Cool, thank you. Did Bally release 2 colour variations? My one has blue internal playfield sides and the back glass has blue sky.
(Topic ID: 95859)
Linked Games
1962 World Series
Williams, 1962
Topic Gallery
Clifton, NJ
Gone but not forgotten......I restored this 1972 Williams Line Drive over 20+ years ago. It stayed in my collection for around 6 years. I pinstriped the playfield and painted the cabinet and repaired many problems.
The previous owner cut all the wire bundles that connect to the head because they didn't know that the jones plugs or male to female connectors pull apart, so I soldered each wire back together. Anyway, I really loved the play of this pitch and bat. It was a powerful and fast pace game with the wide open playfield design.
This machine also has a sound board in it and the player can hear the fans cheering and the fire works sounding off. There is also a backglass animated light show.
NEW PIC'S 001 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 004 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 006 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 008 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 011 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 013 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 015 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 021 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 025 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 035 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 037 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 039 (resized).jpgNEW PIC'S 049 (resized).jpgdia jack 004 (resized).jpgI recently picked up this 1959 Williams Deluxe Pinch Hitter. It appears to be a mostly original survivor and complete down to the small billboard signs in the running man unit. I plan to eventually change out the wood legs for the original style red metal ones, although they do not seem too much out of place. It works great and is a blast to play.
Does anyone know if the red ramps originally had #44 or #455 blinkers? Mine has old GE #455s which makes me think they’ve been there for a while.
D2FDA3EB-8184-4597-A787-FD322C3C8837.jpeg3F179E26-763B-49F5-B755-29C870121665.jpegEBC76161-A9B4-4AC1-9A6E-7E392AD0D775.jpeg
Thanks, I agree.
Can anyone tell me definitively what the correct leg length is on the late 1950’s Williams Pitch and Bats with the red metal painted legs? I am leaning towards 28.5” legs but am also seeing 31” depending on the source. 31” seems like it would be too high.
My ‘59 Pinch Hitter pictured above has (incorrect) wooden legs that are somewhere between these lengths and it already seems high.
1 month later
Quoted from Gotemwill:Thanks, I agree.
Can anyone tell me definitively what the correct leg length is on the late 1950’s Williams Pitch and Bats with the red metal painted legs? I am leaning towards 28.5” legs but am also seeing 31” depending on the source. 31” seems like it would be too high.
My ‘59 Pinch Hitter pictured above has (incorrect) wooden legs that are somewhere between these lengths and it already seems high.
Correct legs are 28 1/2 inch metal painted red. See pics -- thats a 58, 59, and 60 WMS pitch and bats. Also have a 62 with same length. The best way to get the red legs is buy these https://www.pinballlife.com/williamsbally-non-ribbed-raw-legs-set-of-4.html and use Krylon spray can Colormaster Banner Red. Several LIGHT coats.
20190525_141842 (resized).jpg20190525_141846 (resized).jpgAnybody got a line on a Chicago Coin Deluxe World Series for sale? Played this as a kid after my paper route and looking to add it to the collection.....
2 weeks later
A Williams Pinch Hitter is up for sale in Philadelphia. Priced right for a game needing a little elbow grease.
Quoted from Gotemwill:A Williams Pinch Hitter is up for sale in Philadelphia. Priced right for a game needing a little elbow grease.
philadelphia.craigslist.org link
This machine is cool as I am sure that's a blonde Ted Williams on a Williams machine circa 1959 when he was still an active player for the Red Sox. 
1 month later
I am interested in cleaning up the play field on my 1959 Williams Pinch Hitter. From what I have read here, it sounds like the play field surface material is formica.
Can anyone tell me whether you can clean it up and wax it like a normal pinball? What should I use? Novus 1 and Carnuba?
