The manga was adapted into an anime by Nippon Animation, and ran from December 23, 1977 – March 26, 1979 on Fuji TV, ending at 25 episodes. However, for some reason Japan couldn't get enough of this series. It also received a Live-Action Adaptation, several spin-off manga, an anime film, and a Japanese television drama. It received the 4th Kōdansha Literature Culture Award for children's manga in 1973.
Yuki Mizuhara is a young girl who is in medical school so she can study vetininary medicine in Africa, and plays baseball as a hobby. One day, she catches the eye of baseball champion Tetsugoro Iwata, who wishes to retire but cannot because he hasn't found a worthy heir yet. Impressed by her skills, he proposes Yuki become a pro player, but she refuses. Not deterred, Iwata doesn't stop convincing her and eventually Yuki joins the team.
There's just an issue, though - Yuki is a woman and baseball has traditionally been a men's sport. And that's one of many obstacles she'll have to face when it comes to achieving victory...
Has examples of
- Africa Is a Country: Yuki desires to go "to Africa" and study animals. It's never stated which country in particular she's going to.
- Alternative Foreign Theme Song: The original Japanese theme song was performed by Mitsuko Horie while the Italian version was performed by Loriana Lara.
- The Artful Dodger: A modern day example with Utaemon who swindles people during baseball games with his father.
- Creator Thumbprint: Mizushima writes a lot of baseball manga and is an avid fan of the sport himself.
- Career-Ending Injury: Saburo was once a referee for the Mets games, but his eye disease caused him to stop attending games and he no longer works as one.
- Boyish Short Hair: Yuki has hair that goes a little past her shoulders, but can still pass as male if she wanted to.
- Coming of Age Story: Of Yuki filling in the shoes of famed player Tetsuguro Iwata, while trying to break the glass cieling as the Met's first female player.
- Dating What Daddy Hates: Mr. Touma hated that Kanako was being romantically involved with Tetsugoro and forced her into an Arranged Marriage with the son of a nobleman.
- Determinator: No matter what others tell him, Iwata is dead-set on Yuki being his successor, and doesn't care who he'll have to fight.
- Dub Name Change: The Italian dub changed Yuki's name to Pat.
- Flower Motifs: Kanako and yellow roses, as she always wears them when she's with Tetsugoro and they're a mark of her wealth.
- Gonk: Tetsuro is very big, with large round eyes and a big nose.
- Gratuitous English: Set in Japan, but the uniforms have "METS" written on them in English text.
- Happily Married: Togashi and Yuuko, with Yuuko even forsaking university so she could care for his ill father.
- Jerkass: Yuki faces repeated sexism for being a woman in a male-dominated field, from other umpires and her fellow players.
- Passionate Sports Girl: Yuki at first was reluctant to play as baseball but later realized it was her dream and worked herself to the bone to succeed Iwata and prove all her critics wrong.
- Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: A good chunk of the characters, including the main character Yuki, have pale skin and thin, black hair.
- Rotating Protagonist: While the first half of the anime focuses on Yuki and the trials she must face to be worthy of Iwata's name, the second half focuses on the side characters and their Character Development.
- Shared Universe: With Dokaben, which is another Mizushima work also about baseball.
- Southpaw Advantage: Many pitchers, like Seiji and Daisuke, are left-handed and some of the Mets' best players.
- Token Girl: After much protesting from Iwata, Yuki is allowed to join as the first female member of the Mets.
- Uptown Girl: Kanako Touma is the daughter of a wealthy man, and shows off her wealth by purchasing yellow roses for Tetsugoro (yellow roses are very expensive in Japan).
