# Episode 235 - 1965 Midway Mystery Score

**Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2015-11-01  
**Duration:** 9m 55s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-235-1965-midway-mystery-score

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## Analysis

Nick Baldridge discusses the 1965 Midway Mystery Score, a horror-themed pitch-and-bat pinball machine featuring unique flyaway targets and sequence-driven gameplay. The episode covers the game's mechanics, distinctive artwork, and why it stands out among pitch-and-bat machines despite not being baseball-themed.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Mystery Score is a pitch-and-bat game that is not actually about baseball, making it one of the most collectible in its category — _Nick Baldridge discussing the game's unique appeal and collectibility_
- [HIGH] Mystery Score features two independent sets of score reels, each tracking a separate numeric sequence (1-4) for red and green — _Nick Baldridge describing the sequence-driven gameplay mechanics_
- [HIGH] The game uses clutch-driven score stepping technology common to other pitch-and-bat and gun games of the era — _Nick Baldridge's technical analysis of the scoring mechanism_
- [HIGH] Mystery Score was displayed at the Orc Show in 2015 where video footage was captured — _Nick Baldridge mentioning seeing the game at a 2015 show_
- [HIGH] Nick Baldridge previously worked on a Midway pitch-and-bat game from a couple years before Mystery Score — _Nick Baldridge sharing personal experience with similar era machines_

### Notable Quotes

> "There are a few of those but this is one of the most collectible And I would say that it because of the interesting and unique artwork And also the sequence driven gameplay, which is a little more deep than many pitch and bats."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, ~3:00-3:30
> _Explains what makes Mystery Score stand out as a collectible despite being non-baseball themed_

> "The cabinet stencil includes a variety of monster eyes looking at you in both the front and the sides. It's very cool."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, ~5:30
> _Describes the horror-themed artwork and cabinet design_

> "This game looks like a lot of fun. It was actually at the Orc Show here in 2015, and Tilt is an old video from 2015 and i did not have a chance to play it but it looks like quite a lot of fun especially if you playing with a friend and attempting to outdo their score"
> — **Nick Baldridge**, ~7:00-7:30
> _Reflects on the game's appeal and competitive social gameplay_

> "What interesting about mystery score and what makes it unique and collectible is that it a pitch and bat which is not actually about baseball"
> — **Nick Baldridge**, ~2:40
> _Establishes the key differentiator that makes this game noteworthy_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast, technician who has worked on vintage pitch-and-bat machines |
| Mystery Score | game | 1965 Midway horror-themed pitch-and-bat pinball machine featuring flyaway targets and sequence-driven gameplay |
| Midway | company | Manufacturer of Mystery Score and other pinball machines from the 1960s |
| For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast hosted by Nick Baldridge |
| Orc Show | event | Event in 2015 where Mystery Score was displayed and filmed |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pitch-and-bat pinball mechanics and gameplay, Electromechanical (EM) era pinball design, Sequence-driven scoring systems, Flyaway targets as a game mechanic
- **Secondary:** Horror-themed pinball artwork and cabinet design, Vintage machine collectibility and rarity, Clutch-driven score stepping technology

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0)

### Signals

- **[historical_signal]** Deep technical analysis of a specific 1965 EM pitch-and-bat machine, examining mechanics, artwork, and design philosophy (confidence: high) — Detailed breakdown of flyaway targets, sequence mechanics, score reels, and clutch-driven stepping technology
- **[collector_signal]** Mystery Score identified as unusually collectible within pitch-and-bat category due to non-baseball theme and unique artwork (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge explicitly states it's 'one of the most collectible' pitch-and-bat machines despite not being baseball-themed
- **[design_philosophy]** Mystery Score uses more complex sequence-driven gameplay (1-4 numeric sequences for red and green) compared to typical home run-focused pitch-and-bat designs (confidence: high) — Detailed explanation of dual independent score reels tracking separate sequences
- **[design_innovation]** Mystery Score is a horror-themed pitch-and-bat that breaks the baseball convention of the genre (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge highlights this as a key reason for the machine's uniqueness and collectibility
- **[gameplay_signal]** Mystery Score designed for competitive two-player scoring with distinct red and green sequences (confidence: medium) — Nick Baldridge notes the appeal of 'playing with a friend and attempting to outdo their score'
- **[content_signal]** For Amusement Only maintains deep focus on EM and bingo pinball with episode-by-episode machine analysis (confidence: high) — Entire episode dedicated to single 1965 machine with technical gameplay breakdown

