Last updated on January 3rd, 2026 at 05:57 am
Backyard Baseball '97 – Sports Game Review
Backyard Baseball '97 is a Sports/Family/Sports game from Playground Productions LLC, first launched in 27th March 2025.
It’s rated 4+ and currently has 1,403+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Backyard Baseball '97 Stand Out
Rediscover the joy of the original Backyard Baseball 1997! Build your roster from the iconic cast of 30 characters stacked with charming personalities and witty banter, and get the edge on the competition with power-ups, fireball pitches, super strength, and Pablo Sanchez!
Play pick-up games, practice batting, and compete in single games or a whole season with simple, intuitive controls that anyone can master!
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 to choose players from a random pool of characters.
Season: You create a team and manage it 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 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)!
Batting Practice: Choose a batter and face Mr. Clanky for some batting practice. This is where you’ll learn just when to click to make your chosen batter hit that ball!
T-ball – Select T-ball mode for more accessible game play. Simply click to hit, run, and field!
BACKYARD BASEBALL RULES
The rules for Backyard Baseball are a hybrid of Pro and Little League rules:
No leading off
No Injuries
Bunting is allowed
Tagging up is allowed
Stealing is allowed
At our core, we are fans first–not just of video games but of the Backyard Sports franchise. Fans have asked for accessible and legal ways to play their original Backyard titles for years, and we are excited to deliver. Without having access to the source code, there are hard limitations on the experience we can create. Backyard Baseball '97 runs buttery smooth for iOS devices, looks better than ever, and creates a new installation for digital preservation within the Backyard Sports catalog that allows the next generation of fans to fall in love with the title that started it all.
This Sports game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Backyard Baseball '97 is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 22nd November 2025
Recent improvements include:
- improved anti-cheat checks for tournaments
Download & Availability
Backyard Baseball '97 is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get Backyard Baseball '97 on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
We have won 10 games so far and that this game is amazing we rate it a 5 star cause screaming line drive and under grounder and crazy bunt.
Its perfect just great and smooth gameplay and very hilarious as a football fan that doesnt really care about baseball this game is amazing a must get if you like simple sports games and funny characters.
We are obsessed with this game. There are so many loving touches poured into every detail. The dialogue. The walk up music. The walk up animation. Pablo! Given the point and click roots this is a natural port to mobile and two seasons in we play almost every day. Kudos to the developers for the continued updates. Play ball.
The title says it all. Also, there are slight screen vertical lines on the sides of the Megacat opening. Please maybe even add a CRT computer screen filter somewhere on the pause screen.
Its challenging its fun, its just a really good game.
Good but make a new intro please.
Its a great game just didnt let us open to frequently so if you wanna have fun but dont care for glitches then its a great game.
Had no issues with crashing or any funny business, was a fun trip down memory lane. Played a full season and won the Ultra Grand Championship of the Universe tourney. Lifes good! Lots of good info/tips for how to play in the subreddit.
The port to iOS is excellent and could only improve in minor ways (more generous tapping area to trigger a swing, picture scaled out to fill full screen). Its a shame you cant play a second season with a team in season mode but easy enough to create a second save for season 2 etc Below are some gameplay notes on things that are consistently bothersome. BUT: since we exclusively played 01 and 03 growing up, these may just be original to this earlier title. Hence the full five star rating still. 1. No hitting power up for turning two. Only way to get a hitting power up is to hit the CPUs pitching power up. 2. Impossibly low chance of making it on base or advancing a runner even on solid outfield hits (on hard mode at least). This kind of makes it more fun to play as an adult than the original, though, because it makes it harder to win. But its annoying regarding the internal realism of the game. In other words, an update that nerfed fielders arms just a little would be welcome.
Can we please get MLW players in the game now?Now that they are sponsored by backyard sports we would love to have this as our line up.1:Kyle Schultz 2:Pablo Sanchez 3:Jimmy Knorp 4:Ryan Kracht 5:Jordan Robles 6:Pete Wheeler 7:Daniel Shultz 8:Sawyer Beyen 9:Mikey Thomas!!! Btw anyone saying that team wouldnt be over powered is crazy.Overall great game,BUT GET MLW PLAYERS IN THIS GAME.
Its great that when it works, it plays like the PC game. However, the game crashes too frequently – typically within a minute of opening it. We think that maybe sometimes a saved game file gets corrupted. Also, the record books dont track for ERA and have other small bugs (it seems that only the top 4 show per category).
The game is really fun but we bought the wrong one and it wont let us return it someone please tell us how to return it.
One of the best baseball games on mobile right now! We hold they continue to remaster these games! Theyre timeless.
We played all the backyard sports games when we were a kid, and this game has a special place in our heart. Although it was a trip down memory lane, we still experienced some general issues with gameplay (its not perfect, could be better). The controls are a little wonky when the ball is hit in play. Controlling your fielder is very difficult even catching pop flies. We wish there was a touchscreen joystick for movement instead of tap to move. Makes catching pop ups almost impossible to catch with the tap controls. When the ball is hit in play, your infielders and outfielders will sometimes just move from their base, even if theres a force out at that base. And it doesnt let you tap to specify which player to move. It will just move the closest player to the ball. Timing the swing and making contact is a lot harder than anticipated. But we guess thats a good thing, creates a challenge. More players!! Old and current ones please. Maybe a deeper tournament mode, multiple seasons for one team would be nice so you dont have to make a new team every time. Create an option to disable time consuming animations like the catcher Throwing the ball back to the pitcher after every pitch. Pointless added time to games. Pitching locator when pitching is wonky. You have to click and drag your finger to the batting zone, and then release then tap again to pitch? Even though you put the ball where you want to throw it, your second tap most likely wont be where you dragged your finger to. Making it harder to be accurate. Hopefully devs see this feedback and tweak some things. We think the game is great. Nostalgic and fun, just how we remembered when we were a kid. We think if they make some small gameplay changes to fix errors and lower game time, with a deeper tournament mode, it would be a game we wouldnt put down if we have some time to kill.
