_                   _____
  / \    _   _        /  ___|    _
 / _ \  | | | |       \ (__    _| |_          _  _
| |_| | | | | |  ___   \__ \  '-. .-'   __   | |/ \
|  _  | | | | | |___|     \ \   | |    _\ \  |  /\_\
| | | | | | | |        ___/ /   | |   / O  \ | |
|_| |_| |_| |_|       |____/     \_\  \___/  |_|
 ____      _     _____   ____   ____      _     _     _       _   ___     ___
|  _ \    / \   /  ___| |  __| |  _ \    / \   | |   | |     / / / _ \   / _ \
| |_) |  / _ \  \ (__   | |__  | |_) |  / _ \  | |   | |    /_/ | (_) | | (_) |
|  _ /  | |_| |  \__ \  |  __| |  _ /  | |_| | | |   | |         \__  |  \__  |
| | \ \ |  _  |     \ \ | |    | | \ \ |  _  | | |   | |            | |     | |
| |_/ / | | | |  ___/ / | |__  | |_/ / | | | | | |_  | |_          / /     / /
|____/  |_| |_| |____/  |____| |____/  |_| |_| |___| |___|        /_/     /_/

===============================================================================
Table of Contents
===============================================================================
[INTRO] Introduction
[MODES] Modes of Play
[CONTR] Controls              
[TEAMS] Team Summaries
[STRAT] General Strategies
[CHEAT] Cheat Codes
[QUEST] Frequently Asked Questions
[REALL] Comparing to Reality
[VERSN] Version History
[COPYR] Copyright
[CONTC] Contact Information

Navigation tip: Press Ctrl and F to bring down a search bar. Then type in the
name of the section you're looking for - like [VERSN] for the ever-popular
Version History.

===============================================================================
Introduction                                                         [INTRO]
===============================================================================
As usual, I'm writing a few guides for old baseball video games as the diamonds
in real life begin heating up. You've probably realized by now that I've
written a lot of guides for old baseball games. This one is a little different,
because back in early 2008 I said I would write this guide, and it's 2010 as I
write this. That's by far the longest hiatus I've ever had for one of my
guides. Make any cynical comments you wish.

Anyway, All-Star Baseball '99 is one of the best baseball games for the
Nintendo 64, although it's a small step down from ASB 2000 and 2001. The
graphics are probably the best of any baseball game of its time. The ballparks
look very realistic, and the player animations are pretty good. However, some
things aren't as smooth as the later All-Star Baseball games, which used the
Expansion Pak. Sound effects are good, but they're a notch below a PlayStation
game. The announcers (John Sterling and Michael Kay) may get on your nerves;
most of the lines don't sound like anything you'd ever hear a real announcer
say. Later ASB games improve on the commentary department, however. The menu
music is kind of annoying. Play control may take a little getting used to, and
certain plays (notably, bunts to the pitcher) seem awkward. Also, the hitting
contact area is pretty small, so you'll be whiffing a lot at first. The batting
cursor is smaller than the cursors in all the later All-Star Baseball games and
doesn't let you tilt it so you can hit to a particular part of the field.
Regardless, it doesn't take long to get the hang of this game. Two more big
pluses: Your baserunners are smart enough not to get doubled off base every
time you fly out, and the load times are short (especially compared to the PSX
games). Beating the computer isn't very difficult, but there is some
flexibility with variable difficulty levels, and you can of course make things
tougher by using a weaker team or a less reliable pitcher. And, of course,
playing a friend always makes things better. Overall, I think All-Star Baseball
'99 is still quite a fun game, and if you don't care about the lack of current
rosters, it might be worth a try.

===============================================================================
Modes of Play                                                        [MODES]
===============================================================================

---MLB Play---
This has three options. Exhibition mode pits two teams of your choice against
each other. You can determine things like the stadium and the time of day, and
you can play two-player games or even watch the computer play itself.
Impossible matchups like Atlanta vs. Oakland in Cincinnati are possible - not
that anyone would actually want to play at Cinergy Field.

New Season begins a season. While All-Star Baseball '99 lets you play 162-game
campaigns based on the actual 1998 calendar, that might be a little bit too
long for most players. That's why shorter schedules, like 28-game seasons, are
also available for selection.

