Karl Ravech

Karl Ravech
Ravech in 2011
Born
Karl David Ravech

(1965-01-19) January 19, 1965
Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education
OccupationSportscaster
Years active1987–present
Employer(s)Capital Cities/ABC (1993–1996) and The Walt Disney Company including ABC and ESPN (1996–2026)

Karl David Ravech (/ˈrævɪtʃ/; born January 19, 1965)[1] is an American sportscaster who served as the lead play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball (MLB) on ESPN and ABC.[2]

Ravech was the lead announcer for Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN from 2022 to 2025.

Early life and education

Ravech was born and raised in Needham, Massachusetts.[3][4] He is Jewish.[5] Ravech played three sports at Needham High School, from which he graduated in 1983.[6] He received a bachelor's degree in communications from Ithaca College in 1987 and a master's degree in management and leadership from Binghamton University in 1990.[7][8]

Career

Early work

Ravech with West Point cadets on March 31, 2011

Ravech worked at WBNG-TV, in Binghamton, New York, as a sports anchor/reporter from 1987 to 1990, and then WHTM-TV in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from 1990–1993 in a similar role.[9]

ESPN

Ravech worked for ESPN from 1993 to 2026,[7] appearing primarily on SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight. Ravech provided commentary for ESPN and ABC's coverage of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.[7] He has also done commentary for the College World Series, golf, college basketball, and ESPN's KBO League coverage during 2020.[7] He also appears as the Baseball Tonight host in the 2K Sports video game, Major League Baseball 2K5.[10] Ravech was laid off by ESPN on July 21, 2026.[11] However, backlash and controversy led to ESPN's decision to allow Ravech to call for the remaining games.[12] His final play–by–play announcement was on August 23, 2026.

Personal life

After he began working for ESPN, Ravech settled with his wife in Avon, Connecticut.[6] Ravech suffered a heart attack in November 1998.[13] Ravech's son Sam, at the age of 22, became the youngest play-by-play broadcaster on ESPN after calling a Tulane men's basketball game on November 22, 2017.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Greenidge, Jim (April 10, 1995). "Ravech Is Keeping His Eye on the Ball". The Boston Globe. p. 39. Ravech, 30, is the host of Baseball Tonight...
  2. ↑ "Karl Ravech" Archived May 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. espnmediazone3.com. November 17, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Karl Ravech Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved July 20, 2025. Birth Place: Needham, Massachusetts, United States.
  4. ↑ Kuc, Chris (August 27, 2021). "Q&A: Karl Ravech on Career Journey, Life-Changing Moment, Calling LLWS". Sports Section. Retrieved October 9, 2022. I played run-around games growing up in Needham, Massachusetts...
  5. ↑ Siegel, Alan (October 10, 2013). "Soccer Has a Distinctive Voice, and it Belongs to Andrés Cantor". Tablet. Retrieved July 20, 2025. ...a long list of prominent Jewish sportscasters that includes...Karl Ravech.
  6. 1 2 Wilcox, Tom (September 28, 2011). ""Baseball Tonight" host Karl Ravech relishes his Needham roots". Wicked Local. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Karl Ravech - ESPN Press Room". ESPN. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Notable Alumni". Binghamton University Alumni Association. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Karl Ravech". ESPN. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  10. ↑ "ESPN Major League Baseball 2K5" Archived September 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. gamefront.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  11. ↑ "ESPN layoffs latest updates: Karl Ravech, Cam Newton among those let go". USA Today.
  12. ↑ Dean, Zach (July 31, 2026). "Karl Ravech stuns MLB fans by returning to ESPN booth weeks after being laid off". OutKick. Fox News. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  13. ↑ Rothbaum, Noah. "I'm A Runner: Karl Ravech" Archived April 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Runner's World, April 1, 2008. Retrieved on March 24, 2015.
  14. ↑ O'Connor, John (February 7, 2017). "Sam Ravech, son of ESPN's Karl Ravech, joining Squirrels broadcast team". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
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