Baseball Classics FAQ

FAQ Categories:

General
Baseball Classics Baseball Game Play
Standard Edition
Matrix Edition

General

What’s different about Baseball Classics compared to other tabletop baseball board games?
Baseball Classics Baseball Game is played by 1000’s of baseball fans worldwide.
Here’s why they stepped up to the plate and enjoy playing Baseball Classics:

 1. Faster game play

 2. Easier game play

 3. Authentic Major League Baseball game play

 4. Results reflect actual season performance

 5. Order any Major League Baseball team or season from 1901 to present!

 6. Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced playing levels can be played using the same player card

 7. Colorful standard playing card size

 8. Instantly download or have your order shipped

 9. Two great games to choose from Standard or the all new multi-dimensional Matrix edition

10. Outstanding service as rated by our customers

What’s the difference between the Standard and new Matrix Editions?
The basic answer is the dice used. Dice make quite a difference in any tabletop game. Both editions use 1 six-sided binary die (three sides with a 0 and three sides with a 1) to determine if the Result is pointed to the batter’s player card or pitcher’s player card. Here’s the difference in the dice used.

The Standard Edition uses 2 six-sided standard dice (1,2,3,4,5,6). This facilitates play based on a single column for each batter and pitcher card in their Result columns. Supports lightening fast, easy play, yet embraces a high degree of player result accuracy. There are up to 3 color-coded ratings for fielding, bunting, base stealing, and running.

The Matrix Edition uses 2 ten-sided dice (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) in addition to the binary die, thus providing a multi-dimensional player card with 200 dynamic possibilities for a result per at bat. This provides for an even higher degree of player result accuracy and yet still is nearly as fast and easy play as the Standard Edition. There are up to 4 color-coded ratings for fielding, bunting, base stealing, and running. We’ve added pitching fielding ratings based on their play.

Both editions have easy to read, consistent playing charts (including the popular Simulator Chart which means virtually anything that can happen in a Major League Baseball Game can happen in your Baseball Classics game play) revolved around the dice they use. They both display graphically based “traffic highlighting” for ALL ratings. Everything else is the same, order any Major League Baseball team or season from 1901 to present! We are the only tabletop baseball game that offers that and we began that tradition when Baseball Classics was founded and first manufactured in 1986.

How do the Baseball Classics player cards compare to others on the market?
Here is a sampling in order: APBA, Strat-O-Matic Basic, and Strat-O-Matic Advanced tabletop baseball games. Note - Replay Baseball Game asked us to remove their card from this collection. However you can try to view the same exact player card we displayed on their site at: http://www.replaybb.com/BBPages/BBHowTo.htm so you can still view the comparison.

Baseball Classics Standard and Matrix Edition player cards:

 

What do I get in the Baseball Classics Free eGame Edition?
The Baseball Classics Baseball eGame comes with everything you need for endless hours of play. We provide two partial team rosters (we usually rotate these once a year shortly after the World Series), enough to field two teams with ample pitching staffs with starters and relievers. There are also all the Baseball Classics game parts with the exception of dice and the Baseball Classics game box, however we’ve substituted a Random Dice Table that can be used instead of the dice. Note that Baseball Classics dice can be purchased separately through our Baseball Classics Web Store.

You simply need to fill out some basic information about yourself (we never share our list) and then you’ll be able to download the Baseball Classics Baseball eGame which comes as an Adobe PDF file. Print it, cut out the player cards along the dashed lines, and you’ll be playing our premium tabletop baseball game in minutes! We’re offer our Free eGame in the Baseball Classics Standard Edition and Baseball Classics Matrix Edition.

When should buy and download my Baseball Classics order vs. having it shipped to me?
When you want to save 50% off the price. We pass along the savings to you! We recommend a color printer and standard 80lb or heavier card stock for the player cards, though printing your entire download orders on standard paper works fine too! Each player card has dashed lines so you can cut them out quickly and easily. There is no limit to the amount of times you can print the PDF.