New Playoffs begins a new playoff series. Choose this if you want to head
straight to the playoffs without going through a regular season.


---Home Run Derby---
All-Star Baseball '99's Home Run Derby mode is really fun. You're trying to hit
as many home runs as possible in a low-pressure environment. You can select any
player in the game to participate, but it's best to select sluggers like Mark
McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Ken Griffey Jr. Remember that if you don't like a
pitch, you can take it and it won't cost an out.


---General Manager---
Here you can make player transactions and change lineups.

Trade Players makes trades between teams.

Create-a-Player lets you create a custom player - maybe a rookie who isn't in
the game, a Cooperstown great, or even yourself! There are quite a few options
for player creation, including skin color and stance, and you can also adjust
every aspect of the player's abilities. You can create a 7'0, 100-pound
beanpole or a 5'2, 250-pound lump if you want to, or you can give the guy a
goatee or list his birthdate as 12/31/99 (born after the game was released).
You can even list his home country as one of those baseball powerhouses of
Vietnam or Singapore or let him throw spitballs.

Scouting Report shows detailed dossiers for every player in the game.

Player Draft is similar to a fantasy draft - every player in the game is
dispersed into a pool of players, and each team is restocked round by round.
You can take control of as many or as few teams as you want. The first 25
players selected by each team will be part of the active roster, and the final
10 thereafter will make up the farm system. The computer selects players in
extremely predictable fashion; most teams will start by selecting a 1B or 2B
(occasionally a pitcher or catcher), followed by 3B-SS-LF-CF-RF-DH-pitcher. For
this reason, it's smart to open the draft by picking a second baseman or third
baseman, and then follow the order described above so you'll stay a step ahead
of the majority of the computer-controlled teams. Once you get an RF, you
should select a closer (which get scooped up pretty quickly) and then focus on
starting pitching. The first base position is always very deep, so B-grade
players will stay on the boards for an eternity. Middle relief also isn't a big
priority. Remember that you may need to scroll down quite a bit to find a star
player, since the players at each position aren't listed in order of ability.
Keep in mind that after the draft is over, you may need to adjust each team's
lineup and rotation, since the game's automatic lineups can usually be improved
upon.

Roster Moves lets you sign free agents, call up players from the minor leagues,
and manage the disabled list.

Set Lineup allows you to set each team's default starting lineup.

Set Rotation adjusts a team's starting rotation.

Reset Rosters undoes all roster moves you've made, reverting the game to the
way it was when you first played it. Be careful before selecting this option!

Save saves all the roster moves and season progress to your Controller Pak. If
you don't have an empty or semi-empty Controller Pak, you're out of luck.


---Controller Pak---
This lets you load modified rosters or a season in progress.


---Statistics---
This option lets you browse the complete statistics for every player in the
game, courtesy of Stats Inc. All statistics are based on the 1997 season.


---Game Options---
These modify game settings. The most important option is the game style -
Simulation or Arcade. Simulation play (the default) is designed to replicate
real baseball, while in Arcade mode, pitches are easier to hit and games tend
to be higher-scoring.

Many options affect conditions like time of day and wind. Some people find that
it's a bit easier to hit at night because of better contrast.

Turn Pitch Aid off when humans are playing each other or when you want
increased challenge (use the R button to redisplay the cursor when it's off).
Ball Landing Target and Fielder Control make fielding easier or more difficult.
You may want to experiment with different camera settings. And if you're
playing on an unusual TV (especially an HDTV) or emulator - or if you want to
make the commentators shut up - you might want to fiddle with the audio and
video options.

You can also use the options menu to see the game's controller configuration or
watch the credits.


---Enter Cheats---
This sounds interesting! "Enter Cheats" is where you can input passwords used
to manipulate gameplay and do silly stuff. I explain this in greater depth in
the "Cheats" section.

===============================================================================
Controls                                                             [CONTR]
===============================================================================
These are adapted from the advice given in the game.

