De Luxe Baseball 1953
About This Machine
The De Luxe Baseball 1953, manufactured by Williams (model 88) in April 1953, is a single-player electro-mechanical baseball-themed pinball machine featuring mechanical backbox animation of men running the bases, with corresponding playfield lights indicating runners on base.
The machine has a short backbox and a single coin chute that accepts nickels, dimes, and quarters. Its match feature can be configured by the operator as either 'Mystery Match,' where the match number appears only at the end of the game, or 'Skill Match,' where it is visible throughout play.
Williams had already been producing pinball machines for nearly a decade by 1953, and De Luxe Baseball reflects the company's mature approach to sports-themed EM design, with its animated backbox and playfield lighting creating an immersive baseball experience for its time. Details about its designer and exact production numbers are not well documented, but its distinctive animation features make it a notable piece for collectors of Williams' 1950s baseball titles.
Images (21)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Sports - Baseball
- Model Number:
- 88
- Notable Features:
- Short backbox. Backbox animation (men run bases). Lights on playfield indicate men on bases. Single entry coin chute accepts nickels, dimes, and quarters. Match number can be disabled by operator or set to either of these two settings: • Mystery Ma tch - number ma tch lite will appear at end of game. • Skill Ma tch - number ma tch lite will appear at all times during game.