Play Ball

Play Ball is a rare Pure Mechanical pinball machine from Chester-Pollard Amusement Co., Inc. of New York, New York, with its exact production year unknown. As a two-player, coin-operated baseball 'Bat Game,' it offers a distinctly social take on early mechanical pinball.

In Play Ball, one player pitches while the other player bats, adding a competitive, head-to-head element that would become more prominent in later pinball designs. Play cost 5 cents, and the machine's large upright cabinet provided ample space for both players to engage with the gameplay.

Little specific information survives about the machine's design and artwork, though it likely reflects the sports culture of the early 20th century. Despite its rarity and unknown production date, Play Ball remains an interesting piece of pinball history that offers a glimpse into baseball's influence on the development of early coin-operated games.