# Backyard Baseball '97 vs JC HOBBY

The clearest difference is price: JC HOBBY at Free against Backyard Baseball '97's $4.99. JC HOBBY also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0). Backyard Baseball '97's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 8). On in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

JC HOBBY is free to download; Backyard Baseball '97 costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

JC HOBBY holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backyard Baseball '97 has 1.5K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Backyard Baseball '97 ships an update every 10 days, JC HOBBY monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backyard Baseball '97 | JC HOBBY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-baseball-97/id6740349666/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jc-hobby/id6748080354/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 65.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | — |
| Size | 326 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Playground Productions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789636577) | [Smart Points Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/580591615) |

## What reviewers say

### Backyard Baseball '97

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-baseball-97/id6740349666)

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Paid · Sports, #10 Top Paid · Family, #102 Top Paid · Games, #154 Top Paid, #172 Top Grossing · Sports, #175 Top Grossing · Family (US App Store)

Relive the classic baseball game with iconic characters, fun power-ups, and intuitive controls. Play quick games, practice batting, or manage a full season with unique game modes and simplified rules.

**Highlights:** Iconic character roster, Power-ups and special pitches, Pick-up and single game modes, Full season management, Batting practice mode, Simplified T-ball mode

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Nostalgia and great memories
- 👍 Faithful recreation of the original game
- 💡 Potential for future updates and expansions
- 👍 Seamless mobile experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 👎 Difficult controls and input issues
- 👎 Limited screen size and visibility
- 👎 Lack of new features or modes

**Reported bugs**

- Gameplay freezes and crashes
- Inconsistent fielding and throwing mechanics
- Hitting mechanics feel unresponsive
- Inability to save progress after crashes

**Requested features**

- Full-screen mode
- Improved controls and input responsiveness
- New game modes (e.g., home run derby, playoffs)
- Ability to select home field
- Option to mute all sounds


### JC HOBBY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jc-hobby/id6748080354)

This app connects enthusiasts with a local hobby store, offering a loyalty program, in-app shopping for trading cards and accessories, and easy pre-orders for new releases. Stay updated on community events, tournaments, and exclusive deals.

**Highlights:** Loyalty program for earning and redeeming rewards, In-app shopping for trading cards and accessories, Easy pre-orders for new game releases, Event and announcement updates, Community engagement features

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backyard Baseball '97 free?

Backyard Baseball '97 costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is JC HOBBY free?

JC HOBBY is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Backyard Baseball '97 or JC HOBBY?

JC HOBBY is rated higher. Backyard Baseball '97 averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while JC HOBBY averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do Backyard Baseball '97 or JC HOBBY have ads?

JC HOBBY shows ads; Backyard Baseball '97 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Backyard Baseball '97 or JC HOBBY?

Backyard Baseball '97 ships an update every 10 days, and JC HOBBY monthly. Most recently, Backyard Baseball '97 was updated on September 26, 2026 and JC HOBBY on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*