As an 11 year old, we can see why adults and kids back in the day love this game. We are a huge fan of baseball, this game even made us learn some rules of a ball game. We dont see anything wrong with the game so far. Hitting a homer is the best feeling so far. Pablo is the GOAT.
We are so happy this game franchise is back thank you so much this app os amazing it works everywhere with no ads no WiFi and no extra data keep them coming.
Love that they brought this back. Its not without its quirks like loading games sometimes causes crashes but Id rather have something vs nothing. Would love a multiplayer option.
We love bits personally but can we get backyard football and the other ones PLZZZZ.
Best game ever and we are happy now.
The title should speak for itself, but there is one caveat. That being that the touch controls are a bit on the iffy side. Its hard to get base runners to round bases in a smooth manner and you cant slide. Aside from that, awesome game.
We brought this game out of genuine curiosity and because our step dad grew up with the backyard sports franchise. We absolutely love this game and Im happy we brought it. Probably the best use of 5 dollars Ive ever spent.
Love the game from our childhood.
Wholesome game and characters, Hope to see more titles release in the future, hope the game can make great memories for kids today. Family friendly game.
The best baseball game ever made.
How is this game? Yes! Nostalgia plays a huge role.
The game is very fun and addictive, and it kills time. Its also a perfect game for long car rides because it does not require any WiFi to play. Im very happy that this game is on mobile because Ive always wanted to play it, but it was only on computer. Best $5 Ive spent.
After downloading this nostalgic game from our childhood, we played for hours!! It is just like the original. Everything has worked great for us. Has only crashed one time. We got our boyfriend and his daughter hooked on it now. Its truly a family fun game! Cant wait for soccer to come out.
Never got to play until now love this 5 out of 5.
We just wanna know because we loved playing that back then.
Before moving onto 2001 release, can we please release the rest of the installments from hockey, (most importantly) soccer & basketball.. Im sure Im not the only one thinking this wasnt the right PR move.
Our first problem is sometimes Im mid game and we decided to get off the game and do something and when we go back on the game the game doesnt save our next problem is you cant sim games like the games are like 30 minutes to 1 hour and the season is like 14 games And Im not trying to spend that long on a game Something else that could help is making it so you can have an option to change the innings to whatever you want instead of having each game be 9 or 6 innings But other then those 2 thing the game is really really good and we suggest playing it.
We love this game Especially when we here the words We want a batter bat a broken ladder. It makes our day the best played ( in our Opinion) is Pablo Sanchez, Keisha Phillips, Jocida smith,Pete wheeler and Ahmed khan. We love this game so much brigs back so many memories.
Love the game. Would love it more if we could play more than one season in league play mode. Also, Vinny says swung too late if you swing early, and swung early if you swing late. Also would love to see some of the other Backyard kids on opposing teams in league play. But overall a very fun way to kill some time and the nostalgia value is super high. Cant wait for Backyard Baseball 2001.
If you like baseball you will like this game. This is the best baseball game.
Brings back memories, runs well , we had a few crashes but other then that a good throwback , bring back backyard football.
It so good that we bought an apple gift card just to get this.it so.
Pablo Sanchez is better than Babe Ruth no lie.
This game is really fun we just started and Im already addicted to it.
The same old game we grew up on. Really well done.
Love the backyard sports series, keep them coming. A couple things. 1. Put the backyard kids on other teams during the season mode. It did on the computer drive, not for mobile. 2. Pete wheeler has been going slower as the season goes lately, instead of refreshing for every game. Fix that please, thanks. 3. Dont wait to put the other backyard games on mobile. Im sure Im not the only one thinking that. Thanks.
Just like we remember. Keep up the fantastic work and we cant wait to see more of your stuff come out.
When batting and trying to swing or switch directions the screen sometimes stops working and you can click swing or arrow. Then need to press time out like 5 times and then it takes to dugout then continues when we go back for some time.
You should make the backyard football one that would be sick.
Played this new for years as a kid on PC. This is the exact same game just updated for touch & no mouse. Always a good time.
This game have pretty cool characters and a lot of kids experience from back in the of the past.
Loved this game as a kid and it hasnt changed one bit. So happy to have it back.
Above all the baseball games this in the App Store this one is the best just so fun and we love the effects.
We love this game and was wanting to play it then we found this and it is so fun P.S pablo the goat.
Backyard baseball is the best game of all time literally our childhood.
This game is so fun that we played for 5 hours and it felt like 5 mins it is just a banger one anyone who needs the to play a game.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 1.1.31
- Size: 319.89 MB
- iOS: 16.6 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory:
- Developer: Playground Productions LLC
Last updated: 22nd November 2025 | Genre: Sports, Family | Developer: Playground Productions LLC