---Before Pitch---

Batting
   A: Swing
   B: Toggle between contact and power swing
   C Buttons: Guess pitch type
   C Buttons + L/Z: Guess pitch type for arcade pitches (rarely useful)

Pitching
   A + Up/Down on Control Pad: Shift infield
   B + Up/Down/Left/Right on Control Stick: Shift outfield
   C Buttons: Throw respective pitch
   C Buttons + L/Z: Throw additional pitches in arcade mode



---Post-Pitch Selection---

Batting
   A: Swing
   B: Toggle between contact and power swing
   C-Down: Bunt (hold C-Left for power)
   C-Right: Steal runner on first
   C-Up: Steal runner on second
   C-Left: Steal runner third
   Z/L: Increase lead/steal all runners
   R: Return all runners

Pitching
   A: Throw pitch
   B: Pitchout/intentional ball
   C Buttons: Pickoff to respective base (C-Right = first base, etc.)
   Z/L: Catcher hold ball for pickoffs
   R: Display pitch target (when off)



---Ball in play---

Baserunning
   A: Slide
   A + Control Stick Left/Right: Slide left/right
   C Buttons + L/Z: Advance runner from respective base
   C Buttons + R: Return runner from respective base
   Z/L: Advance all runners
   R: Return all runners

Fielding
   A: Diving catch
   B: Jump/wall catch
   C-Down: Slide catch
   C Buttons: Throw to respective base (C-Up = second base, etc.)
   Z/L: Turbo; aggressive throws
   R: Switch to closest player/cutoff throw

Press START at most times to pause the game and bring up a menu that allows you
to view game statistics, change your lineup, watch an instant replay, or adjust
game settings.

On game menus, the A button will select an option, and B will take you back to
the previous screen. The L and R buttons often scroll through lists of teams,
and C-Up displays a help screen that shows what each button does on a
particular menu.

===============================================================================
Team Summaries                                                       [TEAMS]
===============================================================================
Teams in this game are rated using a difficult-to-quantify bar graph system, so
for this guide you'll have to be content with concise summaries of each team's
strong points and weaknesses.

Anaheim Angels: While not quite playoff-caliber, the Angels have an above-
average team. Tim Salmon, Jim Edmonds, and Garret Anderson are the key
components of an OK lineup. Chuck Finley is a good starting pitcher, but
otherwise the pitching isn't quite good enough.

Arizona Diamondbacks: The D-backs' first season in baseball wasn't particularly
successful, considering they lost 97 games. However, the foundation is in place
for much bigger things, and players like Jay Bell and Matt Williams are great
assets. In All-Star Baseball '99, this is a decent team.

Atlanta Braves: Probably the second-best team in the game behind the Yankees.
Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Javy Lopez, and Andres Galarraga all topped 30
homers, and Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Denny Neagle, and Kevin
Millwood make up one of the best pitching rotations of the decade. Relief
pitching is also in good hands.

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles entered 1998 as American League champions and
favorites to make another World Series. However, the O's underachieved badly,
even with stars like Rafael Palmeiro, Roberto Alomar, Cal Ripken Jr., and Brady
Anderson in the lineup. The biggest problem is that the pitching is quite shaky
after Mike Mussina. One good thing: Baltimore's aging gloves are among the best
fielders in the game. 

Boston Red Sox: Mo Vaughn contributes great power and a magnificent batting
average, and Nomar Garciaparra has a scrumptious blend of power and speed. Even
with Pedro Martinez leading the rotation and Tom Gordon racking up saves, the
pitching still isn't as good as the Yankees'.

Chicago Cubs: An average team in All-Star Baseball '99, but the Cubbies managed
to reach the playoffs on the shoulders of Sammy Sosa's magical year. The Cubs
are too dependent on Sosa and Mark Grace for offensive production, and the
pitching is not very good. Also, there's no speed whatsoever.

Chicago White Sox: Albert Belle is one of the best sluggers in the game, and
Frank Thomas is among the best designated hitters. Unfortunately, the awful
pitching keeps this team from being anything more than an average ballclub.

Cincinnati Reds: Not a great team, but not the worst. Barry Larkin is an elite
contact hitter, but basically there's little in the way of big names or star
power on either offense or defense. Good closer, though.

Cleveland Indians: Again on top of the A.L. Central, the 1997 American League
pennant winners boast one of the best leadoff men in Kenny Lofton and a number
of excellent power hitters, including Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, and Brian Giles
(who should be the starting left fielder, pushing Dave Justice to DH).
Unfortunately, while the bullpen was pretty good, the rotation consisted mostly
of inexperienced or injured pitchers.

