Oakland A's third baseman, Eric Chavez, one of baseball's top young talents, will be the cover athlete for MLB 2005. Chavez joins a host of other top MLB players to promote the 989 Sports popular baseball title including Anaheim Angels third baseman, Troy Glaus, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder, Shawn Green, and Cincinnati Reds outfielder, Adam Dunn, each of whom will be working with the company as contributors, consultants, and spokespersons.
Chavez, a two-time Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award winner, is widely regarded as the top young third baseman in Major League Baseball and joins 989 Sports following a season where he led American League third baseman with 101 RBI and tied for the league lead with 29 home runs. One of the core members of an always competitive Oakland A's team, in 2003 Chavez posted career highs in games, at bats, runs, hits, triples and total bases, and matched his best in stolen bases while leading the club in home runs, multiple hit games, total bases and extra base hits.
Troy Glaus joins the 989 Sports line-up just one year removed from capturing the 2002 World Series Championship and the 2002 World Series MVP award, completing one of the most dominant individual performances in major league baseball postseason history by tying the World Series record with seven home runs. Despite having his 2003 season cut short by a shoulder injury, the three-time All-Star is poised to return to dominance this season, having knocked in more than 100 RBIs and scoring at least 99 runs in three consecutive seasons from 2000-2002. Glaus will serve as a spokesperson for 989 Sports and the MLB franchise while participating in motion capture and consulting sessions, further enhancing the videogame's authentic baseball pedigree.
"Eric Chavez has established himself as one of baseball's rising young stars," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Not only are we aligning ourselves with one of the best young power hitters in baseball, but we are working with four young, incredibly talented players in Chavez, Glaus, Green and Dunn who promise to put up outstanding numbers for many years to come. From marketing to product development, we are excited and honored to be working with some of the most dedicated and skilled players in baseball today."
Los Angeles Dodger and MLB 2004 cover athlete, Shawn Green, returns as a company spokesperson. Green has become one of the most feared left-handed sluggers in the game. The right-fielder has posted more than 250 home runs, 750 runs batted in (RBI) and 1,400 hits during his 11-year career. Joining Green, Cincinnati Red, Adam Dunn, also returns for his second year as a 989 Sports spokesperson. The six foot, six inch, 240-pound All-Star quickly established himself as power hitter, racking up 72 home runs in only two and half seasons.
Set for a March 2004 release, MLB 2005 promises to be the most authentic baseball simulation created for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. MLB 2005 features 13 extensive gameplay modes including Historical All-Time Greats, an all-new Franchise Mode that allows players to control every aspect of running a baseball franchise, an innovative Career Mode that takes gamers from Class-A ball to the Fall Classic and Online playability through the revolutionary 989SportsOnline.com.
MLB 2005 integrates new gameplay options like pressure sensitive controls, all-new pitcher and batter interfaces, and Voice Recognition that allows gamers to call their pitch via a USB headset without the touch of a button. With more than 3,500 personalized animations, 60 frame-per-second gameplay, new player models, fully animated crowds and more, MLB 2005 promises an unmatched baseball experience.