1 month later
Technical question; however, this seems to be the best place to post it. My Pinchhitter is pitching consistently wide right. Consistently as in 4 out of 5 pitches are too wide to hit. Of those a good 25% will be so wide that they hit the 'rail' and bounce towards the center, thereby registering as a strike. Is there a trick/technique to get it to pitch down the middle consistently (obviously, while not pressing the curve button)? Do I try to bend the metal striker and if so do I bend it towards the direction it is skewed (which seems reasonable to me). Or do I try to rotate the entire pitching mechanism? (Not sure how I would do that) Or some other 'adjustment' I should make?
If anyone ever needs a Williams Line Drive backglass PM me. I have an original with flaking in the expected areas and a brand new Shay reproduction.
Quoted from Oldgoat:Technical question; however, this seems to be the best place to post it. My Pinchhitter is pitching consistently wide right. Consistently as in 4 out of 5 pitches are too wide to hit. Of those a good 25% will be so wide that they hit the 'rail' and bounce towards the center, thereby registering as a strike. Is there a trick/technique to get it to pitch down the middle consistently (obviously, while not pressing the curve button)? Do I try to bend the metal striker and if so do I bend it towards the direction it is skewed (which seems reasonable to me). Or do I try to rotate the entire pitching mechanism? (Not sure how I would do that) Or some other 'adjustment' I should make?
The pitches should be straight down the unpainted pitching lane. If not, you need to align the pitching mechanism or check to see that the balls not hitting something before it comes out of the chute.
Quoted from Gotemwill:The pitches should be straight down the unpainted pitching lane. If not, you need to align the pitching mechanism or check to see that the balls not hitting something before it comes out of the chute.
How does one align the pitching mechanism? Do you fiddle with the actual 'blade' that strikes the ball or attempt to rotate the entire mechanism. If rotation is the answer, is there a technique to do that? I don't see anything, like slotted screw holes or adjustment screws that would be used to make the adjustment.
Quoted from Oldgoat:How does one align the pitching mechanism?
I have a few P&Bs and it seems to me at one time, I had the same problem as you're having..
For me I studied the throwing arm (that makes contact with the ball) and tweaked it
a bit which solved the issue..
If that arm looks to be offset, I'd maybe try doing a little adjustment to correct it..
Quoted from Mopar:I have a few P&Bs and it seems to me at one time, I had the same problem as you're having..
For me I studied the throwing arm (that makes contact with the ball) and tweaked it
a bit which solved the issue..
If that arm looks to be offset, I'd maybe try doing a little adjustment to correct it..
I'll give that a shot...you'd think there would be some wiggle room to fasten the mechanism to the bottom of the playfield. If I could rotate it a couple of degrees, that would do it.
Quoted from Oldgoat:Technical question; however, this seems to be the best place to post it. My Pinchhitter is pitching consistently wide right. Consistently as in 4 out of 5 pitches are too wide to hit. Of those a good 25% will be so wide that they hit the 'rail' and bounce towards the center, thereby registering as a strike. Is there a trick/technique to get it to pitch down the middle consistently (obviously, while not pressing the curve button)? Do I try to bend the metal striker and if so do I bend it towards the direction it is skewed (which seems reasonable to me). Or do I try to rotate the entire pitching mechanism? (Not sure how I would do that) Or some other 'adjustment' I should make?
Here’s a link to Planetary Pinball and Williams parts catalog. Check to see if you can find your game and what size ball you should use. I think 7/8 but check site and make sure your ball is right. Also make sure you have the Ball Guide Spring part 10A-63 or 63A depending on game. It’s right under the playfield flap and I’d think the ball would do crazy things without that guide.
http://www.planetarypinball.com/reference/partsmanuals/WMS_Parts_1962/files/mobile/index.html#66
Quoted from tuffano:Here’s a link to Planetary Pinball and Williams parts catalog. Check to see if you can find your game and what size ball you should use. I think 7/8 but check site and make sure your ball is right. Also make sure you have the Ball Guide Spring part 10A-63 or 63A depending on game. It’s right under the playfield flap and I’d think the ball would do crazy things without that guide.
