Karl Ravech closed the book on a remarkable 33-year run with ESPN, calling his 20th and final Little League World Series before signing off for good. The veteran anchor and play-by-play voice was part of last month's layoffs, but his impact on the network is anything but forgotten.
Tim Kurkjian, who shared countless broadcasts with Ravech on Baseball Tonight and in MLB booths, didn't mince words when reflecting on his longtime colleague's legacy. On his Is This A Great Game, Or What? podcast, Kurkjian placed Ravech in elite company.
"I think he's on the Mount Rushmore of talent, as we call it, at ESPN," Kurkjian said. "When you've been on the air since 1979, as ESPN has, to be on the Mount Rushmore at ESPN is really impressive. And I think Ravvy's in that four-man group."
Ravech's dismissal came as part of broader layoffs that drew criticism from peers like Katie Nolan, who blasted the network's handling of his departure. But Kurkjian chose to focus on what made Ravech special, not the manner of his exit.
"He never, ever made it about him," Kurkjian emphasized. "Instead of taking the really good note or the really good take — whatever you want to call it — for himself, he always let the analyst have it."
Kurkjian compared Ravech to NBA legend Steve Nash, noting how the broadcaster unselfishly set up his partners to shine. "He is the best point guard in the game," Kurkjian declared. "When Eduardo Perez and Ravvy and I would do games together from the booth, he never, ever made it about him. It was always about making sure his two analysts or one analyst was ready with whatever they needed. That's what a great point guard does in basketball, and that's what a great one does on television."
That selfless approach endeared Ravech to colleagues and fans alike. His final Little League World Series broadcast drew an outpouring of support, with fans rallying to keep him as the permanent voice of the event.
Ravech's career spanned generations of sports broadcasting, from his early days as a host to his iconic calls in baseball and beyond. His ability to elevate those around him, whether in a studio or in the booth, set him apart in an industry often defined by individual star power.
As ESPN moves forward without him, Kurkjian's words serve as a reminder of the standard Ravech set. "To be on the Mount Rushmore at ESPN is really impressive," he reiterated. For those who watched Ravech work, it's hard to argue with that assessment.
