MLB The Show 23 celebrates the Negro Leagues’ triumph over adversity in new mode
MLB The Show 23 will include a new Storyline mode that highlights the history of the Negro Leagues in baseball. Like most parts of life in the US from the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, baseball was strictly segregated: black athletes were not allowed to compete with white players, which eventually led to the formation of several competitions for black baseball players – the Negro Leagues. Their history is another reminder of the long struggle towards equality in US society, containing many almost-forgotten icons of the sport.
Sony has worked with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to use the Storyline mode in MLB The Show 23 to highlight the careers of these athletes, letting players experience them through the game. Season 1 of the new game mode features chapters on eight of the biggest stars, who played in this era:
- Leroy “Satchel” Paige: The Negro Leagues’ Brightest Star
- Jackie Robinson: Baseball’s Greatest Pioneer
- Andrew “Rube” Foster: The Father of Black Baseball
- Hilton Smith: The Forgotten Star
- Hank Thompson: Barrier Breaker
- John Donaldson: The Great Barnstorming Showman
- Martín Dihigo: El Maestro
- John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil: A Leader of Men
In addition, Sony has committed to donate $1 for every sale of a MLB The Show 23 Collector’s Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, and The Captain Edition until December 31, 2023, to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
The company also aims to include new chapters for this mode in future releases of MLB The Show, continuing the journey through this rich history.
In Storyline mode, gameplay highlighting important moments in the respective player’s career is intermixed with short informational videos narrated by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s president, Bob Kendrick.
Altogether, this looks like a fantastic initiative from the developers, using their platform to shine a light on the history of the sport they are portraying. Video games have proven to be an effective way to educate and entertain at the same time, making people interested in new topics and getting them started on researching them on their own.
MLB The Show 23 is set to release on March 28, 2023, on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