http://www.planetarypinball.com/reference/partsmanuals/WMS_Parts_1962/files/mobile/index.html#66
I'll double check, thanks
It appears it was just the striker bar that got bent somehow. Therefore, it was not making contact with the center of the ball (7/8"). Now the head scratcher is how it got bent in the first place. I've had the game for several years without much of a problem and it takes quite a bit of force to bend the striker. Maybe the force behind the striker bar is enough that it slowly got off center...but not enough to make a difference until it reached a point where it did make a difference. At that point, the bar was off-center enough that each pitch would have resulted in the bar being deflected even further? Or perhaps I pitched one before it was fully in position and that caused the striker bar to bend? Anyhow, thanks for the suggestions
Quoted from Oldgoat:It appears it was just the striker bar that got bent somehow. Therefore, it was not making contact with the center of the ball (7/8"). Now the head scratcher is how it got bent in the first place. I've had the game for several years without much of a problem and it takes quite a bit of force to bend the striker. Maybe the force behind the striker bar is enough that it slowly got off center...but not enough to make a difference until it reached a point where it did make a difference. At that point, the bar was off-center enough that each pitch would have resulted in the bar being deflected even further? Or perhaps I pitched one before it was fully in position and that caused the striker bar to bend? Anyhow, thanks for the suggestions
Damn, spoke too soon. I'm about 90% sure the issue is with the ball guide spring. It does not put enough downward pressure, so the ball can leak out to the side before traveling the full length of the 'trough'. When I press down lightly on the spring with my finger, it pitches fine. So, I did a bit of disassembly, removing the pitching unit, so that I could reach the spring. Tried to bend it back some and it now seems to work. However, my experience with spring steel tells me, I'll need to get a new spring. Not really looking forward to that as the last person that replaced it or tried to adjust it, stripped the head of one of the screws that holds it in place. Oh well, guess I'll need to order a new spring.
Leduc, AB
3 weeks later
I've added scanned and cleaned up background scenery from a Williams Pinch Hitter to my website for anyone who might need it. I think it was used in other games too.
RoundedBacksm (resized).jpg
It's on the same page as the Running Man unit players I posted a while ago. They can be downloaded and printed.
https://www.funwithpinball.com/resources
/Mark
Apologies as this is a bit off topic but... I also posted this in the e m Parts thread.
Looking for 1949 Williams All American quarterback backglass. The one I have is lifting heavily was probably stored in a cold area. Cross-posting this as it is a pitch and bat but has flippers. I know it's a long shot but, it's an interesting rare game. (Stock photo)
image-14 (resized).jpgQuoted from Vic_Camp:Gone but not forgotten......I restored this 1972 Williams Line Drive over 20+ years ago. It stayed in my collection for around 6 years. I pinstriped the playfield and painted the cabinet and repaired many problems.
The previous owner cut all the wire bundles that connect to the head because they didn't know that the jones plugs or male to female connectors pull apart, so I soldered each wire back together. Anyway, I really loved the play of this pitch and bat. It was a powerful and fast pace game with the wide open playfield design.
This machine also has a sound board in it and the player can hear the fans cheering and the fire works sounding off. There is also a backglass animated light show.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
This is so cool; one of the best restoration projects I've come across. I love the idea of having a sound-board in the machine, think I might look into installing one myself.
I have a 1964 Midway Winner. I see only one other pitch and bat that is not baseball themed shown on this topic. It is also by Midway a 1965 Mystery score. Mystery Score is shown a few pages back. I always wanted a Williams 57 Baseball. I had never seen a Winner until finding it by flashlight in a huge totally unlit old mill building. Several floors many rooms no electricity total darkness. A friend and I had already picked the mill a couple times before and were still finding new rooms and more stuff. We went back for a final search and I found another almost complete Winner that I've saved for parts. The cars on my winner are not correct. I did get one of the proper ones off of ebay but got side tracked by other games and never got the other proper one. It also probably doesn't have the proper legs. Back in the 90s when I built my collection there was no Pinside or much of any way to get information on things like proper legs. I don't remember how I found out about the cars. I decided the Winner was a better fit for me than a Baseball. I had never been very good at baseball, always one the last chosen. On the other hand I've been a gearhead all my life. At 14 I got my first car a 1962 Mini that I had to drop the subframe and engine. When it was ready I got friends to help me lift the car up and walk it back off of the engine subframe like it was a wheel barrow. I had several other interesting cars, currently own a 1952 Morris Minor. At one time given the chance to put that 57 Williams next to it I would have. Now if I can only have one I'll keep my Winner.