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## Transcript

 What's that sound? It's 4 Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Ooooh, what's that sound? Eh, it's just me. Welcome back to 4 Amusement Only, this is Nicholas Baldridge. Atomicoice, Halloween and for this evening's episode I thought I'd talk about a horror themed pitch and bat called Mystery score it was made by midway in nineteen sixty five one of the defining features of pitch and bats There are a minimum of two controls, one to send the ball towards your bat and the second to swing your bat. This is no exception. There are but two buttons, one for pitch, one for bat. The ball comes from the center of the playfield under a thin flap and will come rocketing at various speeds towards the bat. Under the only hit the bat we hit the bat when you hit the ball uh... it's going to go towards either some switches on the side or flyaway targets in the back now flyaway targets are type of target that I haven't talked about before exact in passing but what they are are stand-ups a similar in concept to a drop target more similar in appearance to a stand target but upside down The back of Mystery score is lined with nine targets of the flyaway variety Now what interesting about mystery score and what makes it unique and collectible is that it a pitch and bat which is not actually about baseball There are a few of those but this is one of the most collectible And I would say that it because of the interesting and unique artwork And also the sequence driven gameplay, which is a little more deep than many pitch and bats. Of course in your typical pitch and bat you're trying to get home runs and once you reach a certain threshold typically you'll receive a replay, a free game. While on Mystery Score there are sequences, multiple, one for each set of score Reels. There are two sets of Score Score Score Reels that operate independently, which are keeping track of their own special sequence. The sequence in this case is a numeric sequence, so one through four for red and one through four for green. The idea is that you knockout one through four on either red or green and you earn as many points as possible in either red or green or both and once you reach a certain threshold you'll either receive extra extra points. Now, as a pitching bat, one of the defining elements is the number of shots that you get, the number of balls which will actually be pitched towards the bat. This is usually selectable and I'm sure mystery score is no exception. I've never seen the inside one. But also common in this era of and bats is that you can earn extra innings by completing certain sequences or hitting specific targets on your last inning and I call them innings but it shots for mystery score it not actually an inning because it not a pitching bat exactly now mystery scores artwork let talk about that on the back glass you have multiple mythical does not exist in this generation 0685 00741 ,.d enters MLAB™ in image.5.168 Jewish MLAB™y sponsored by StreamAdvisor & smokingcommerce.com utilize it to playenfactory extra content Out pinballducting, with webbing. The cabinet stencil includes a variety of monster eyes looking at you in both the front and the sides. It's very cool. The back glass has a lot of bold greens and yellows, purples, pinks, and reds. It's very vibrant. The playfield gives indication of how to start scoring in either red or green. And has all kinds of interesting jokes and artwork just like the back glass. The artwork is different on the playfield than it is on the back glass. But, uh, now remember your sequence one through four. You can also achieve this by hitting standup targets on the left and right side of the playfield. Right in the center, there's a flyaway target marked Mystery Score, and that's going to give you a random amount of points. This game looks like a lot of fun. It was actually at the Orc Show here in 2015, and Tilt is an old video from 2015 and i did not have a chance to play it but it looks like quite a lot of fun especially if you playing with a friend and attempting to outdo their score I worked on a midway pitch and bat of this era just a couple years before this one was put out and so I recognize some of the lighting and artwork in what would be the upper deck even though these games didn't have an upper deck, kind of the back plane, I guess you would say, that indicates what the targets are for, but there are also star lamps. Now when you hit the star when it's lit, it will award either a replay or an extra inning or ball based on your settings. The Mystery score uses the same interesting clutchdriven score stepping technology that it used in other pitch and bat games and gun games. Now, on Mystery Score you can actually press the bat button multiple times per pitch and therefore if your ball doesn't happen to go all the way to the back, The Quin użyco paul do the vazag uh... brigzowyoch test the Closed it out, and if you want to get a copy of the FWON podcast, you can do so at bingos.com. Or you can call me on the bingos line, that's 724-BINGOS-1, 724-246-4671. You can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter, at Bingo Podcast. You can follow me on Instagram at nbaldridge. You can listen to us on Google Play Music. Or you can listen to us on our website which is forumusementonly.libsyn.com. Thank you very much for listening and I'll talk to you next time. Have a safe and happy Halloween everybody.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 16bae134-0db9-4d24-b75a-90f124296300*