Speaking of shipping the cards, this is your other of two flexible options Baseball Classics offers their customers to receive their game. Our high quality premium tabletop baseball game is professionally manufactured and is a sure hit with all of our customers. Those ordering any Baseball Classics Baseball Game Standard or Matrix edition receive their game in our newly designed game box. Naturally you can also just order any Major League Baseball team or season for download or to be shipped, or even extra game parts to be shipped. We use USPS to ship our orders customers want delivered to their doorstep.

Can I put together the Baseball Classics package I want?
Absolutely, with Baseball Classics you have total flexibility to place your order the way you want it to be. Choose from the many specially packaged Baseball Classics Baseball Game Editions we offer or purchase the Baseball Classics full set of Baseball Game Parts and only the teams and/or seasons you want. If you already own Baseball Classics Baseball Game, you can always add to the teams you have purchasing them separately.

You can order your Baseball Classics Baseball Game to be downloaded or shipped to you.

I received my Baseball Classics order via download over a year ago, but lost my .PDF. Will Baseball Classics send me a replacement file, if so, at what cost?
Yes, simply send us an e-mail at sales@playbaseballclassics.com including your Order number (if you don’t have it, we’ll try to look it up in our system based on your name) with that request.

Will Baseball Classics offer teams and full seasons from other Baseball Leagues such as the Negro League, Minor Leagues, etc.?
We would love to offer other Baseball Leagues, however there are no plans to do so at this time. However we are proud to be the only tabletop baseball game offering any Major League Baseball team or season from 1901 to the present with two game editions; Standard and the Matrix!

Would you or have you considered making "extra players" for team?
Currently, we do not have plans to expand the 24 player rosters. We do appreciate the desire to have team with every player that ever played for a team within a season, even if it was only 1 at bat or 1/3 of an inning pitched. However in order to offer any Major League Baseball team or season from 1901 to present we will continue to keep the team rosters to 24.

Are there plans in the works for other sports tabletop games from Baseball Classics?
There are no plans at this time.

Where else can I purchase Baseball Classics Baseball Game besides at your web site or phone number?
For the time being Baseball Classics will remain an Internet based business, however we are exploring and considering other channels.

Will there be sales tax on my order?
There is only a possibility to have sales tax as part of your order if you are a resident of Illinois or Nebraska. Residents in Illinois will have sales tax added if they purchase via check, money order, or through PayPal. Nebraska residents will have sales tax added to their order if they purchase through our Web Store or via phone. Nebraska is the headquarters of our partner eSellerate, they process all of our transactions through our Web Store.

Will you ship my order to an International location?
Yes, Baseball Classics has done this many times. Please send us an e-mail at sales@playbaseballclassics.com to make that request and we will e-mail you with appropriate shipping and handling for that. Payment for all International orders are only accepted via PayPal at www.paypal.com.

What is the phone number to call to place my Baseball Classics order?
1-952-908-4090

Standard hours of operation are 9AM to 5PM Central Time Monday through Friday (excluding Holidays).

What is your privacy policy?
Baseball Classics will not share your personally identifiable information outside of Baseball Classics. It is used only for the sole purpose for which you specifically provided the information including, for example, to enable us to process, validate and verify orders and provide updates to our customers regarding Baseball Classics Baseball Games.

What are your company values?
Realism: Baseball Classics simulates nearly every aspect of a Major League ball game. No two games will ever be the same. You'll encounter dramatic game situations where crucial decisions have to be made. Our game covers all the bases including; critical hit & run calls, advancing base runners into scoring position, surprise suicide squeeze bunts, fielding, and much more! Baseball Classics puts you right in the dugout and offers you the same options as a big league manager.

Accuracy: Players have the ability to perform just as they did that season. Our statistical formulas account for each vital statistic, ultimately bringing you the most accurate play and realism.

Easy Play: One look at any of our Baseball Classics Major League player cards and it’s easy to see how to play Baseball Classics Baseball Game. Our competitors provide statistical accuracy like us, but they one look at their players and it’s confusion. Keeping Baseball Classics easy to play is our commitment and has been since 1986.

