In 1983, it was one of the winners of the Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen and shōjo categories, along with Adachi's other work Miyuki.

Touch follows twin brothers Tatsuya and Kazuya Uesugi, along with their childhood friend and nextdoor neighbor Minami Asakura.

When Kazuya is struck in a traffic accident on the morning before the final game of the regional tournament, Tatsuya takes over his brother's position of ace pitcher, and utilizes his natural talent to complete his younger brother's goal of fulfilling Minami's dream of going to the Koshien.

Written and illustrated by Mitsuru Adachi, Touch was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine from August 5, 1981, to October 12, 1986.

[32] It was one of the highest-rated anime television shows ever in Japan, with episodes consistently rated 30+ percentage points during parts of its run.

Touch: The Ace Without a Number on His Back (タッチ 背番号のないエース, Tatchi: Sebangō no Nai Ēsu) was released in Japan on April 12, 1986, by Toho as a double feature with Take It Easy starring Kōji Kikkawa.

The opening and ending theme songs (respectively) were "The Ace Without a Number on His Back" (背番号のないエース, Sebangō no Nai Ēsu) and "Youth of Glass" (ガラスの青春, Garasu no Tīnneiji), both sung by 1980s pop duo Rough & Ready and composed by Serizawa.

The second film, Touch 2: Goodbye Gift (タッチ2 さよならの贈り物, Tatchi 2: Sayonara no Okurimono), was released on December 13, 1986, by Toho as a double feature with Koisuru Onnatachi starring Yuki Saito.

The theme song, "The Whereabouts of the Wind" (風のゆくえ, Kaze no Yukue), was sung by Satoru Sakamoto (best known for producing the group Dorothy Little Happy).

[41] In 1983, it was one of the winners of the Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen and shōjo categories, along with Adachi's other work Miyuki.