Backyard Baseball 2001 Makes a Triumphant Return—Can You Master the Original MLB Legends Once Again?

It’s happening—Backyard Baseball ‘01 is hitting our screens again, making a grand return next week on PC and mobile platforms. This reboot isn’t just a nostalgic rerun; it proudly carries the official MLB branding plus a stellar lineup of 28 out of the 31 players you remember from the original. The new custodians of the franchise dropped this bombshell on Monday, and honestly, it’s got me pretty pumped.

Playground Productions has pulled off what can only be described as a Herculean feat to bring this classic series back to life. After tracking down the rights and painstakingly reassembling the game’s original code, they’re set to unleash the revamped edition on July 8. But here’s the kicker—it wasn’t just about the code. They had to track down the very players who brought the game to life 24 years ago, some scattered across the globe without agents or even social media footprints. CEO Lindsay Barnett told me how they had to get “creative” reconnecting, like linking up with former Marlin Álex González via his current proteges. It’s a wild reminder of how some things from 2001 now feel like ancient history.

What’s really interesting is the players’ eagerness to jump back into the fold, excited to remind their kids or grandkids of their glory days—even if a few notable stars, like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and Barry Bonds, chose to sit this one out. Bonds, in particular, has been a ghost in MLB video games since exiting the Players Association licensing deal back in ’03. Meanwhile, Playground Productions snagged MLB’s blessing, reviving iconic rivalries like Melonheads versus Marlins, and walking a path that celebrates how influential these games were in growing the sport’s fanbase.

Backyard Baseball isn’t just a throwback; it’s a lifeline to the past with a promising roadmap forward. If you’re like me—someone who values not only the sport but how games like these shaped childhoods and fandom—this relaunch is worth every bit of attention. And, trust me, we’re only warming up here.

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Backyard Baseball ‘01 is set to re-launch next week on PC and mobile devices, featuring MLB marks and 28 of the 31 players who appeared in the original version, the franchise’s new owners announced Monday.

The Backyard Sports series has been revived under the Playground Productions label after extensive efforts to track down the rights to the groundbreaking PC titles and redevelop the original code. The newest game—available July 8—also required locating the pros who initially appeared in the game.

Some were easy to connect with. Others were harder to find. Playground Productions CEO Lindsay Barnett said the team reached former Marlin Álex González through players he’s currently coaching, for instance. 

“2001 is already some time ago, and some of these players don’t live in the U.S. Some of them don’t have managers or agents or social media,” she said. “So we got creative.”

In general, Barnett said, players were eager to lend their IP rights once again. In some cases, they leapt at the opportunity to show their kids, or grandkids, how big of a star they once were.

Three players ultimately declined to participate this time around: Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas and Barry Bonds. Bonds—notably—has not appeared in MLB video games since opting out of the MLB Players Association licensing agreement in 2003.

Playground Productions also got buy-in from MLB, allowing for renewed rivalries such as Melonheads vs. Marlins. 

“It just could not have been easier [working with MLB],” Barnett said. “They really love this brand.” She added that the league recognizes how valuable the original releases were to the sport’s efforts to grow.

“There were actually kids who learned about baseball through a very simple point-and-click game,” Barnett said. “Now that we get to bring it back, we can start to capture even more kids who can become baseball fans for life.”

Recently released versions, including Backyard Baseball ‘97 and Backyard Soccer ‘98, have found success on gaming platform Steam and iOS, largely by entertaining nostalgic millennials, including those hoping to share their childhood favorites with a new generation. Backyard Baseball ’97 also recently came to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Mega Cat Studios has been responsible for game development.

Playground Productions is also creating an entirely new entry in the series. Though the group has not announced which sport it will feature first, Barnett said the company intends to continue the crossovers between original characters and real-life stars—that is, assuming she can get players on board.

In addition to Backyard mainstays such as Pablo Sanchez and Pete Wheeler, the MLB players available in the upcoming 2001 re-release are: