Home Run

Home Run, manufactured by Pierce Tool and Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois in May 1932, dates from the very beginning of the coin-operated pin game boom. It represents the transitional period between earlier bagatelle-style games and the pinball machines that would follow, built entirely with pure mechanical construction and no electricity.

The game offered operators unusual flexibility: it could be set for 5, 7, 9, or 10 balls per play, and priced at either 1 cent or 5 cents. The manufacturer also offered a choice of stands for an extra charge, a metal stand for $2.00 or a wood stand for $2.50.

Advertised at a compact 32 inches long by 16 inches wide, Home Run was small compared to later machines. Its baseball theme was a natural fit given the sport's popularity in the 1930s. Little is known about the game's designer or its sales, leaving much for enthusiasts of early pinball history to explore.