Colorado Rockies: The Rockies are one of the better teams in the game, even
though their real 1998 season was a disappointment. The Rockies' lineup is a
murderers' row that puts up astronomical batting averages and huge homer totals.
Never mind the fact that their rotation is horrible and that there are some
pretty iffy fielders on this team.

Detroit Tigers: The Tigers' first season in the A.L. Central saw them lose 97
games, earning them last place. Tony Clark and Bobby Higginson are promising
hitters, but the lineup is stocked with too many automatic outs like Raul
Casanova and Bip Roberts, and there's little to like about the Tigers'
pitching.

Florida Marlins: An absolutely terrible club in 1998, losing a whopping 108
games despite winning the World Series the previous year. They're not great in
All-Star Baseball '99, either, with horrible pitching and weak offense. A few
of their '97 stars, like Gary Sheffield and Bobby Bonilla, are still with the
team; most of them were traded away early in the season. The Marlins rebuilt
with talented young prospects who formed the core of their 2003 World Series
champions and are important contributors on other teams today.

Houston Astros: The lineup is populated with quick feet, especially prolific
basepath bandit Craig Biggio. Jeff Bagwell is the team's best slugger. Shane
Reynolds, Mike Hampton, Jose Lima, and Sean Bergman make up a pitching rotation
that was, for a short time, one of the best in baseball, although they're not
rated very highly in this game.

Kansas City Royals: The Royals lost 89 games, but they managed to finish third
in a weak division. Jeff Conine is the team's best hitter overall, although
Jeff King and Dean Palmer racked up a surprising number of dingers. K.C. has
too many low batting averages, and the pitching is terrible.

Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers have a decent but unremarkable team that
lacked a certain degree of chemistry and cohesion. Changing managers in
midstream didn't help. Still, Mike Piazza, Eric Karros, and Raul Mondesi
provide some power, and Eric Young is a quality leadoff hitter. The pitching is 
among the best in the National League, even with its injury issues.

Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers' first season in the National League met with
little success, as usual. Jeromy Burnitz is the main offensive weapon, while
the pitching staff is a hodgepodge of mediocrity.

Minnesota Twins: The Twins' lineup is pretty puny, although many players on
this team - namely, David Ortiz - later developed into stars. For now, though,
the Twins don't have much to offer, except for moderately effective starting
pitcher Brad Radke and a serviceable bullpen.

Montreal Expos: Easily the weakest team in All-Star Baseball '99, and one of
the worst teams in real baseball in 1998. It's hard to find much to like about
this team, as Vladimir Guerrero's breakout year was a bit of a surprise and
isn't reflected in the game's stats. Even the fielding is awful. The best thing
the Expos have going for them is closer Ugueth U. Urbina, but he won't have
many games to close.

New York Mets: Bobby Valentine's Mets stayed in the playoff hunt all season but
missed out on the postseason. John Olerud put up decent power and a splendid
batting average of .354, but otherwise the lineup isn't that great. However,
the Al Leiter-led pitching staff is strong, and John Franco is a lights-out
closer.

New York Yankees: With the possible exception of the Braves, the Yankees are
the best team in the game. There's no shortage of players who can drive in runs
and hit the ball out of the park, and there's also have an abundance of speed.
And with the best starting pitching and defense in the American League, it's
not surprising this team won an amazing 114 games.

Oakland A's: Not a whole lot to like about this team. 39-year-old Rickey
Henderson led the majors in steals, and Jason Giambi and Matt Stairs supply
power. The pitching staff, however, is a glaring weakness, especially once you
get past ace Kenny Rogers.

Philadelphia Phillies: Just a mediocre team. Scott Rolen and Bobby Abreu supply
a nice combination of power and speed, and Doug Glanville maxes out the team's
Speed rating. However, there's little power, and the pitching is pretty suspect
when someone not named Curt Schilling is on the hill. 

Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates led the N.L. Central for much of 1997 on an
extremely tight purse, but by 1998 Pittsburgh was seeing more typical bad
baseball. Jason Kendall is a durable contact hitter, and the quality pitching
and reasonable speed will keep the Pirates alive.

