Strategy Guide - Guide for Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball
Nintendo 64
Mini FAQ
Version 1.1
7/16/99

Written By:
The Crippler
[email protected]

------------------------------
Version 1.1 (7/16/99)
- All sections updated.
- This Mini FAQ is complete.

Version 1.0 (2/19/99)
- Mini FAQ Release.
------------------------------

Sections:
------------------------------
1. Short Introduction
2. Options
3. Batting
4. Pitching
5. Fielding
6. Tips / Secrets
7. Stacked Team
8. Thanks
9. Copyright Info
------------------------------

1. Short Introduction
------------------------------

Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball is a very good game. It is very much 
like the big leagues, including real life players, stadiums, 
trading, simulation, and conducting your own season. I think it's 
the best Baseball game out there so far for Nintendo 64.

I know that this won't be a very popular or often-read FAQ, but 
what the hell? Griffey Baseball is a really fun game and it's
worth an hour or two for a FAQ.

------------------------------
2. Options
------------------------------

Season: You can start your own, 162 game including playoffs and 
world series season. You get to pick your team, and trade to make 
your team better.

Trading: You can switch players to different teams, but be careful 
because the computer can sense if it is a decent deal or not.

Exhibition: Play for some practice.

Lineup: You can switch the order in which people bat, and you can 
bench starters and start benchers.

Bullpen: Before the game, you can choose your starting pitcher, and 
during the game, you can send in a reliever when your starter gets 
tired or is doing bad.

Homerun Derby: Pick a powerful guy and choose this to launch homers 
over the fence!

------------------------------
3. Batting
------------------------------

Batting can be tough to get used to, but when you get used to 
it, you'll be a hitting machine. You have to wait and see where 
the square is. The square is where the pitch will first go. Then, 
the pitch will move, and you'll have to move the circle with it 
(analog stick) and tap A when you want to swing. If you swing too 
early, it'll be foul, and if you swing too late, it'll be foul. If 
you connect with it solidly, and pull it at the same time, it's
probably going to leave the park if you can get it up. It's hardest 
to hit a homerun to dead center field, but, it's possible. Also, 
you'll want to try to pull it so that it will go through a gap. The 
outfielders stand far apart, and if you get it by them, it will go to 
the wall. And it takes time and skill to get to the ball and pick it 
up because it's all done using the analog stick. There is one more 
thing you should know. In real life, if a hit ball lands on the foul 
line or hits the foul pole, it is a fair ball. In most game, they call 
this foul, but in this game it's fair if it hits the line and gone 
if it hits the pole.

------------------------------
4. Pitching
------------------------------

Before you start the game, you will see a menu offering the 
different pitches your pitcher can throw. Different pitchers 
throw different kinds of pitches and use different techniques. 
Then, when you choose your pitch, you'll see a box that will 
appear over the plate. Move the box to where you want the pitch 
to end up. You can move the pitch while it is in the air going 
to the plate. There is also a big white rectangle over the plate.
This represents the strike zone. Anything inside or on that line
is a strike. Very simple stuff. 

Here are the different pitches you can throw:

Fastball - The most basic and used pitch there is. It's a straight
pitch that is thrown with all the pitchers' might.

Super Fastball - Only the leagues hardest flame throwers can throw
these pitches. They are great because they go 106 mph at their
best, and normally blow by the hitter.

Change Up - It's kind of a lob over the plate; goes about 65
mph and doesn't twist or turn.

Super Change Up - This is offered to some pitchers only just like the
super fast ball. It's an extremely slow pitch that arches in the
air while reaching the plate. It's good because it fools hitters.

Knuckleball - I don't know of any pitchers that use this in the game
except for Boston's Tim Wakefield. It twists, turns, and continues
to move around until the catcher catches it or it is hit.

Curve Ball - This pitch goes average speed (75-80 mph) and curves
on the way.

Slider - This is the same as a curve ball only it is throws harder
(85 mph).

Screwball - The same as a curveball only itn curves the opposite
way.

You can throw anywhere from about 40 miles per hour to 106 mph. I 
recommend getting one of these pitchers:

1.) One that throws a super fastball - You can hit the plate at 106 
mph with one of these, and after a bunch of regular normal pitches, 
this will zip right by the batter.

2.) One that throws a slider - You can move the slider in mid air 
and the batter will swing because the pitch normally moves. So if 
the pitch is going left, and you move it right, it's almost unhittable.

3.) One that throws a super change up - Here's a neat trick. Before 
releasing the ball, move the circle to the very top. Then throw a 
super change and you'll have plenty of time to fake the batter out 
at the end of the pitch.

4.) Just a nice little tip..... Get a pitcher with a super fast pitch
and throw lots of consecutive change ups. Then sometime when your
status is ready and the batter has two strikes, fire your super fast
and fool the hitter.

