Aug 10, 2011 Plays when picking characters and on the team photo. By Rhett Mathis.
Long before the days of PlayStation 4s and Xbox Ones, computer games were king. And the king of kings was 'Backyard Baseball.' The game was simple: a bunch of good friends hitting the diamond to play the game they loved.
As the years went by, the game got more fancy as MLB stars were added to the mix, but true fans of the game remember the OBBGs (Original Backyard Baseball Gangsters). Here is a definitive list of the top 10 Backyard Baseball players:
1. Angela Delvecchio
Angela often gets lost in the mix. That's mainly because players don't utilize her strong suits. Everyone's looking for the guy or girl who can park the ball 500 feet or fly around the bases. Delvecchio won't give you that, but she sure as hell can give you a dominating performance on the mound.
If you never sent Angela to the hill, you were missing out. The right-hander sits down batters left and right. Don't overlook AD because of her small frame; she can hurl with the best of them.
2. Dmitri Petrovich
It was always hard to figure out Dmitri. We know he's one of the smartest kids of the bunch, always carrying a couple pens within his pocket protector. He's a baseball brainiac, who sometimes shows some upside. He certainly has home run power, and can play a little first base and catcher, but his poor stamina often comes back to bite him. Regardless, Dmitri was always a good player for the team.
3. Sally Dobbs
Backyard Baseball Best Player 2019
You know those players who don't make consistent contact, but send the ball to the moon when they do? The Adam Dunn's and Wily Mo Pena's, if you will. That is Sally Dobbs.
Sally won't provide you many base knocks, but when she connects, she puts it over the fence. She's kind of a high risk, high reward player to have in your lineup. Not to mention, she plays a pretty solid third base and it's always nice to have a sure-handed stud at the hot corner.
4. Mikey Thomas
Mikey is your classic men's softball league catcher. He's the short, pudgy guy who you can't really stick anywhere else. Mikey is not very versatile and is painfully slow, but the kid can swing the stick.
Sporting a rarely seen closed batting stance, Mikey can spray the ball to all fields. You better hope he hits it out of the park, though, because his cement feet won't let him get anywhere past first.
5. Amir Khan
Amir Khan is your stereotypical utility player, an unsung hero, if you will. He's not going to wow you with any particular skill, but he is consistent in all facets of the game. He's best used in the middle infield positions, or corner outfield spots and isn't a bad choice for a leadoff or second man in the order.
Fundamentally sound players are hard to come by, but Amir is one of them. He just could never escape his brother's shadow.
6. Jocinda Smith
Jocinda may very well lead your team in batting average. She's not going to hit the long ball, but her high contact rate made her a top of the batting order fixture. Jocinda is more than capable of setting the tone and even swiping a bag or two.
Not to mention, she's a sure-handed fielder who can play any of the outfield positions. Jocinda is what they like to call in the baseball world a “five-tool player.”
7. Keisha Phillips
Keisha Phillips changed the game. Anyone who thinks baseball is strictly for men has obviously never watched Keisha play. The girl can absolutely rake, a perfect fit for either the third or cleanup spot in the batting order.
Not only that, but she also has great speed. We hadn't seen this power, size and speed combo since the Barry Bonds days (Pittsburgh Pirates Barry Bonds, that is).
8. Achmed Khan
They don't call this guy “The Axeman” for nothing. Achmed certainly hacks the axe up at the plate. One of the more natural hitters in the game, he has the ability to send the ball into orbit on a consistent basis.
His raw power makes him a natural middle of the order guy, and is more than able to rack up the RBIs. Not to mention, he was one of the first athletes in history to rock large headphones on game days. I think Dr. Dre and his Beats need to show some respect to one of the founding fathers.
9. Pete Wheeler
Pete is arguably the most well-liked player in the game. His youthful aura and childlike approach to the game makes it hard for you not to root for him.
The first thing you think of when you hear 'Pete Wheeler?' Speed. The dude can jet around the bases like no one we've seen before. He has the ability to stretch singles into triples in the blink of the eye. Also, his fleetness of foot makes him an absolute vacuum in the outfield, a perfect fit for center field.
10. Pablo Sanchez
Once in a while, athletes come around that transcend the game; Willie Mays, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Tom Brady and Pablo Sanchez. Nicknamed “The Secret Weapon,” he was simply an hombre amongst chicos.
No one holds a candle to Pablo's skill set; he can do everything. He can hit for contact and power, play any position, has exceptional speed and can even pitch. When you were fielding a team, he was your first pick 10 times out of 10. A sure first ballot hall of famer, 'MVPablo,' indeed.