St. Louis Cardinals: Even though Mark McGwire set a new home run record (albeit
with possible asterisks) in 1998, and Ray Lankford and Brian Jordan had career
years, the Cardinals are barely a .500 team because of their patchwork pitching
staff (which is slightly better in All-Star Baseball '99 than in real life).

San Diego Padres: The Padres were the surprise National League champions,
although the team didn't stay intact for much longer. Tony Gwynn is one of the
best contact hitters in the game, even at age 38, and Greg Vaughn hit 50 home
runs. Kevin Brown and Andy Ashby give the Padres a superb top of the rotation,
and Trevor Hoffman is one of the best closers around. Middle relief is a
question mark, however.

San Francisco Giants: The Giants missed out on the playoffs after losing to the
Cubs in a one-game playoff. The offense relies heavily on Barry Bonds and Jeff
Kent, and their rotation is merely average. The Giants boast one of the deepest
benches in the game.

Seattle Mariners: The Mariners are one of the best teams in All-Star Baseball
'99, but they faltered to a 76-85 record in real life. Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex
Rodriguez are menaces to pitchers and are also threats on the basepaths, but
after Randy Johnson, the pitching is suspect, particularly in relief.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: The Devil Rays entered Major League Baseball with little
success, losing 99 games, a number similar to most of their future loss totals.
The offense rests entirely on the aging legs of Fred McGriff and Wade Boggs. In
the actual 1998 season, the Rays' pitching wasn't too horrible, especially in
relief, but All-Star Baseball gives their hurlers low grades.

Texas Rangers: The Rangers again finished on top of the A.L. West, with great
hitting from Juan Gonzalez, Rusty Greer, and Ivan Rodriguez, and little to
speak of in terms of pitching.

Toronto Blue Jays: Mucho speed! The Blue Jays stole 184 bases in 1998, easily
the most in the big leagues. Carlos Delgado, Jose Canseco, and Shawn Green
supply plenty of power, and Roger Clemens and 1996 Cy Young winner Pat Hentgen
lead a capable pitching staff.

American League All-Stars: The best team in the game.

National League All-Stars: The senior circuit's best have slightly more power
than the American League All-Stars, but overall they're slightly weaker than
the A.L. because of less reliable pitching.

===============================================================================
General Strategies                                                   [STRAT]
===============================================================================

---Hitting---

* To make good contact with the ball, swing the bat when your cursor overlaps
squarely with the pitcher's aiming sight. Watch the latter closely, as it may
dip or curve, especially on breaking balls. Usually it's best to aim a little
below the ball.
* At the plate, don't try to chase bad pitches that are well outside the strike
zone.
* If you're hitting for power and aim just a little above the ball, you'll hit
a hard line drive. Aim a bit under the ball to hit a higher ball, perhaps
increasing the chances of a sacrifice fly. The same applies to hitting left or
right of the ball if you want to push or pull the ball.
* If you think a pitcher will be throwing a particular pitch, press the
corresponding C-Button before the pitch to "guess" that the pitcher will throw
that particular pitch. If you guess correctly, your odds of hitting the ball
will increase. If the pitcher throws something else, though, you might want to
take the pitch. This is useful on certain counts; for example, you're likely to
see a heater on a 2-0 count.
* Every hitter in the game has strong and weak spots of the plate. Your
batter's contact area will be larger near the red portions of the box and
smaller in blue areas. Keep this in mind if you're pitching, too.
* With practice, you can bunt well. Hold C-Down and use the Control Stick to
angle the cursor so you'll hit the ball strongly toward the third base foul
line. Use Up or Down on the Control Stick to raise or lower your bat to hit the
ball; it's easy to make contact when bunting. Usually, and especially when
bunting for a hit, you'll want to hold C-Left for a harder bunt. And on
sacrifice bunts, it's a good idea to increase the runners' leads before you
bunt. Lastly, remember that bunting is most effective with players who have
high Bunting and Speed ratings.
* Use pinch-hitting to your advantage, especially when a tired pitcher is at
the plate. But don't pinch-hit for an effective, energized pitcher.
* Be willing to take pitches. The computer will walk people on occasion, and
swinging at the first pitch all the time is a great way to keep the opposing
pitcher fresh. Moreover, whenever a new pitcher comes in, be patient so you can
see what kind of "stuff" he has.



