A popular past-time in both America and Japan, it's no surprise many anime would incorporate baseball into their storylines. In addition to baseball-centric anime like Major and Big Windup!, many other anime feature on-off baseball episodes. Here are some of the best such episodes.
FLCL, Episode 4, "Full Swing"
At the start of "Full Swing," Haruko is absolutely obliterating the Mabase Martians. Proving her self to be a top-tier player, she strikes out batters and hits home runs with ease. When it's Naota's time to bat, he refuses to even bother to swing the bat, letting the ball whip past and strike him out.
Perhaps due to insecurities over never living up to his brother's legacy as a baseball player, or seeing the close relationship Haruko acquires with Kamon, Naota doesn't even try. One of the main lessons Naota learns on his journey towards adulthood is that he needs to take that first step towards trying lest nothing will ever change in his life. At the end, he takes this first step, as he "swings the bat" to smack back the baseball-shaped satellite heading towards Mabase.
BNA: Brand New Animal, Episode 5, "Greedy Bears"
Reluctantly invited to a baseball game, Michiru unintentionally ends up on the mound when the pitcher for the Bears is knocked out by the Pink Flamingos' dirty tricks. Michiru's special beastmen abilities prove especially useful, as she takes on characteristics of cheetahs and gorillas to increase her running speed and batting power, rocketing the ever-losing Bears towards multiple victories.
Meanwhile, the coach for the Bears deals with yakuza trouble. Coach Dante used to have a fire inside of him, but it was doused due to the discrimination he faced by teammates and media growing up. To get past yakuza pressure, he resorts to gambling on the Bears always losing, purposely giving them obvious signals during matches and bad lineups to ensure these losses. Michiru joining the team thus teaches him and the rest of the Bears to always try your hardest to reach your dreams, regardless of race or social status.
Dragon Ball Super, Episode 70, "A Challenge From Champa! This Time, a Baseball Game!"
In Episode 70 of Dragon Ball Super, Champa challenges Beerus to a duel, with the goal of snacking on Earth's cuisine as a reward. They choose baseball, despite neither characters knowing the rules of the game. Yamcha assumes the role of team captain, making this is one of the few times Yamcha's been competent at something. His credibility is not long-lasting though, as he quickly becomes the game's punching bag with other players knocking him out repeatedly.
Meanwhile, Goku and Vegeta are absurdly overpowered for this, destroying large portions of the field when throwing the ball despite this destruction being against the rules. The funniest moments are both Goku and Vegeta's shock over how they aren't allowed to hit people in this game. The game ends, though the world was almost annihilated, and peace continues on Earth.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Episode 7, "The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya"
When Haruhi Suzumiya's boredom reaches a peak, she forces the rest of the SOS Brigade, and some other characters, to join a baseball tournament. The game initially appears to be going fine, until Haruhi's mood starts to shift. Kyon couldn't care less about operating as the teams clean up, instead focused on making sure Mikuru doesn't get hurt during the game. This attitude negatively impacts Haruhi, making a seemingly normal baseball game evolve into a potential world-ending scenario if it doesn't go her way.
Haruhi and Mikuru change into cheerleading outfits to distract the opposing team, and Nagato places a spell on the bat causing it to automatically hone into incoming pitches. With these efforts and Kyon putting a little more effort into batting, Haruhi's closed space madness ends.
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, Episode 28, "Pulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper!"
Ash is introduced to a popular sport, Pokébase, where Pokémon and trainers play baseball together. At school, his classmates discuss a televised match, until unexpectedly Principal Oak walks in with the popular Pokébase player Oruoru and his partner Snorlax.
Ash and friends mission for the day is to play ball. Kiawe takes pitcher mound and delivers an insanely animated "Inferno Overdrive Pitch" that strikes out Ash repeatedly. Lana also comes in with her own special baseball technique, imagining her bat as her fishing rod, nailing her a good hit as well. An insanely fun match between Team Rocket and Ash's team ensues, competing for Oruoru's autograph. Mimikyu has a chance to pitch against Pikachu, Wobbufet is catching, Jessie displays her comedic arrogance and Meowth even references Urusei Yatsura's baseball episode with his training homage. At the climactic finish, Snorlax uses z-max to snatch Ash's team a victory.
