# Backyard Baseball '97 vs StratManager

The clearest difference is price: StratManager at Free against Backyard Baseball '97's $4.99. StratManager also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0). Backyard Baseball '97's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 1). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

StratManager is free to download; Backyard Baseball '97 costs $4.99 up front. StratManager sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Backyard Baseball '97 asks for nothing beyond the download.

StratManager 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backyard Baseball '97 | StratManager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-baseball-97/id6740349666/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stratmanager/id6767736482/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 65.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | — |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 326 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Playground Productions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789636577) | [Anthony Weeks](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896504793) |

## What reviewers say

### Backyard Baseball '97

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

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Paid · Sports, #10 Top Paid · Family, #135 Top Paid · Games (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


### StratManager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stratmanager/id6767736482)

This app uses your Strat-O-Matic card data to calculate matchup probabilities, optimize lineups, and track season stats. It offers play-by-play scorekeeping and league power rankings. A free version with sample teams is available, with a one-time purchase to unlock full card data import.

**Highlights:** Matchup calculator with on-base and home run probabilities, Lineup optimization based on real probabilities, Power rankings for team batting and pitching strength, Full season stat tracking and leaderboards, Play-by-play scorekeeping with MLB-accurate rules, Import custom Strat-O-Matic card data

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backyard Baseball '97 free?

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

### Is StratManager free?

StratManager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

StratManager is rated higher. Backyard Baseball '97 averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while StratManager averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Backyard Baseball '97 or StratManager have ads?

Neither Backyard Baseball '97 nor StratManager shows ads.

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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.*