---Pitching---

* In All-Star Baseball, your pitching will be most effective if you aim for the
corners of the strike zone. Even if the corners of the zone turn red, you can
nail the corner for a strike. Unlike real umpires (who can be quite
inconsistent, especially in 1998), the game's strike zone never changes.
Remember that you can aim closer to the corners if you have a fresh pitcher
with good control.
* If your pitcher is getting tired, don't throw high breaking balls to a heavy
hitter unless you'd like to give up a home run.
* Different pitches have different pitches to choose from.
* If you're ahead in the count (like 0-2), throw a tempting pitch at the edge
of the strike zone or a weak pitch in the dirt.
* You can aim breaking balls a little off the plate, and if done properly,
they'll curve back for a strike (keep in mind whether you're a lefty or a
righty).
* Against human players, fastballs tend to be easier to hit than breaking
balls.
* Fastballs tend to have the best velocity when thrown high in the zone.
* When pitching to an opposing pitcher, just blow by him with a few sizzlers.
Against a human, though, pitchers can hit slightly more effectively.
* Batters' vertical strike zones vary depending on stance; a player with a very
erect stance (like Gary Gaetti) will have a bigger zone than someone who's more
compact, like Quilvio Veras.
* A pitcher's energy level is shown on the meter below the pitch selection
dialog. If the meter drops into the orange region, be ready to warm someone up
if your current pitcher gets into trouble. And when it starts flashing, you're
going to see a rapid drop in performance and risk wild pitches and hit batsmen.
* Remember that you have to warm a pitcher up in the bullpen before making a
pitching change.
* And yes, in arcade play (or if you create a custom player), you can throw the
prohibited spitball with some pitchers. And it does work.



---Fielding---

* In this game, fielding can be tough. You may want to use the auto-fielding
option when you're starting out. However, even the computer seems to have
trouble with dribblers and bunts to the pitcher.
* If you're fielding manually, you'll need to start moving outfielders to the
ball's landing area the instant the ball is hit. Assisted fielding gives you
more leeway.
* Bring the infield in (check the Controls section) if you think the opposition
is planning to bunt. If you're an advanced player, use infield and outfield
shifts to your advantage.
* When making substitutions, don't insert a player into an unnatural position -
for example, don't play a first baseman in center field.
* If you throw the ball back and forth between second and home, computer
runners will eventually take off for an extra base, making them an easy out.



---Other Game Notes---

* Use the "Controllers" option on the in-game pause menu to change the team
you're controlling. The other options should be self-explanatory.
* I've seen several hit batters and wild pitches years ago, but as far as I
know, the game doesn't have balks, catcher's interference, or other rare
events. And, of course, there aren't rain delays, bench-clearing brawls, or
mound conferences.
* Some things in this game aren't realistic; many pitchers throw slightly
harder than they would in real life. Also, home runs are often a bit longer
than they would really
be.
* Wrigley Field's standings flags seem to indicate only two divisions instead
of three (no team flags on the middle pole).

===============================================================================
Cheat Codes                                                          [CHEAT]
===============================================================================
Here are some passwords you can enter on the cheat entry prompt:

ABBTNCSTLO    Fat-Skinny Mode
ATEMYBUIK     Let the Abductions Begin (Unlocks Alienapolis Park, where the
              home players are green)
BBNSTRDS      Big Ball Mode
GOTHELIUM     Big Head Mode
GRTBLSFDST    Ball Trail Mode
PRPPAPLYR     Paperman Mode

Some codes can be entered from the pause menu:

* Ball Trail Mode: Hold Z and press B, C-Left, C-Up, C-Right, C-Down, B, A,
  C-Left, C-Left
* Big Ball Mode: Hold Z and press C-Left, A, C-Right, C-Down, B, A, C-Left,
  C-Left
* Paperman Mode: Hold Z and press C-Up, C-Right, A, C-Right, A, C-Down,
  C-Down, C-Up, C-Up, C-Down
* Big Head Mode: Hold Z and press C-Up, C-Right, A, C-Left, C-Left, B, C-Up,
  C-Left, C-Left

If you hit one of the "Win a Lizard" signs (like at Kauffman Stadium) in an
exhibition game, all of your players will turn into lizards.

