Reggie Jackson and Steve Garvey Help Mattel Herald the Return of the Mattel Classic Baseball Game Just in Time for the 2002 MLB Season.
Entertainment Editors
REPEATING...Saturday transmission
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 16, 2002
America's Favorite Handheld Baseball Game Makes a
Comeback at FAO Schwarz's New Los Angeles Store!
Baseball legends Reggie Jackson and Steve Garvey got old school yesterday as they relived the 1978 World Series playoffs to celebrate the release of the Mattel Classic Baseball(TM) Game.
This time around, Jackson and Garvey battled it out on the electronic playing field at the grand opening of the new FAO Schwarz in Los Angeles, another New York City icon heading west. Originally introduced in 1978, the handheld game is as remembered as the World Series that featured the two popular All-Star players.
"This game is a big challenge for me and Steve," says Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. "The winner could be a predictor of this year's World Series title." All-Star Steve Garvey adds, "I have been dreaming of the chance to play Reggie again and this is my opportunity. The Mattel Classic Baseball game was one of my favorites in my younger days."
"Through research we discovered that our '70s handheld baseball game really struck a cord with many adults. Released more than 20 years ago, this is the electronic handheld baseball game that Gen-X guy's remember and love. It was certainly a homerun then, and now a new generation of kids will be able to enjoy the game," said Phil Jackson, Vice President of Games & Puzzles Marketing for Mattel, Inc.
Consumers filled FAO Schwarz hoping for a chance to meet their favorite player from the 1978 World Series. They watched as Jackson and Garvey exchanged anecdotes about their lives in the diamond, made predictions about the 2002 World Series and signed copies of the Mattel Classic Baseball game.
The Classic Baseball game looks and plays just like the original handheld game from the 1970s. The computer controls the pitching and plays defense while players control hitting and base running when playing solo. The object of the game is to try and score as many runs as possible during the five-inning game. Players can get any kind of hit, even walk on balls called. Don't forget to warm up because the "batter's eye" is still needed to handle the tricky pitches.
Once the game is in the "on" position, the game is ready to begin. The PITCH key delivers the fastball then when players think the pitched ball has entered the strike zone, they press the HIT key. The computer determines the result of the swing, based on the type of pitch thrown and where and when contact is made in the strike zone. If a player chooses not to swing, they will get either a called strike or ball. Once the computer has determined that a hit has been made, the player holds down the RUN key to advance the batter or lead runner if a man is already on base, with the running speed being selected at random by the computer.
