Play Ball

Play Ball, manufactured by Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company in January 1951, is a baseball-themed electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine. Its release coincided with baseball's enduring popularity in mid-20th-century America, making it a nostalgic representation of the sport.

Gameplay follows a "3 outs ends game" rule drawn from baseball scoring. Unlike later machines, this game has no flippers or bats, relying instead on other scoring mechanisms typical of the period. The cabinet measures 57 inches long and 24 inches wide, and notably, the majority of the playfield and apron artwork is attached to the playfield glass rather than painted directly on the wood.

The sports theme is quintessentially American, capturing baseball as a national pastime during the era. No specific information about the designer or other trivia is available in current records, but Play Ball remains a notable piece of Chicago Coin's electro-mechanical output from the early 1950s.