At the Title Screen, press R, A, Z, R, C-Right, A, and B to see the credits.

===============================================================================
Frequently Asked Questions                                           [QUEST]
===============================================================================
Q: How should I arrange my batting order?
A: The game provides default lineups, but if you change this lineup (and you
probably will sometimes), you'll want to change the order.

* Your leadoff man should hit for high average and be able to steal bases.
* Your #2 hitter should be able to hit .300 and move runners over. Speed is
  also an asset.
* The third spot should be occupied by your best overall hitter.
* Your cleanup hitter should hit the ball out of the park a lot.
* #5 batters should have power. Often someone who whiffs a lot.
* Your sixth spot is often filled by someone who can drive people in but
  doesn't have a high batting average.
* The seven hole is frequently a catcher or other relatively light hitter.
* Your #8 hitter is usually your least reliable hitter.
* The #9 spot almost universally goes to a pitcher in the National League. If
  you have a DH, this is usually a speedy guy with a mediocre batting average.

Q: How accurate are the rosters in this game?
A: I think the game's rosters were finalized at the start of spring training,
so they're pretty good. But that's not to say that some things changed between
the start of spring training and Opening Day. And, of course, lots of trades,
signings, and other roster moves occurred during the 1998 season. I don't
include a section about trades you can make to update your favorite teams,
since some people might prefer rosters to look the way they looked in spring
training, on Opening Day, or on the last day of the season. If you want to
tweak the rosters, try Baseball-Reference.com or other sites for 1998 stats.
And if realism doesn't matter, feel free to make moves that never occurred at
all in real life - trade Derek Jeter for Greg Maddux if it suits your fancy.

Q: What players on the free agents list played in the big leagues in 1998?
A: Here's the list, along with their respective teams:

Yorkis Perez - PHI
Tony Phillips - TOR/NYM
Jerome Walton - TB

Also, many rookies from 1998 aren't on the 25-man rosters or even in the farm
system; one such example is National League Rookie of the Year Kerry Wood.
Another such player is Carlos Beltran, who had a cup of tea in Kansas City.

Q: Do roster moves change the team ratings displayed on the team selection
screens?
A: No, although they can certainly change the quality and chemistry of the
teams.

Q: Why is Oriole Park at Camden Yards called "Baltimore" on the stadium
selection screen while all of the other stadiums' names are used?
A: I don't know, although this seems to be the case in other baseball games
made in 1998 and 1999. I think it has something to do with a controversy
about what the stadium's name was supposed to be - the full "Oriole Park at
Camden Yards" was sort of a compromise between "Oriole Park" and "Camden
Yards."

Q: Should I hit for contact or power?
A: As a batter, you can press the B button to choose between the two. There are
many factors when deciding. If your batter is Wade Boggs or Tom Goodwin, you'll
have a massive contact zone and a tiny power zone, so using a power hit with
them is stupid. If you're using a well-rounded hitter like Chipper Jones,
you'll probably want to use a power hit if runners are on base. If you're using
a lousy contact hitter who has some power, like Greg Vaughn, power is usually
the way to go. There are some other factors as well; for example, if the count
is 2-0, there's a good chance you'll be getting a sluggable fastball down the
middle - an invitation for power. An 0-2 count may force you to use a more
defensive contact hit. Having runners on base makes power more useful; empty
bases is usually a more desirable condition for contact.

Q: What are the differences between the difficulty levels?
A: The main difference is the size of the contact areas and the quality of the
AI. On Rookie difficulty, the hitting contact area is much larger than it is on
the Veteran or All-Star levels. Also, the computer pitcher is a little trickier
on higher difficulties.

Q: How do I change the difficulty level?
A: Use Up or Down on the Control Stick on the controllers screen before the
game.

Q: Does anything special happen if I pitch a no-hitter?
A: No. Sorry.

Q: What's your favorite advertisement in the game?
A: "Nagle's Fabric Softener - Win a Helicopter." Other memorable signs include
"Drink Tre-Z - Win a Lizard," "Crummack's X-terminators," "Thyssen Diet Cherry
Soda, and, on the scoreboard, "Margaret will you marry me?" It should be noted
that Margaret's name is sometimes substituted by Melinda, so perhaps one of the
players is a potential polygamist.