Flexibility: From 3 playing levels in a single game to the way you can order your game to the unlimited teams you can order from 1900 to present. Baseball Classics is committed to the providing the most options for baseball fans. No other game offers this flexibility. We’ve been offering this type of flexibility for over 20 years.

Best Price: Baseball Classics Baseball Game is a box seat, front row product at a bleacher seat pricing. Starting as low as $9.99 for our complete eGame via immediate download, we have the best pricing for baseball fans from ages 9 to adult.

 

Game Play

How long does it take to play a 9 inning game?
Typically a 9 inning game takes 10 to 15 minutes to play using the Basic play level. Intermediate and Advanced playing levels average 15 to 20 minutes for a 9 inning game. These playing times are for either the Baseball Classics Baseball Game Standard or Matrix Editions.

What is the age range to play? Is it solitaire and/or head-to-head tabletop game play?
The age range spans all generations of baseball fans, from 9 to adult. Baseball Classics Baseball Game has 3 playing levels to suit those generations; Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.

Yes, Baseball Classics can be played solitaire or head-to-head managing your team against another opponent.

How many players come on a team?
Baseball Classics teams come with up to 24 players, 15 batters and 9 pitchers.

What is the difference between the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced playing levels?
Since baseball fans come in all ages from youth to adult, we have designed Baseball Classics with play for different levels of baseball knowledge. There are 3 levels of play to meet the needs of baseball fans across generations; Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. Use our same easy to read player cards for all levels. You won’t need different player cards or charts. From youth baseball to expert baseball fan, Baseball Classics is for everyone.

Basic Play follows standard baseball rules and includes the most basic plays such as double plays and sacrifice fly outs. Little League players are familiar with this play.

Intermediate Play adapts Basic play level and includes bunting, base stealing, and base running. Casual baseball fans are familiar with this play.

Advanced Play adapts Basic and Intermediate play levels and includes fielding, hit & run, as well as virtually anything that can happen in a Major League Baseball Game. Plays such as pitch outs, wild pitches, rain delays or rain outs, arguing with the umpires, injuries, and more are incorporated in this level. Expert baseball fans are familiar with this play.

The specifics can be found in the Baseball Classics Baseball Game Field Manager’s Rule Book. The Rule Book is included in our FREE Baseball Classics Baseball eGame instant download.

Are their rain outs, arguments with the umpire, injuries, etc.?
For those desiring to play a game that contains virtually any event that can occur in a Major League Baseball Game, Baseball Classics has what you want. Each game comes with a Simulator Chart which has a straight forward layout for fast and authentic Major League Baseball play! Note that the Simulator Chart is not required to use when playing Baseball Classics, it’s for the Advanced playing level for those wanting to experience virtually any event that can occur in a MLB game. The Baseball Classics Standard and Matrix Edition have this exciting chart.

The Simulator Chart features all of the following: Threatening weather forcing rain delays, rain out, wild pitches, passed balls, pitch outs, pick off attempts, balks, dropped third strikes, batters hit by pitch, arguing with the umpire that could lead to getting tossed out of the game, and player injuries from just shaken up to ending their season.

And what about Pitcher fatigue?
Yes, Baseball Classics has Pitcher Fatigue that can be factored in.

Does Baseball Classics require me to have a computer to play it?
Baseball Classics is a tabletop baseball board game. Note you can save 50% if you have a computer and printer and decide to purchase your Baseball Classics Baseball Game and teams via download. It’s simple, the Baseball Classics Baseball Game is Free and included within the Trial Edition while any additional teams can be ordered separately through our Web Store.

 

Standard Edition

How accurate is player performance in the Standard Edition?
Typically within a fraction of a percentage point!

Though it’s impossible for any baseball tabletop game to repeat the exact same performance, however it is possible to deliver a fantastic experience of replaying baseball history with accurate results. Baseball Classics fans have thoroughly time-tested our game over and over, playing full seasons and discovered for themselves the accuracy Baseball Classics Baseball Game delivers.

