This is a series I have considered trying many times. I'm not that into sports anime mind, but if there's enough else there to keep me interested I might still be convinced to try it.
Honestly, it's more like an amazing SOL/romance anime that has an emphasis on sports in it. Still, the baseball action in it is very well done and got me addicted to Adachi's other works (I watched all 101 episodes of Touch right after this). I would 100% recommend that you try it. Just watch the first episode (literally one of the best openings to an anime that I've ever seen) and I guarantee you'll get the feels. There's a reason this is so highly rated on MAL.
Review by deanzelVIP 11BlockedParent2013-10-14T19:17:59Z— updated 2017-03-09T23:10:46Z
Cross Game is absolutely one of the best anime shows (not just sports anime) that I've seen. Period. It is another masterpiece written by Mitsuru Adachi (of Touch and H2 fame). From the first episode (which is absolutely heartbreaking and a must-watch), the show just captures the viewer's attention and never lets go. The best part of Cross Game is that it is about more than just baseball. So much more. It is a story about dealing with the death of a loved one (it has a very similar feeling to AnoHana), friendship, and how two people grow and nurture each other through hardships and successes. The story may be a little bit predictable at times, but Cross Game is more about the total journey. Don't be intimidated by the length. Time flies and there really are no filler episodes (except for one recap episode) and by the end, I was wishing that the show would never end. The characters are truly what make this show exceptional and Aoba is one of my favorite female protagonists of all time. She is way more than just a tsundere and has so much depth to her character. Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece. It'll have you on the edge of seat the whole time.