Junk Ball: The Juiced-Up Baseball Board Game

UPDATED 8.26

Try online vs a friend or against a bot at junkballgame.com!

Junk Ball is a dice throwing/card strategy game made for ripping packs, scouring stats, assembling ridiculous lineups, and playing out iconic moments across the field. 

Every card in your collection — no matter how bent, chunked, chewed, or stained — becomes a playable piece with its own unique quirks and characteristics. 

In Junk Ball, one roll of the dice can turn any card into the star of the show. 

2 - 4 players  •  Ages 12+  •  1 / 3 / 5 / 7 / 9 Innings

What You Need

Junk Ball: Core

• Manager Cards 
• Pitch Chips x4 (x2 sets) 
• Baseball cards w/ stats (x2 lineups)
• D10 x2, D6 x2, D20 x2 (used by some Manager Cards)
• No field needed — make your own!

Junk Ball: Enhanced

• Junk Ball Official Board
  
• Unopened packs
• Scoresheets
• Card display stands
• Dry erase markers
• Penny sleeves/Top loaders
• Sunflower seeds, peanuts, Big League Chew, etc

Build Your Roster

Draft from cards you already own or rip packs with friends, trade for your favorite players, and assemble never-before-seen lineups. All you need to play:

• 2+ Pitchers 
• 1 Catcher 
• 1 First Baseman 
• 1 Second Baseman 
• 1 Shortstop 
• 1 Third Baseman 
• 1 Left Fielder 
• 1 Center Fielder 
• 1 Right Fielder 
• 1 Designated Hitter (any fielding position other than pitcher)

Pitching->Batting->Fielding

Note: Junk Ball recommends Got Your Number, Pitch Chip match required for home runs, and unlimited modifier stacking. See the Second Edition for complete rules.

1. Pitcher delivers by placing one Pitch Chip and any Manager Card(s) they want to play face-down.
2. Batter chooses to swing or take the pitch.
   • Swing by placing one Pitch Chip and any Manager Card(s) face-up. Continue to step 3.
   • OR
   • “Take the pitch” by declining to place a Pitch Chip. Any face-down Manager Card(s) return to Pitcher’s hand. Both players roll D10 with no modifiers: 
     • Pitcher wins = Ball. 
     • Batter wins = Strike. 
     • Tie = Strike. 
     • Then begin the next pitch.
3. Reveal Pitch Chips and Manager Cards, then tally modifiers. Modifiers stack without limit. 
   • If the batter guesses the pitcher’s Pitch Chips correctly, the batter gets the higher chip value.
   • If the batter guesses wrong, the pitcher gets the higher Pitch Chip value.
4. Pitcher and batter roll D10s and add modifiers. 
5. Resolve the pitch.
   1. Pitcher wins = Strike.
   2. Batter wins = Ball in play. Contact equals the difference.
   3. Tie = Check Tie Guide.
6. If the ball is in play, determine contact. On a Pitch Chip mismatch, contact is capped at 6.
   1. 1–2 = Weak contact
   2. 3–4 = Medium contact
   3. 5–6 = Powerful contact
   4. 7+ = Home run only with matching Pitch Chips.
7. Resolve fielding. Fielding team rolls D6 and applies any fielding modifiers. Fielding totals cannot go below 0. Compare the fielding total to the contact value.
   1. Fielder wins = Out. If the fielder wins by 2 or more and a force is available, the defense turns a double play. If no force is available, the batter is out and all runners hold.
   2. Contact wins = Safe: 1–2 single, 3–4 double, 5–6 triple. All runners move the same number of bases.
   3. Tie = Safe.
8. Move runners. Make subs. Play other Manager Cards. Update the scoreboard. Clean up any other lingering bits. 
9. Repeat.

Wrap-Up

Junk Ball blends real baseball stats and skill-boosting Manager Cards with the thrill of ripping packs into a game as unpredictable as baseball itself. Every pitcher-batter duel, baserunning decision, and defensive play becomes a tug-of-war between luck and strategy.

Junk Ball — Every card deserves its day.

Junkballgame.com

Developer Notes:

• Questions, comments, and/or critiques appreciated.
• IDEATING: Phase icons for Manager Cards (ie when they can be played and countered, etc)
• Logo and graphics to be updated with proper designs for any future print releases
• All Manager Cards in development across all series included in this download. Mix and match for the best deck for your game. 
• Amazing doc encapsulating the vibe this game aims to achieve. Credit: Baseball Doesn't Exist