IMG_5160 (resized).JPGIMG_5161 (resized).JPGIMG_5163 (resized).JPGIMG_5164 (resized).JPGIMG_5166 (resized).JPGIMG_5168 (resized).JPGQuoted from dcannan:I have a 1964 Midway Winner. . .The cars on my winner are not correct. I did get one of the proper ones off of ebay but got side tracked by other games. . .Now if I can only have one I'll keep my Winner.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
The correct dinky cars are frequently available on eBay.
I had a Midway Race Way about 20 years ago and replaced it with this Flying Turns (depicted below and which will soon be for sale). Donation will be made to Pinside, if sold.
Midway's games have a small footprint, which makes them great candidates for unusually compact spaces. I think that some of their titles are extraordinary and much under-appreciated.
A prime example is Midway's Slugger. My 1st Slugger is shown in post #40 of this thread and my upgraded condition Slugger at post #295, which is a fantastic playing pitch & bat and a real good-looker as well. I still have Slugger, peeking out in photos below.
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Quoted from ZNET:The correct dinky cars are frequently available on eBay.
I had a Midway Race Way about 20 years ago and replaced it with this Flying Turns (depicted below and which will soon be for sale). Donation will be made to Pinside, if sold.
Midway's games have a small footprint, which makes them great candidates for unusually compact spaces. I think that some of their titles are extraordinary and much under-appreciated.
A prime example is Midway's Slugger. My 1st Slugger is shown in post #40 of this thread and my upgraded condition Slugger at post #295, which is a fantastic playing pitch & bat and a real good-looker as well. I still have Slugger, peeking out in photos below.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Yep those Dinky toys also don my Raceway flyer above Raceway. Flying Turns the preferred machine due to the turret launcher.
First pitch and bat so stoked!
Just picked up today everything works needs a serious cleaning
Was wondering does this game take a black light?
The colors look like it would
Thanks!
034017CF-4044-4402-B55D-3CC7D650CF68 (resized).jpeg0AAAE485-7D3A-4F42-A2F3-1B3744313612 (resized).jpeg2CCBB58E-7000-42CC-8A39-3CC91D78D152 (resized).jpeg7CD95E15-0B4B-4463-94D7-4B1F654BB5FC (resized).jpegED25A7BE-AC01-412C-B719-BCD407D664C3 (resized).jpegtried a black light,tried a white black light,both too dark i didn't like either for game play.some of the paint is florescent but for this game it just don't work.
good luck with it.
Quoted from ZNET:I think that some of their titles are extraordinary and much under-appreciated.
Years back after picking up a Midway's Fun Ball, and already having multiple Man-Run-the-Bases P&Bs, I figured it
wasn't going to be any big deal of a game, but after going through it, it's actually a good player. This was the add-a-ball
version. I had the Replay Fun Ball, and it wasn't the same as the AAB's play. Midway's Rifle Gallery's another one that
I'll always have set up..
Not a good pic, but I'm able to complete the series with the Midway's Champ. Years later after opening it up, I
understood why the guy traded it in. Much was missing. Many of the missing components are Bally parts which I
had on hand and got her to play 100%..
IMG_0743 (resized).JPGQuoted from dcannan:I have a 1964 Midway Winner.
Is this Dennis? Only Winner that I know of in Rochester..
Quoted from Mopar:Is this Dennis? Only Winner that I know of in Rochester..
Yes I am Dennis. Who is this?
1 month later
Gang, Im going through the process of getting the bleacher scenery redone for Chicago Coins #Baseball Champ. let me know if anybody could use this.
