Backyard Baseball 2001
Second Backyard Baseball title, first with MLB teams and players.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Backyard Baseball 2001 is a baseball video game that Humongous Entertainment both developed and published. It marks the second entry in the Backyard Baseball series and the first baseball title in the series to feature Major League Baseball teams and an MLBPA license. The game launched for Windows and Macintosh on October 30, 2000. The cover features Cal Ripken Jr. alongside several fictional characters.
**Gameplay**
The core gameplay in Backyard Baseball 2001 stays very close to the first Backyard Baseball title. It keeps all the original modes: Single Game (previously called Pick-Up Game), Season Play (formerly League Play), Batting Practice, Spectator, and Tee-Ball. A new mode, Online Play, lets players compete against each other worldwide, but only Windows users can access it. Thanks to the new Major League Baseball license, players can now pick a major league team for pick-up games and season mode, in addition to six of the original custom teams. Season Play got a major overhaul: you can choose which pick-up-play fields serve as your home stadium, and the regular season and postseason now mirror real-life MLB, complete with the National and American Leagues' three divisions and renamed postseason rounds that lead up to the Backyard World Series.
The menu interface was revamped from the original release, using tabs for quicker navigation. You can now track the stamina of every player on your team, not just the pitcher during pitching, and you can see if any player's stats have been temporarily boosted or reduced. The game also switched from the four-point skill system used in the first three Backyard Sports games (Backyard Baseball [1997], Backyard Soccer [1998], and Backyard Football [1999]) to a ten-point system, giving a more precise reflection of player stats, including those temporary buffs and nerfs. Additionally, players can now earn batting power-ups by getting double plays or triple plays on defense, in addition to the existing method of
- Developer
- Humongous Entertainment
- Publisher
- Humongous Entertainment
- Release Date
- October 30, 2000
- Platforms
- Windows, Macintosh
- Genre
- Baseball video game
- License
- MLBPA, MLB teams
- Cover Athlete
- Cal Ripken Jr.
Lore & Background
Backyard Baseball 2001 introduced child caricatures of 30 professional baseball players, each representing one MLB team, alongside the original 30 Backyard Kids. The Cincinnati Reds were represented by Ken Griffey Jr., who transitioned from the Seattle Mariners. The game also allowed players to create a custom character with a chosen design, nickname, and limited skill points.
Reader's Guide
Backyard Baseball 2001 is significant as the first Backyard Baseball game to feature real MLB teams and players, expanding the series' appeal. Its gameplay retained modes from the original title while adding Online Play for Windows users. The game received positive reviews, with critics praising the addition of real players and noting its suitability for children. A remastered version, Backyard Baseball '01, was released in 2025, replacing three professional players with generic kids and removing online play by default. The remaster was praised for its faithfulness to the original.
Did You Know?
- Cal Ripken Jr. appears on the game's cover along with fictional characters.
- The game introduced a ten-point skill system, replacing the earlier four-point system.
- Online Play was exclusive to the Windows version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Backyard Baseball 2001?
It is a baseball video game both developed and published by Humongous Entertainment, serving as the sequel to the original Backyard Baseball. The title launched on October 30, 2000, for Windows and Macintosh.
What makes Backyard Baseball 2001 different from the first game?
The key distinction is that it is the first entry in the series to feature real Major League Baseball teams and players under an MLBPA license. Otherwise, the core gameplay loop and available modes carry over almost directly from the original.
What platforms was Backyard Baseball 2001 released on?
The game shipped exclusively for Windows and Macintosh computers, with no console or mobile versions ever announced.
Who appears on the cover of Backyard Baseball 2001?
The box art showcases Cal Ripken Jr. standing alongside several of the game's fictional characters.
What real-world license does Backyard Baseball 2001 carry?
It holds an MLBPA license, which allowed Humongous to use actual MLB team names and player likenesses for the first time in the Backyard Baseball franchise.
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