Were kids in the 80’s really this lonely?
Posted by: Richie Rich in Commercials, Video Games
Plumbing the depths of the internet in search of material for this silly baseball website usually takes me through a Dante Alighieri-esque trip through the Nine Circles of Hell that is YouTube.
But sometimes, it’s worth it, like Baseball Stadia and minifigs made of Lego (H/T RSM). And especially when you find old commercials from the 70’s or 80’s with jingles that will stick in your head all day.
Here’s two old baseball toys which allowed kids to “play” baseball by themselves.
The Baseball Kid.
Back in the early 80’s, Ohio Art (the company that still makes Etch-A-Sketch) tried to cash in on all those latchkey children who wanted to play baseball with their dad, but couldn’t because he was still at work.
So they made a pitching machine that looked like a kid … The Baseball Kid.
Hmmmm …. hat on sideways, lots of red … I think The Baseball Kid is a Blood.
One of the neighbor kids had The Baseball Kid. Which struck me as odd because he had brothers – why he needed the pitching machine when all three of them played baseball was beyond me.
And the Baseball Kid couldn’t pitch for crap. The pitching “arm” was so cheap that if the machine fell down, it would get bent out of shape and either not work or throw sideways, essentially making him useless until your dad fixed him.
Once, I charged the mound at The Baseball Kid after getting hit by a pitch (okay, a lob). I don’t think I was allowed at Craig’s house for a while after that.
PlayBall
How about this one from the 1970’s? Meet the loneliest kid in the world. He probably chews Bubble Fudge Bubble Gum.
Wow. That’s just sad. That song is just giving your Dad an excuse to stay inside and sleep off his hangover.
I always threw a ball off the side of the garage and then would get yelled at because I had dented up the siding. Dad never bought my “Mom told me not to break a window!!” excuse. If I had that thing, well … I would have just spun it over my head pretending to be a helicopter. I was kinda weird as a kid.
Considering I can’t find anything on Playball Incorporated, I don’t think many of those were sold. Great concept, though.
Personally, this was the greatest Baseball toy of the early 1980’s …
That’s right. Mattel Electronics Baseball. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.
UPDATE – here’s a video.
Anyone else remember those?
Entries (RSS)
January 28th, 2009 at 1:49 am
I had the Mattel Electronic Baseball and the football.
That was the high tech stuff, back in the day.
The good old days when a few LED lights amazed us.
Now we need to bust our hands playing wii.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:51 am
wasn’t “PlayBall” the company George Costanza worked for? The one where “Kramerica” tested the oil tanker bladder.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:17 am
I love the 80’s, just like VH1-
January 28th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I had the Mattel Electronic Baseball also. Loved it!
I remember I could at least scrape together a few neighborhood kids to play baseball. Not enough for a full team but enough to play… with ghost men! “Ghost man on 2nd!”
January 28th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
It was PlayNow that Costanza worked for.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Dude, what is up with crap video of Mattel’s electronic baseball – couldn’t find a commercial? What are you, a communist?
January 28th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
the mattel baseball is god.
i even loved when mattel came out with the ‘head to head’ version of both baseball and football. classic.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
They actually re-released Mattel Baseball and Football just a few years ago. It was the exact same game from the 80’s, and could be bought for about $5. I grabbed both and my sons still play with them. It just goes to prove that the classics never go out of style!
January 28th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
What I would pay for my Matell electronic baseball game now. I absolutely loved that thing. Such fun.
January 28th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I had Baseball Kid.
He was about as good with the glove as the Cubs were in the playoffs.
January 28th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
crazycoach, would you give ten bucks?
I found it with the Googler…
January 28th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I’ve got a WORKING Mattel Electrnics Basketball; sitting on my desk!
January 28th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I have the electronic baseball game next to my home computer. Still worked the last time I checked. I think it was my dad’s and he eventually let me have it.
January 28th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I STILL own and play the Mattel Baseball. Bought it at a flea market a couple years ago for a buck. My nine-year old daughter, old enough to be spoiled by today’s toys, likes playing it, too.
I think it’s because it clearly has never been on the juice…
January 28th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
I used to have the baseball game. Mr brother and I would play after we were sent to bed almost every night. IT is a little hard to play with all lights out.
January 29th, 2009 at 4:40 am
I had Baseball Kid when I was a kid. It was a little more up to date with a hopper for baseballs (more pitches). All I know is it broke after a line drive knocked it over. What a sad day… still don’t know why my brother couldn’t just throw the ball to me.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:22 am
I think I have one of those Mattel Electronics Baseball games. Anyone know if they are worth a fortune yet, heh heh? Almost an antique….I think if you have a working one probably best to hold onto it because I’m sure there aren’t a lot left…
That Baseball Kid thing is a perfect soft-toss tool but the dude looks a bit creepy. I think a wall or the side of a garage is what we used instead of “Play Ball”. Wonder if they sold more than 50 of those and yeah, that song is pretty sad.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:39 am
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June 8th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I had Baseball Kid and I loved it and no I wasn’t a lonely child!! I am actually looking for one for my 2 yr old nephew.