Chico Baseball

Chico Baseball, manufactured by Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company in January 1938, is one of the earliest baseball-themed pinball machines. This electro-mechanical (EM) machine is a Flipperless game, meaning play relies on skillful plunging, targets, and playfield design rather than flipper control, as was standard before flippers were introduced to pinball nearly a decade later. The cabinet measures 48 inches long, 23 inches wide, and 61 inches high.

Gameplay centers on hitting targets and scoring points as the ball travels the playfield, guided by the tilt of the cabinet and the layout of features rather than player-controlled flippers. The game's design and art reflect the hand-drawn, bold-graphic style typical of late-1930s EM machines.

As one of the earliest baseball-themed pinball machines, Chico Baseball offers a glimpse into how sports themes were adapted for pinball in the pre-flipper era. Specific details about its designer are not documented, but its historical significance as an early sports title and its age make it notable to collectors of vintage EM machines.