Catch Me at the Ballpark! is one of the most underrated sports anime in recent memory. The series provides an expert view of what happens behind the scenes at a baseball game. Every member of the ballpark staff is given at least one opportunity to shine, and some of the most endearing characters are actually the baseball fans. As Ruriko, the protagonist, discovers her love of baseball, the audience is meant to discover what the beloved sport means to a lot of different people. Instead of being a basic, unchanging sports series, Catch Me at the Ballpark! is a love letter to baseball fans and an interesting view into what makes a baseball game possible.

As Ruriko gets better at her job, she learns more about the Ballpark. She meets the mascot, Sunshiro, and slowly becomes a crucial part of the ballpark experience. However, the most interesting part of the entire anime is the will-they-won't-they relationship between Ruriko and Murata. Murata goes to the ballpark to relax, but he quickly finds himself attending games for a different reason. While Murata begins as just a customer to Ruriko, she can't help but feel interested in the quirky salaryman. Overall, Catch Me at the Ballpark! has almost nothing to do with actually playing baseball, and that's what makes it great.

Catch Me at the Ballpark Is a Slice of Life Show First

It Focuses More on the Stadium Vendors Than the Players

Ruriko from Catch Me at the Ballpark!

Ruriko begins the anime as a new beer vendor at the fictional MotorSuns baseball stadium. Although she only takes the job due to the pay, at first, she quickly finds herself loving the new position. At the beginning of the anime, she knows absolutely nothing about baseball. However, she quickly learns through her interactions with her customers as well as the players and other key baseball staff. By the end of the series, she is easily one of the most popular vendors in the entire ballpark.

The audience is meant to fall in love with the sport alongside Ruriko as she quickly approaches the sport from a nuanced perspective. An anime discussing in detail why fans might enjoy the stadium experience might not sound interesting, but the series handles it beautifully. Nearly every aspect of the stadium is covered at one point, from security to the food vendors and announcers. Moreover, each role is explored tastefully and accurately in a way that enhances the already amazing anime.

Every member of the MotorSuns staff is an utterly compelling character. Even the mascot Sunshiro, who never speaks, finds a way to give endearing messages to everyone who will listen. Instead of being an anime about baseball, Catch Me at the Ballpark! is an anime about loving baseball. There might not seem like much of a difference, but the anime is much deeper than any typical sports series. That said, the bar is quite low compared to competing series like Blue Lock, which flopped after its somewhat mediocre second season.

Only some of the most compelling characters in the anime are actually baseball players. They are also covered in the anime, but you'll rarely see them play a full game. Instead, the anime chooses to cover their intense emotional or technical issues. One of the most engaging plots in the anime centers around whether the aging Kojiro can continue to play the way fans expect him to. The pressure he feels is utterly palpable as he struggles to manage his aging body. These struggles are not only engaging, but they are also relatable to a wider variety of fans. The Sienen genre also allows for the anime to cover somewhat darker topics, should it be necessary.

Sports Action Takes a Backseat to Engaging Day-to-Day Ballpark Drama

The Vendor's Lives Are Full of Compelling Chaos

Image via EMT Squared

Despite being a baseball anime, there is very little actual baseball in the anime, yet that is to the benefit of the series. The deeply intense character-driven narrative, mixed with the hilarious comedic moments, is enough to make a classic series. Some fans are hesitant to call the anime a sports series, but it still talks non-stop about baseball. Instead of trying to replicate an actual game, the anime is only attempting to show fans why they enjoy the sport in the first place.

Going to a stadium after watching the anime is a truly unique experience. The anime provides deep-rooted respect for each of the staff in charge of maintaining an entertaining experience for the fans. The players are undoubtedly important, and there is no game without them. However, there is also no game without the dutiful staff who make sure the park is well-kept. Above all else, the series is meant to create an appreciation for the ballpark jobs fans might not immediately think about.

Any true baseball fan will absolutely find themselves falling in love with this amazing baseball-adjacent series. It might not have the typical sports anime moments fans are looking for. Yet, it has stakes that are on another level. The character arcs each individual has are out of this world compared to many of their slice-of-life competitors. The anime truly has it all when compared to many of the competing sports series that fans who check out the series will likely have watched.

In contrast, the series is also perfect for anime fans who aren't the biggest fans of sports. Like Ruriko, the audience might gain a new appreciation for the sport, but that is not guaranteed. Although what is guaranteed is that every anime fan will find at least something to like about this breathtaking series. Aside from the dialogue, the animation, character designs, and the sound design are all truly top-notch. There is truly no other anime like Catch Me at the Ballpark! and the series will hopefully receive the recognition it deserves before it gets a second season.

Catch Me at the Ballpark Is One of the Best Baseball Series

The Beloved Anime Explores a Never-Before-Scene Aspect of the Popular Genre

A Possible Love Triangle Hinted at in Catch Me at the Ballpark

Easily the most fascinating aspect of the series is the budding romance between Ruriko and Murata. What begins as a simple work transaction becomes the start of something much bigger. It's clear by the end of Season 1 that both Murata and Ruriko have feelings for one another. Yet, the series is likely to draw this aspect out until the end of the anime. However, fans can hold out hope that more will happen with them if the anime is greenlit for a second season.

If only people would just give the series a chance, they would realize how amazing the anime truly is. Ruriko might be a somewhat generic protagonist, but it is her experience that is meant to be unique. Moreover, she quickly comes out of her shell more and more as the anime goes on. The audience may have only had the opportunity to get to know a fraction of the real Ruriko. Only time will tell how she will grow and change as the series progresses. Hopefully, the series has a chance to tell her story in full.

Overall, Catch Me at the Ballpark features very little baseball, and that is a good thing. It helps the anime explore a never-before-seen aspect of the baseball world that is seldom even appreciated outside the media. Baseball fans and non-baseball fans alike will each find something to take away from this breathtaking amalgamation between the sports and slice-of-life genres.