Here's a couple of my favorites. I still have the 1940s Keeney Deluxe Texas Leaguer. Its got a small footprint so it doesn't take up much floor space. I sold the 1960 Williams Official Baseball. Look closely at the Official Baseball players. They were hand-painted by a professional artist to reflect the 1960's Yankees team, correct jersey numbers, hat logo and all. The backglass blue jerseys compelled me to turn the 3D players into Micky Mantle, Whitey Ford et al. In fact, I recently found a couple of spare 3D mannequin players, probably wondering why they've been in the dugout so long. For the record, though, I'm more of a Philly's fan.

523851_4405000559822_1230832879_n.jpg548413_4404981479345_627510523_n.jpg385575_4404971279090_1036704864_n.jpg479925_4969923682547_1583517987_n.jpg603164_4969698956929_876695157_n.jpg603164_4969698956929_876695157_n.jpg

In addition to Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, other mannequin players on my Official Baseball included Roger Maris and Yogi Berra. Okay, now that I've posted these photos, I wish that I had kept the game. At times, I also regret selling my 1973 Williams Upper Deck. Oh well, fellow collectors are enjoying them.

Below are some photos of my 1963 Midway Slugger (gone) as well as a few more of the others.

Image 15.jpgImage 14.jpgImage 13.jpgImage 7.jpgImage 43.jpgImage 54.jpgImage 50.jpg

Few enthusiasts seem to know much about Midway's 1963 Slugger. It's a real "under-the-radar" pitch & bat with a great array of features, i.e. 6 drop targets which disappear flat to the playfield, 9 fly-away targets, 2 ramps, 2 gobble holes, 4 slingshots, variable scoring when lit inserts, a variety of extra ball awards, and a replay award.

The placard above the fly-away target bank illuminates randomly to invite a challenging shot at one of the two ramp targets to score either 30 runs or alternatively win 3 extra balls. The player can swing the bat twice, allowing for pinball-like play when the ball strikes a slingshot. Indeed, a good strategy is to aim for a slingshot in order to accelerate the resetting of certain fly-away targets, which have already been achieved. Whenever I play a Slugger, I'm impressed with its successful playfield design. It's got that elusive "just one more game" addictive quality. All of this in an eye-catching dominant green art package. Also, the Midway games of this era are compact, consuming less floor space than many other pitch & bat games.

Midway employed the add-a-ball feature more than other manufacturers in the early sixties (e.g Flying Turns). This is my second Slugger, having sold the first one (a major restoration project) many years ago. Although I've seen only a handful of Sluggers, this title seems to often suffer from marked backglasses flaking/fading, pitted chrome (particularly the chrome aprons and slingshot covers), target and placard damage, and cabinet paint degradation. This one was in great mechanical and cosmetic shape when it arrived at my house a couple of weeks ago, requiring unusually little detail work.

Slugger is my favorite pitch & bat game, which does not feature a running-man unit, and proof that such a unit is not a requisite to a fun pitch & bat game.

20160713_205019_(resized).jpg

20160730_155738_(resized).jpg

20160720_004801_(resized).jpg

20160730_154559_(resized).jpg

20160730_154626_(resized).jpg

20160717_183146_(resized).jpg

20160717_183220_(resized).jpg

20160713_203623_(resized).jpg

I pondered the Star Slugger variant feature quagmire a few years ago and came out more perplexed than when I began. Having previously owned a Super Slugger and currently having a Star Slugger in my line-up, and having compared notes with other owners of these games, I am still unable to solve the mystery. For those unfamiliar with the 3 models, they are:

*1955 Super Slugger (there's a deluxe version and there is a regular version)
*1956 Star Slugger
*1956 Star Super Slugger (the creative team was on vacation the week United named this game)

The Mr. Pinball guide list states the following:

--Super Slugger Deluxe includes a double match feature.
--Star Slugger has a replay model available.
--Star Super Slugger has neither a replay model nor a double match feature.

The flyer (shown below) for Super Slugger Deluxe boasts a double clover match feature and that a regular model is available without that match feature.

I have seen the Super Slugger regular model and the playfield is slightly different than the deluxe model. For example, the gobble holes behind the 2 perimeter ramps charge outs and the hole behind the center ramp awards a home run and extra runs.

The flyer (shown below) for Star Slugger states that regular and replay models are available.

Each game model has a different backglass; however, all include the graphics for a double clover match feature.

Below is a photo of the internal backbox of my previously-owned Super Slugger. Also, below is a photo of the Star Slugger counterpart (not my game, however, my game looks the same, as I recall). My Star Slugger does not have a match feature and I know of none that do. I too was under the impression that the backglasses were based upon a contemplated match feature which was either discontinued after the 1955 Super Slugger model or else never implemented in any model.

Irrespective of the match feature, present or not in Super Slugger, Star Slugger is the superior game. This is because Star Slugger has 3 innings versus a single inning with its predecessor. Also, Star Slugger has a load-the-base award behind each of the 3 ramps whereas Super Slugger awards a mere single for those gobble holes. Further, Star Slugger has arguably better art, particularly on the playfield,, and most prefer the deeper green color of the backglass. I leave it to Pinside to determine which game possessed which features. Carry on.

$_57 (resized).JPG

3502f1 (resized).jpg

20141203_110515_1 (resized).jpg

image-17 (resized).jpg

Gary Conway does make the Super Slugger and/or Deluxe version translite repro. I utilized one for a game formerly in my line-up and it looked good, although screened repros are superior.

As stated in post #378 above, Gary Conway makes a translite style repro for Super Slugger. Here's a photo of that repro, which I utilized for my game, formerly in my line-up. Gary used to ship these repros assembled (translite wedged between glass sheets, with edges sealed). More recently, Gary will sell the translite alone. It's easy to purchase the glass yourself and assemble it and you won't have to worry about breakage during shipment.

Text me (you have my cell) or PM me if you need Gary's contact information.

20141015_010602 (resized).jpg

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.
20191005_002347 (resized).jpg20191005_002530 (resized).jpg20191005_002645 (resized).jpg20191005_002728 (resized).jpg20191005_002836 (resized).jpg20191005_002904 (resized).jpg20191005_002946 (resized).jpg20191005_003014 (resized).jpg

Exhibit Supply pitch and bats are scarce. I would like see and play just about any game produced by that manufacturer. I am currently restoring this 1953 Exhibit Space Gun.

20200118_162136 (resized).jpg

Anyone remember how to send Robin a thumbnail game photo for the Pinside inventory? If so, 1963 Midway Slugger needs one. Here's my example of that game.

Feel free to screenshot it to send to Robin or else post a link or instructions here and I will do so. Thanks.

Screenshot_20220811-215900_Chrome (resized).jpg

I have had 2 in my line-up over the years. It's a really under-the-radar pitch & bat. There are so many features on Slugger, essentially a pinball hybrid with kickers, gobble holes and an add-a-ball score reel.

Ramps, drop down targets, fly away targets, variable scoring. . .it's all there, plus a nice art package. Yet, the game is largely unknown. Perhaps that's because few survivors remain, especially compared to the large supply of Williams titles. Perhaps it's the absence of a running man unit?

Midway made some unusual games in the early 1960s. I have had Midway's Flying Turns and Raceway as well. I like the smaller footprint of these machines.

Screenshot_20220811-231900_Chrome (resized).jpg

Screenshot_20220811-231923_Chrome (resized).jpg

Screenshot_20220811-231941_Chrome (resized).jpg

Screenshot_20220811-231853_Chrome (resized).jpg

Done. Thanks.