Samurai Champloo, Episode 23, "Baseball Blues"
Samurai Champloo's "Baseball Blues" begins with a narrator setting the stage for the invasion of American ships onto Japanese soil. These American invaders are deeply racist and prejudiced, but one thing they do love is baseball. To avoid a giant dine-and-dash bill, Mugen, Jin and Fuu join the baseball match against the Americans. The characters don't know the rules of baseball too well, applying their knowledge of sword techniques into how to hit the ball. However, just like the Americans, they also make sure to play a bit dirty, inviting a dog into the game due to its minimal strike zone.
As the game progresses, more players get knocked out, with even a fat American player sitting on one of the players to wipe them out of the game. Mugen takes the saying "eye for an eye" to heart, intentionally throwing balls to knock out players, even break-dancing when pitching too. Overall, the episode explores puts a comical take on the American past-time, while also commenting on isolationism as well.
Dorohedoro, Episode 7, "The All-Star ☆ Dream Game"
Fujita and Ebisu join the baseball team, the Peace Sharks, looking to both encounter Caiman again and enact revenge for what he and Nikaidou did to Matsumura. In classic Dorohedoro fashion, the rules and circumstances are hilariously peculiar.
Professor Kasukabe engineered Matsumura into a Frankenstein monster and made the giant cockroach Jonson into a remote-controlled horror. Fujita decides he must bring Matsumura back to Kikurage for healing, even going so far as saving this zombie creature from falling in a bottomless pit near one of the bases. Ebisu assumes the role of mascot and dances around in a shark costume while giving the opposition some sleep-inducing beverages. The game ends with Nikaidou knocking out the clinic director with a fastball, giving Fujita and Ebisu time to escape with Matsumura.
Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, Episode 187, "The Shining Power of a Star: Chibi-Chibi's Transformation"
Unlike most of the sailor guardians, Sailor Moon has zero sports talent. Regardless, Seiya desires to get closer to Usagi and teach her softball one-on-one. The Three-lights fan club, specifically leader Sonoko, aren't too pleased how close Usagi and Seiya are and challenge the two of them to a softball match, with the caveat being if Usagi's team loses she must not hang out with Seiya again.
Filled with great comedic moments between Usagi, the sailor guardians and Seiya, this episode develops their relationship quite a bit to the dismay of Usagi who insists she already has a fantastic boyfriend. With all this softball madness happening, the villains are trying hard to scout out the true star seed. They almost succeed, but Chibi Chibi manages to rescue Usagi. Once the rain ends, the softball match resumes and Usagi finally manages to catch a ball, securing her victory.
Urusei Yatsura, Episode 70, "Dramatic Appearance! Mizunokoji Ton-chan!!"
After training in the mountains, rival Tobimaro returns to challenge Shuu to a baseball match. Friends since childhood, the two have regularly staged matches, with no winners ever decided. Once Shuu bribes Moroboshi and classmates with free food, they all eagerly join his team. It's a back to back bid between him and Ryoko though, who desperately wants Tobimaro to win, as both increase the stakes of their bet both prior and throughout the baseball game.
The insanity of this game increases as time passes, with Lum successfully catching balls much to Moroboshi's dismay, Tobimaro eating baseballs, the bases getting literally stolen, and even hockey players joining in to disrupt the match. The finale of the match intensifies, with Tobimaro about to score the first run, yet unexpectedly, home-plate is actually a pitfall set up by Ryoko. Laughing at Tobimaro and Shuu's failure to reach a winner, the episode ends, and their rivalry continues.
Clannad After Story, Episode 1, "The Goodbye at the End of Summer"
Unlike the other entries on this list, no super-powers or alien enemies are involved in playing this baseball match. Instead, the premiere episode of Clannad After Story sets up a regular, friendly match against a local shopping district team.
After Tomoya recruits members for the baseball team, this eclectic team plays ball. Each member adds a little fun into the mix. The episode confronts Tomoya's insecurity with his shoulder injury, as he refuses to truly swing at the ball, going for bunts instead. His teammates give him a show of support though, giving him the confidence to swing the bat.