The Baseball Classics Baseball Game Standard player card performance column Result ratings have a high accuracy for their actual player performance and with our format, we keep the play easy and fast.  Using the single column format Baseball Classics is able to give the best of both worlds to our customers regarding easy, fast play and accuracy. This format enables our player cards to reflect a consistent and high degree of accuracy for the number of singles, doubles, triples, homeruns, walks, strikeouts, etc. they achieved that season. The results listed in each player’s Result column will typically be within 98% or better of that players actual performance result. Various other tabletop baseball board games will be within 99% or better, though they chose a format that adds complexity to their player cards. Consequently this sacrifices their ease of play and length of playing time.

Since they share a similar 2 six-sided dice format, let’s compare the popular Strat-O-Matic player card to a Baseball Classics Standard Edition card regarding accuracy by looking at a couple of examples.

Example 1: Let’s say a player had 600 total plate appearances in a season and 99 of his hits were singles. This equates to .165% of the time that player had a single. A Strat-O-Matic player card could list a “SINGLE” result so it could be rolled .16667% on that card. Meanwhile on a Baseball Classics player card it could list a “Single” result so it could be rolled the same .16667% of the time on that card. Thus, both Strat-O-Matic and Baseball Classics player cards in this example would provide the same exact accuracy which would be within .002% of the actual .165%.

Example 2: Let’s say that same player with 600 total plate appearances in a season had 21 doubles. This equates to .035% of the time that player had a double. A Strat-O-Matic player card could list a “DOUBLE” result so it could be rolled .037% on that card. Meanwhile on a Baseball Classics player card it could list a “Double” result so it could be rolled the same .027778% of the time on that card. Thus, the Strat-O-Matic card would be within .002% while the Baseball Classics card would be within .007% of accuracy, a difference of .005%.

Example 3: Let’s cover one last example and say that same player with 600 total plate appearances in a season had 3 triples. This equates to .005% of the time that player had a double. A Strat-O-Matic player card could list a “TRIPLE” result so it could be rolled .009259% on that card IF they chose to include a “TRIPLE” considering that is almost twice as high .005%. Meanwhile on a Baseball Classics player card it would not list a “Triple” result since it’s not a high enough percent of the time within the Results possibilities allowed. Though that may seem to be a problem, since a triple was so rare for that player, he could still hit a triple when the roll goes against the pitcher card. However that player never rolled a “Triple” against any pitcher card he faced over those at bats, that means he still would be within .005% of that actual number of triples. Thus, the Strat-O-Matic card would be within .004% while the Baseball Classics card would be within .005% of accuracy, a difference of .001%.

How come some player cards don’t have a triple as a possibility when they had at least 1 triple that season?
Those players didn’t have enough triples per at bats to place a “Triple” in their Results column. However they can still achieve a triple from certain pitcher cards, thus allowing them to reach the appropriate number of triples over the course of their same playing time. For an additional explanation, refer to the prior to Example 3 in the prior question and answer.

What size are the player cards?
Each Baseball Classics Standard Edition player card is a standard playing card size measuring a handy 3 1/2” X 2 1/4”, they are manufactured on sturdy card stock and in color.

 

Matrix Edition

How accurate is player performance in the Matrix Edition?
The multi-dimensional Baseball Classics Baseball Game Matrix Edition player card performance Result ratings are within even a closer fraction of a decimal point than our Standard Edition, which in and of itself is within a fraction of a decimal point in most cases for accuracy.

Suffice to say that the Matrix Edition is within .99% or better accuracy!

If you haven’t had a chance to read our detailed explanation on player performance accuracy, please refer the answer we provided to this similar question above regarding the Standard Edition.

Why did Baseball Classics come out with the Matrix Edition when they already had the Standard Edition?
We wanted to provide our great customers and baseball fans across generations worldwide with multiple play styles.

What size are the player cards?
Each Baseball Classics Matrix Edition player card is a convenient playing card size measuring a trim 4 1/16” X 2 6/16”, they are manufactured on sturdy card stock and in color.

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Shop the Baseball Classics Online Store (1-952-908-4090) - Baseball Game Play Ages 9 to Adult -  Baseball Classics P.O. Box 2091 Naperville, IL 60567-2091

Comments? Questions? Check out our FAQ or you can also e-mail us at: sales@playbaseballclassics.com