Wiry Dan's Electric Baseball Game - is that you - Joe D?
Stone193
Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
I know my board game threads go over about as well as a hooker with leprosy - but I promise - this one has a BB card connection!
Wiry Dan's Electric Baseball Game - 1950 - Harett-Gilmar Inc.
I'm surprised it took me this long to pick up this game - it's plentiful - though hard to find in really nice shape.
And to be frank - going back to the 50s - I find it hard to believe its construction could withstand the rigors of a group of prepubescent adolescents on a rainy Saturday afternoon?
The game has some staining that appears to be something like 'foxing' as opposed to grime - it would not budge with distilled water and mild detergent or even a dilute bleach.
Fortunately, the instructions are on the back:
And now to the playing board - I took the time to check the mechanism and how realistic the play is? I'm not over-enthused. I will say - Jim Prentice's Electric Baseball series of games are far better constructed.
Now - to the graphics...
"Where have 'you' gone - Joe Dimaggio? Well - maybe to the cover of Wiry Dan's?
I think there's a resemblance a la Ted Williams on coke and condoms?
And last - the company is from Far Rockaway, NY.
When I was a kid, we would take the bus over the Rockaway Beach. I doubt parents would let their children do that today.
And for anyone who wants to know how the game works? Here's a summation:
If you look at the top of the board - you see an arrow with "pitch selection" - the pitcher "hides" his selection with his hand and presses the arrow on the pitch of choice.
Then the hitter picks a certain "hit" with his wire wand.
If the umpire "lights up" - he then hits the spinner on the lower right that decides the "play" - hit or out.
If the umpire doesn't light up - then the pitcher continues to hold down their 'selection' while the hitter places the wand onto the ball/strike/foul/ball until the umpire lights up which determines the outcome of the pitcher and ya keep track.
Fun huh?
No matter "what" ya collect? Happy Hunting!
Wiry Dan's Electric Baseball Game - 1950 - Harett-Gilmar Inc.
I'm surprised it took me this long to pick up this game - it's plentiful - though hard to find in really nice shape.
And to be frank - going back to the 50s - I find it hard to believe its construction could withstand the rigors of a group of prepubescent adolescents on a rainy Saturday afternoon?
The game has some staining that appears to be something like 'foxing' as opposed to grime - it would not budge with distilled water and mild detergent or even a dilute bleach.
Fortunately, the instructions are on the back:
And now to the playing board - I took the time to check the mechanism and how realistic the play is? I'm not over-enthused. I will say - Jim Prentice's Electric Baseball series of games are far better constructed.
Now - to the graphics...
"Where have 'you' gone - Joe Dimaggio? Well - maybe to the cover of Wiry Dan's?
I think there's a resemblance a la Ted Williams on coke and condoms?
And last - the company is from Far Rockaway, NY.
When I was a kid, we would take the bus over the Rockaway Beach. I doubt parents would let their children do that today.
And for anyone who wants to know how the game works? Here's a summation:
If you look at the top of the board - you see an arrow with "pitch selection" - the pitcher "hides" his selection with his hand and presses the arrow on the pitch of choice.
Then the hitter picks a certain "hit" with his wire wand.
If the umpire "lights up" - he then hits the spinner on the lower right that decides the "play" - hit or out.
If the umpire doesn't light up - then the pitcher continues to hold down their 'selection' while the hitter places the wand onto the ball/strike/foul/ball until the umpire lights up which determines the outcome of the pitcher and ya keep track.
Fun huh?
No matter "what" ya collect? Happy Hunting!
Mike
0
Comments
I personally believe it is just a generic drawing, and you just happen to see Joe in a card doing a similar pose (As well as Williams, I've seen the same).
<< <i>I personally believe it is just a generic drawing, and you just happen to see Joe in a card doing a similar pose (As well as Williams, I've seen the same). >>
I'll respectfully disagree.
It's pretty well accepted by "gamers" that the companies "borrowed" likeness and 'played' on namesakes - like referring to "Ruth" - so people will infer the Babe e.g. - and have used his characteristic swing/posture as a knockoff.
Here's another example:
This is an illustration from the Saturday Evening Post by J.F. Kernan:
and here's a 'knockoff' used in a Jim Prentice electric baseball game:
They used that 'likeness' in the E120, 68-B, 48-B and the 63-B models from the 1940s illustration.
And, as I reported - here's a knockoff of Ruth's namesake - and pretty much accepted by the "game" community:
<< <i>That's pretty blatant right there. Even stole the circular earth or whatever that background is. I agree the Joe D was stolen also. >>
I agree Doug. Though I can sure see Sean's 'take' on this - I would be tempted to view it like someone seeing Jesus in his pancakes if I hadn't experienced a lot of this in the board game world.
<< <i>I always enjoy your baseball game posts. I played Strat-O-Matic forever. If my eyes and back could tolerate it, I'd play another season. I used to play a game called "Sandlot Slugger" when I was a kid. It wasn't exactly a board game. But it was a blast for a seven year old. >>
Thanx Sam!
I think I know the game you're talking about - around 1968? Milton Bradley?
If so - I've seen it - but - as you said - it's not the type game I would pick up - tho - if I ever ran out of stuff to collect? I would start on that kind of stuff.
But, there's a zillion games in the affordable range - and quite a few - not.
<< <i>When I was a kid, we would take the bus over the Rockaway Beach. I doubt parents would let their children do that today. >>
Not now Mike. Kids around here don't even go to the bus stop alone anymore and they won't let your child off the bus after school's over unless you are there. That does stop for middle school though.
Anyway, another nice pickup, but I agree it doesn't look like the best one you have to play. One day when I come to visit you I'll get you to let me play a couple of your games.
Hey Sam, I still have my Strat-O-Matic games too. Someday I'll find someone to play against me again.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
<< <i>Thanx Mike and Steve! >>
It is nice to see Steve get off the sidelines once in a while.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
I like the central time zone - it's the best for watching evening shows.