Thursday’s game at Rickwood Field between the Giants and Cardinals is expected to be a memorable event. With a seating capacity of only around 8,300, only a select few will have the opportunity to witness an MLB game inside the oldest professional ballpark in the United States where Willie Mays started his Major League career at just 17 years old.
For those who want to experience what it was like to play at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, and step into the shoes of young Mays, MLB The Show 24 has added Rickwood Field to the game as part of its latest storyline celebrating the Negro Leagues and Black baseball. This storyline focuses on Mays’ time with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948.
According to Ramone Russell, MLB The Show’s product development, communications, and brand strategist, the Willie Mays-Rickwood Field storyline holds special significance. The game developers aimed to capture the essence of the historic ballpark and its connection to one of baseball’s greatest players.
The storyline in MLB The Show 24 not only provides a gaming experience but also serves as a history lesson. Cutscenes narrated by Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick offer insights into the life, career, and legacy of Negro Leagues legends such as Mays, Josh Gibson, Henry Aaron, Toni Stone, and Buck Leonard.
The inclusion of Negro Leagues history in the game has been a passion project for Russell and has received overwhelming positive feedback. The involvement of Bob Kendrick, a renowned Negro Leagues historian and storyteller, has added depth and authenticity to the game’s portrayal of this important chapter in baseball history.
MLB The Show 24, which is available for PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch, continues to highlight the significance of the Negro Leagues and their impact on the sport. Through engaging storylines and immersive gameplay, the game allows players to appreciate the contributions of Negro Leagues players and keep their legacy alive for future generations to learn and appreciate.