nd) issue of Nintendo Power
.
and regular season. Unusual for a game at that time, it allowed a position player to be chosen as a relief pitcher
or even as a starting pitcher
. There is no designated hitter
rule in this game so that the pitchers must go up to bat with their .150 batting average (which is below the Mendoza Line
). While pitchers are not expected to hit above the Mendoza Line, having a hitter (or a group of hitters) go through a season with a batting average below .200 could indicate a lack of player skill.
There is no playoffs mode after regular season because all the teams are under one league
. However, if more than one team has the lead for the pennant
, a short elimination tournament
will be held to determine the champion. The graphics look childish although their pitches are similar in speed to the actual Major League Baseball
of that time. While the game was simplistic for the time compared to other baseball games, it has an advantage over newer games because baseball players never retire
and the building (and saving) of stats is entirely possible. The stats are followed throughout the entire year (for all the teams involved) and are adjusted after every play.
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
. The game has no licensing from Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association
Major League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
; meaning that Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
is the only non-fictional ballplayer in the entire game. All the other players have names that appear to be given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
s while Nolan Ryan uses his surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
. This game was reviewed on the January 1992 (32nd) issue of Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
.
Gameplay
Different modes for playing include exhibitionExhibition
An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within museums, galleries and exhibition halls, and World's Fairs...
and regular season. Unusual for a game at that time, it allowed a position player to be chosen as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
or even as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. There is no designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
rule in this game so that the pitchers must go up to bat with their .150 batting average (which is below the Mendoza Line
Mendoza Line
The Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting...
). While pitchers are not expected to hit above the Mendoza Line, having a hitter (or a group of hitters) go through a season with a batting average below .200 could indicate a lack of player skill.
There is no playoffs mode after regular season because all the teams are under one league
Sports league
League is a term commonly used to describe a group of sports teams or individual athletes that compete against each other in a specific sport. At its simplest, it may be a local group of amateur athletes who form teams among themselves and compete on weekends; at its most complex, it can be an...
. However, if more than one team has the lead for the pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
, a short elimination tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
will be held to determine the champion. The graphics look childish although their pitches are similar in speed to the actual Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
of that time. While the game was simplistic for the time compared to other baseball games, it has an advantage over newer games because baseball players never retire
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
and the building (and saving) of stats is entirely possible. The stats are followed throughout the entire year (for all the teams involved) and are adjusted after every play.