What you are looking at is the front of the left side and the back of the right side, giving you the translucency for the indicators.
bleacher (resized).JPGIMG_1868 (resized).jpgIs there a reference website for pitch and bat games?
I know they're on ipdb, but they're mixed in with the bingos and pins.
Quoted from jrpinball:Is there a reference website for pitch and bat games?
I know they're on ipdb, but they're mixed in with the bingos and pins.
there is a facebook group...
Quoted from jrpinball:Is there a reference website for pitch and bat games?
I know they're on ipdb, but they're mixed in with the bingos and pins.
Pinrepair.com has a lot of P&B info.
2 weeks later
Quoted from pinhead52:Gang, Im going through the process of getting the bleacher scenery redone for Chicago Coins #Baseball Champ. let me know if anybody could use this.
What you are looking at is the front of the left side and the back of the right side, giving you the translucency for the indicators.[quoted image][quoted image]
I am also looking for this game anyone have for sale Baseball champ or world series.
2 weeks later
I recently picked up a 1954 Chicago Coin "Home Run" pitch and bat game which needs major restoration.
It's way beyond what I'm willing to take on, and I'm not really a big fan of these anyway. I'd be willing to trade it for a Gottlieb project pin or whatever. PM me for details.
I'm in the northeast US.
Quoted from jrpinball:I recently picked up a 1954 Chicago Coin "Home Run" pitch and bat game which needs major restoration.
So I take it that the bg isn't in too good of shape..
Quoted from Mopar:So I take it that the bg isn't in too good of shape..
No, it is not. Do you have a repro? I don't want the "Super" version, which has been reproduced. I know you have someone who can do one-offs.
Quoted from jrpinball:Do you have a repro?
No, I don't have a repro, just wondering if I may have interest
because I already have dozens of other good size projects, so not
sure if I'd want any others...
Picked up a 72 Williams Line Drive months ago. Just about done. After 60 hrs+ of cleaning etc. (ughh)
New bullseye target plastic , stripped & plated pitch/bat buttons, made new alum hanging targets & powder coated red, new pitching mound flap & powder coated green.
Added crowd scenes, touched up batters box & mylared area and added some led lighting which really helps if room lights are off. Cabinet rough - just touched up as best I could
IMG_2216 (resized).JPGIMG_2217 (resized).JPGIMG_2218 (resized).JPGIMG_2212 (resized).JPGIMG_2215 (resized).JPGIMG_2214 (resized).JPGIMG_2204 (resized).JPGIMG_2206 (resized).JPG
Game looks great, I played Line Drive a lot back when it first came out.
I really like the crowd scenes you added, was it difficult to do? I have a 1966 Williams 'Pitch & Bat' and would really like to add some crowd scenes, I think they improve the look of the game.
I also saw a pic (below) where Vic Camp had added crowd scenes to another Line Drive that he had done awhile ago. Not sure if the dimensions of the crowd scene (paper?/vinyl?) would be the same as for my 'Pitch and Bat' (bottom picture).
Crowd Scene (resized).jpgHome Run Plastic (resized).jpgQuoted from heatwave:Game looks great, I played Line Drive a lot back when it first came out.
I really like the crowd scenes you added, was it difficult to do? I have a 1966 Williams 'Pitch & Bat' and would really like to add some crowd scenes, I think they improve the look of the game.
I also saw a pic (below) where Vic Camp had added crowd scenes to another Line Drive that he had done awhile ago. Not sure if the dimensions of the crowd scene (paper?/vinyl?) would be the same as for my 'Pitch and Bat' (bottom picture).[quoted image][quoted image]
Vic Camp's pics gave me the idea for the crowd scenes and after searching on google (couldn't find his), I found this
on Sports Crowd wallpaper https://wallpapersafari.com/sports-crowd-wallpaper/
and had a local printer print out a bunch of pieces (7" x 16" or so) for me to piece together. I just
added some glue to the adhesive backed paper. Not hard. In hindsight, I should've had him print
on thicker/ sturdier stock -or even a vinyl.
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