------------------------------
5. Fielding
------------------------------

Fielding takes some time and skill. You'll have to run to the ball 
using the analog stick. Then, when you get the ball, you have to 
use one of the C buttons to direct it to what base you want to throw 
to.

C Down - Throws to Home Plate
C Right - Throws to First Base
C Up - Throws to Second Base
C Left - Throws to Third Base

Just think of a baseball diamond:

                      Second Base (C-Up)
		               /\
                              /  \
                             /    \
		            /      \
                           /        \
		          /          \
                         /            \
    Third Base (C-Left)	 \            / First Base (C-Right)
 		          \          /
  		           \        /
   		            \      /
    		             \    /
     		              \  /
      		               \/
                    Home Plate (C-Down)

So, just run up to the ball, and if you get to it, you'll 
automatically pick it up, then, using one of the C Buttons, 
throw it to the desired base.

Diving plays will require you to hit A+Any C-Button. You can
use this as an infielder to dive for a ball going into the outfield,
or as an outfielder to jump for balls going over the wall.

If you are holding the ball, and no action is occuring, the play will 
be dead after holding it for a few seconds. However, if you hold the 
ball and someone is still running, they can keep going until you throw 
it in or throw them out.

------------------------------
6. Tips / Secrets
------------------------------

Call your Shot
When Griffey comes up to bat press left, left, right, right, 
right, left, left on the directional pad before the pitch is 
thrown. If the code is entered correctly he will point into the 
stands. If you hit the pitch thrown it will be a homerun source.
                 
Move Title Screen Logo
At the title screen hold Z to make the baseball in the logo stop 
spinning. Keep holding Z and then move the joystick to make the 
baseball rotate however you want. 
                 
Impossible Pitch
Place the cross hair anywhere in the strikezone except inside the 
yellow hitting circle. Hold the cross hair where you want it and 
press Z and then Left-C, Right-C, or Up-C to look at one of the 
bases. Release the Z button first, then release the C-Button, 
bringing you back to looking at the batter. There should now be no 
cross hair or hitting circle. Now throw whatever pitch you want and 
the computer will swing and miss or watch it go by for a strike. 
                  
Fireworks in View Stadium
When you get into the "View Stadium" mode by pressing the Z button 
while choosing your stadium, you can shoot fire works by pressing 
the Z and R button at the same time. 
              
See the Ending
Go to an Exhibition game and pick your teams. When picking the 
stadium you want to play in, press all four C-Buttons many times. You 
will hear a chime if you've done it correctly. Then press The Z-Button 
to view the stadium. Instead of showing the stadium, you will get to 
see the ending of the game, just as if you have just won the World 
Series. If only it was that easy in  real life. 
               
Secret Teams
Highlight 'Exhibition' on the first baseball (menu) that pops up. 
Now simultaneously press all four C buttons. Do this many times and 
you will hear a beep. Go to the All-Star teams and there will be two 
new teams: Nintendo and Angel Studios. 

------------------------------
7. Stacked Team
------------------------------ 

Here is a list of the best players in the game. Get some of these
guys and your team will be unbeatable.

==================
Starting Pitchers
==================
Randy Johnson
Roger Clemens
Pedro Martinez
David Cone
Mike Mussina
Tim Wakefield

==================
Relief Pitchers
==================
Mariano Rivera
Trevor Hoffman
John Wetteland
John Franco

==================
Infielders
==================
Mike Piazza
Jason Kendall
Mark McGwire
Alex Rodriguez
Derek Jeter
Barry Larkin
Paul Molitor

==================
Outfielders
==================
Ken Griffey Jr.
Barry Bonds
Tony Gwynn
Larry Walker


If those pitchers are your pitching staff and you have 3 out of 4 
of those batters in your lineup, it's kind of hard to lose. Now, 
the reason why Tony Gwynn and Alex Rodriguez are up there, is because 
they have high batting averages, causing their circle to be larger 
and easier to hit. A guy like Sammy Sosa isn't good in the game, 
because it's based on batting average, not home runs or RBI's (with 
the exception of Mark McGwire).

You can switch players around. For example, if you have both
Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez on your team, one can play second
base and the other could play shortstop.

------------------------------
8. Thanks
------------------------------ 

Nintendo 64 Underground
http://www.nintendorks.com
For the tips / secrets.

The rest of this Mini FAQ was compiled by myself.

------------------------------
9. Copyright Info
------------------------------

Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball belongs to Nintendo. I have no 
association with them. All characters in the game belong to 
Major League Baseball. You may not put this FAQ on your site 
without my permission, nor re-produce it, sell it, or 
alter it. The latest version of this Mini FAQ can always be
found at:
http://www.gamefaqs.com