We are nearing the 10-year anniversary of the licensing deal that killed MVP Baseball, yet still the game lives on—on PC, even—thanks to "MVP Caribe," a celebration of Latin American baseball that just published its seventh "total conversion" mod.
"MVP Caribe," the work of a team of modders from across Latin America, replaces teams in MVP Baseball 2005 with the professional clubs of the nations who play in the Caribbean Series—the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. This year, though, Cuba will play in the Caribbean Series for the first time since 1960, so las Naranjas de Villa Clara (the Villa Clara Oranges) will be featured in the game as an invited team. National teams also are featured.
Past editions of this mod have earned semiofficial status from the Mexican Pacific League (LMP) and the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP). Nine years after the original game's release, the graphics may look a little dated, but the development team compensates for it with painstakingly accurate rosters and uniforms—right down to Tecate as a back-of-the-jersey sponsor for teams in la Liga Mexicana del Pacifico.
The modders also build stadiums for the game, too, including Estadio Sonora, home of los Naranjeros de Hermosillo—"the biggest and most impressive ever made for 'MVP Caribe.'" The stadium was the host of the 2013 Caribbean Series, and you can see it in the big image above.
Go here to download the game. You'll need to register with MVPcaribe.com, but the download is free. It requires a full copy of MVP Baseball 2005 for PC, and you'll install the mod over it.
The Caribbean Series will play in February in Margarita, Venezuela. Last year's champions were los Yaquis de Obrégon—hometown team of Héctor Rivera, one of the principal modders behind "MVP Caribe." He sent along these screenshots and captions.
Douglas Clark, of the Mexican team from the 2013 Caribbean Series.
For the first time since 1960, Cuba will play in the Caribbean Series in Margarita, Venezuela. Cuba's league champion, Naranjas de Villa Clara are featured in the game as an invited team.
Billy Hamilton of the Cangrejeros de Santurce (Santurce Crabbers) waits on a pitch against the Indios de Mayaguez (Mayaguez Indians).
Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Estadio Cibao of Santiago, Dominican Republic, home of the Aguilas Cibaeñas (Cibao Eagles)
Fabio Castro, of the Gigantes del Cibao (Cibao Giants)
Alex Cabrera, of the Tiburones de La Guaira (La Guaira Sharks, Venezuela), homers to right field.
Armando Galarraga of the Leones del Caracas (Caracas Lions) at Estadio Universitario, in Caracas, Venezuela.
Endy Chavez, of the Navegantes del Magallanes, throws down to third base.
Estadio Universitario of Caracas, home of the Tiburones and Leones
Gerardo Parra of the Leones del Caracas.
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