Honorable Mention
He didn't make the list, and didn't even come close in fact, but kudos to Kenny Kawaguchi. The kid was wheelchair-bound for Pete's sake, and still took the field day in and day out. He is a true warrior who displayed endless passion for the game.
Backyard Baseball was a staple of many kid's childhoods, and these 10 players sure made the game fun to play.
One of the best parts about the sports markets is the video games that come with it. Madden, 2K, EA Sports have all changed the way we see and play the game. One franchise often forgotten, however, is Backyard Sports. Debuting in 1997 with Backyard Baseball, this creation of Humongous Sports became one of the favorite games for kids growing up in the late 1990s and early 2000s, myself included. I remember playing against my brother and usually losing to him, but it was still incredibly fun. I decided to figure out which ten players are the best in the game. I will only be ranking according to the original 1997 version, and only in baseball.
#10: Angela Delvecchio
Angela is one of those players who often times gets passed by for someone bigger or with more poise. However, you won’t find a more surefire pitcher than her. One of her other big strong suits is her ability to hit the ball. Simply put, you don’t see strong hitters and pitchers anymore, and Angela is of a dying breed.
#9: Kenny Kawaguchi
In doing research for this article, I found there was a somewhat negative connotation surrounding Kenny, and I don’t get it. This kid came out every day and worked just as hard as everyone else, despite being IN A WHEELCHAIR. He’s a prime example of one of the best parts about this game; its initiative to be inclusive of all. Not only that, he can flat out play. He’s not the best hitter, but his wheels give him the speed, and he’s a pitcher who can last the entire game. If you want to be able to win without having to change pitchers ever, Kenny is your guy.
#8: Dante Robinson
What I like about Dante is how much power he puts behind his swing for such a little guy. Every time he goes up to bat, he puts his entire body into it and powers the ball into the outfield. He’s also fast, but doesn’t have the strongest arm, so he’s a logical infielder.
#7: Maria Luna
Maria is a small cookie, but that doesn’t mean she can’t play baseball. She doesn’t have a facet that really stands out, but she is definitely a good all-around player. And that’s a good thing to have on a team. This is not about making all-star teams, so Luna is a great choice for just about anything (except pitcher).
#6: Dmitri Petrovich
Dmitri gave hope to nerds across the country that they too could excel at sports. I usually made him my catcher, as he can field decently well, but is strongest in his hitting capability. He just needs to get a little faster, and better at throwing!
#5: Achmed Khan
Khan always drove me nuts. One minute, he’s missing every chance to make a play in the infield, distracted by his music, and the next he’s hitting a home run. He’s a fantastic cleanup hitter that can stymie any pitcher. Also, credit to him for pioneering the headphone athlete look.
#4: Jocinda Smith
Lucinda is another well-rounded player, but unlike our previous ones, she stands out in her hitting capabilities. She can knock any ball deep for a base hit and really set a strong offensive tone. Because of that, she makes a great leadoff or early hitter. Her fielding is great as well, but keep her away from the outfield.
#3: Pete Wheeler
How can you not love Pete? He’s just such an innocent soul who doesn’t know much about the game, but still wants to play. Just because he doesn’t know what he’s doing doesn’t mean he should be underestimated. When you think Pete Wheeler, you think speed. This kid usually has a high batting percentage simply because he almost always beats the ball to the bag. He’s another strong leadoff batter, and an often forgotten facet of his game is his arm. That, coupled with his speed, make him an excellent outfielder, plus he can be a great reliever on the mound.
#2: Kiesha Phillips
If Kiesha was real, she’d make the MLB. I bet the league would change its rules to let her into the game. She’s built like a lineman and has the strength of one, meaning if you need someone to smack the ball out of there, she’s your gal. Sometimes when you take strength you forfeit speed, but that is not the case with Kiesha. She is every bit as fast as she is strong, plus her arm is something every outfield needs. She beats every female stereotype in the book, and really shows everyone who’s boss.
#1: Pablo Sanchez
Sometimes you encounter players unlike any other. Michael Jordan and LeBron James in basketball. Walter Payton and Brett Favre in football. Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in hockey. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Pablo Sanchez for baseball.
What made him so good? Think about how many players you could stick anywhere on the field and he’d still be the best one out there. Anywhere. Catcher, infield, outfield, and pitcher. Think about how many players hit a homer on almost every ball they encounter. He almost never strikes out, or gets thrown out. If you gave him a direction, he’d follow it to a T. And he’d do that despite not knowing a lick of English.
Sanchez’s abilities can not be beat. He is the culmination of everything that is great in the sport of baseball. To quote his baseball card, “simply put, this kid is good.”
Do you agree with my list? Who’s your picks? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to email notifications of our posts!