Backyard Baseball '97 Releasing October 10 on Steam

Playground Productions and Mega Cat Studios have announced Backyard Baseball ’97 is set to launch on Steam on October 10. Players can relive the classic game that started it all with Backyard Baseball ’97, enhanced to run on Steam. Whether selecting a dream team, hitting home runs or enjoying the witty banter, the game invites fans back into the backyard to experience the fun that made baseball accessible to everyone. Offering pick-up games, batting practice and stat tracking, players can compete in single games or an entire season, with the ability to set their own rules. Featuring the realism and stats of adult baseball games but with easy-to-master, intuitive controls, Backyard Baseball ’97 ensures fun for all skill levels.

For many fans, this is the game that debuted one of the most iconic video game characters of the 90s or any era—the legend himself, Pablo Sanchez. Build a roster from a cast of 30 hilarious child athletes who made Backyard Baseball a cult classic. 

Game Modes:

• 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 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 3). The playoffs winner advances to the championship series which consists of the Super Entire Nation Tournament (best of 3) and then the Ultra Grand Championship of the Universe Series (best of 5)

Backyard Baseball ’97 offers global competition through Steam’s Leaderboard system, allowing players to track home runs, strikeouts, grand slams, and more in real-time as they compete with friends and players worldwide. While limitations prevent features like gamepad support or compatibility with Steam Deck and modern macOS, the game has been optimized to run smoothly with added Steam achievements. This re-release preserves the original experience for both long-time fans and new players, ensuring the next generation can enjoy the classic Backyard Sports title that started it all. Fans can wishlist on Steam today.