Karl Ravech

Karl Ravech
Ravech in 2011
Born
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 Ravech (/ˈrævɪtʃ/) is an American sportscaster who served as the lead play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball (MLB) on ESPN and ABC.

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. He is Jewish. Ravech played three sports at Needham High School, from which he graduated in 1983. 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.

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.

ESPN

Ravech worked for ESPN from 1993 to 2026, 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. He has also done commentary for the College World Series, golf, college basketball, and ESPN's KBO League coverage during 2020. He also appears as the Baseball Tonight host in the 2K Sports video game, Major League Baseball 2K5. Ravech was laid off by ESPN on July 21, 2026. However, backlash and controversy led to ESPN's decision to allow Ravech to call for the remaining games. His final play–by–play announcement was on August 30, 2026 which aired on both ESPN and ABC.

Personal life

After he began working for ESPN, Ravech settled with his wife in Avon, Connecticut. Ravech suffered a heart attack in November 1998. 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.

References

  1. ↑ "Karl Ravech" Archived May 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. espnmediazone3.com. November 17, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Karl Ravech Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved July 20, 2025. Birth Place: Needham, Massachusetts, United States.
  3. ↑ 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...
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. 1 2 Wilcox, Tom (September 28, 2011). ""Baseball Tonight" host Karl Ravech relishes his Needham roots". Wicked Local. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Karl Ravech - ESPN Press Room". ESPN. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Notable Alumni". Binghamton University Alumni Association. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Karl Ravech". ESPN. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ "ESPN Major League Baseball 2K5" Archived September 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. gamefront.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  10. ↑ "ESPN layoffs latest updates: Karl Ravech, Cam Newton among those let go". USA Today.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ O'Connor, John (February 7, 2017). "Sam Ravech, son of ESPN's Karl Ravech, joining Squirrels broadcast team". Richmond Times-Dispatch.