Playball

The 1971 Playball by D. Gottlieb & Company, designed by Ed Krynski with art by Gordon Morison, is a baseball-themed electro-mechanical pinball machine featuring two flippers, three pop bumpers, and two vari-targets.

Playball's ball-entering mechanism has the ball enter the playfield from between the flippers when the right flipper button is pressed. Notably, Playball was the first Gottlieb game to use 3-inch flipper bats, providing more control and precision for players. The machine features three chimes and one bell as part of its sound effects.

The baseball theme, characteristic of early Gottlieb sports games, adds an authentic touch to Playball's design, with bold colors and simple illustrations typical of the era. An add-a-ball version of this game was released the same year as Gottlieb's 'Home Run.' With confirmed production of 3,076 units, Playball marks an important milestone in Gottlieb's use of 3-inch flipper bats.