Baseball

The Baseball pinball machine, manufactured by Western Equipment & Supply Company and introduced to the trade in April 1938, holds an interesting place in early pinball history as one of the earlier electro-mechanical machines to use a baseball theme. The machine's design and gameplay were likely influenced by the growing popularity of baseball in the 1930s, with its simple yet addictive rules mirroring the excitement of the game.

One of the most notable features of the Baseball machine is its straightforward gameplay, where three outs end the game. This simplicity was characteristic of early novelty pinball machines, which often relied on basic mechanisms and minimal scoring to create an engaging experience for players. The cabinet's dimensions are also noteworthy, measuring 32 inches wide, 44 inches long, and 54 inches high.

Little else is documented about the machine's specific artwork, though the game did carry a non-illuminating flat-board marquee with its name. The company behind it, Western Equipment & Supply, went bankrupt later in 1938 and was reorganized as Western Products, Inc., which continued producing baseball-themed variants of this game -- including a later '1939 Baseball' version -- until going out of business in 1941.