Q: How many guides have you written?
A: Depending on what you count, this is #74! To see the complete, current list,
visit www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/74793.html.

===============================================================================
Comparing to Reality                                                 [REALL]
===============================================================================
1998 was the best major league season in recent years, and is often considered
among the best ever. The season will be remembered most for the home run chase,
with Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both breaking Roger Maris's 37-year-old home
run record. McGwire ended up shattering the record with 70 home runs.
Unfortunately, more recent events have shed light on some of the less pleasant
details of McGwire's success (his admitted use of Andro and anabolic steroids).

The New York Yankees cruised to the World Series, easily sweeping the
surprising San Diego Padres. The Yankees' season remains the second-winningest
ever, going 114-48.

Other notable individual feats include the perfect game for David Wells, as
well as Cubs rookie Kerry Wood striking out 20 Astros in May. Phillies pitcher
Curt Schilling struck out an amazing 300 batters during the course of the
season. Cal Ripken Jr. ended his consecutive game streak at 2,633.

As for events that took place off the field, Bud Selig "officially" became
commissioner after shedding the interim label.

===============================================================================
Version History                                                      [VERSN]
===============================================================================
Date    | Version | Size |
--------|---------|------|-----------------------------------------------------
3- 9-08 |  0.1    | 10KB | Began guide.
3-11-08 |  0.2    | 12KB | Did some stuff.
4-22-08 |  0.25   | 12KB | Made a couple of small adjustments.
2-23-10 |  0.5    | 36KB | Revived work on the guide after a two-year layoff.
2-24-10 |  0.85   | 37KB | Finished team summaries and did some other stuff.
2-25-10 |  0.95   | 38KB | Finished proofreading.
2-28-10 |  1.0    | 39KB | Added Cheats.

===============================================================================
Copyright                                                            [COPYR]
===============================================================================
(c) 2008-2010 Vinny Hamilton. All rights reserved.

All copyrights mentioned in this guide are property of their respective
holders.

 * You can print this guide out for your personal use.
 * You can download this guide to your computer for your personal use.
 * You can post this guide on your Web site as long as you give proper credit
AND you don't change a single letter, number, or symbol (not even an tilde).
 * Remember that the latest version will always be available at GameFAQs.com,
but don't count on there being frequent (if any) updates.
 * You can translate this guide into a foreign language (British, Southern,
Australian, and New Yorker are not considered foreign languages) as long as you
ask permission first.
 * You can't post this guide on your Web site and then say you wrote the guide
yourself.
 * You can't post this guide on Web sites that contain (or have links to sites
that contain) explicit depictions of unclothed humans (also known as
pornography), racism, gambling, or flattery of totalitarian regimes.
 * You can't post this guide on your Web site if you're going to change
anything in this guide that took me so many hours to write.

If you don't comply with these guidelines, your hard drive will be reformatted
inexplicably and you will suffer from constipation for the rest of your life.
Heed this warning.

===============================================================================
Contact Information                                                  [CONTC]
===============================================================================
If you have any questions or comments about this guide, please send an e-mail
to [email protected]. That's zero-zero-two, by the way. Remember that not
all e-mail messages will be read. Please follow these guidelines:

 * Do include "All-Star Baseball" in the subject line.
 * Do send polite suggestions for ways to make this walkthrough better.
 * Do tell me about any errors or omissions you find in this guide.
 * Do send information about any glitches, tricks, or codes you discover in
this game.
 * Do ask any questions you have about All-Star Baseball '99 gameplay. I will
respond eventually if you follow all of these rules.
 * Do make a reasonable effort to use decent spelling, grammar, usage,
punctuation, and capitalization so I can understand what you're trying to say.
 * Do use patience. I check my e-mail quite sporadically.
 * Do not send spam, pornography, chain letters, "flaming," or anything that
contains profanity or vulgarity. Again, violating this rule will result in
deletion of the message and permanent constipation.

And lastly, a public service message: Fight for and affirm the rights of all
humans, regardless of race, age, or creed! And... Always get in your five
fruits and veggies. No one's likely to read this, though.

For Martin Luther King