Legendary ESPN baseball broadcaster Karl Ravech received an emotional sendoff during the Little League World Series Championship, marking his final assignment with the network after more than three decades of service. The tribute came weeks after Ravech learned he was among those laid off from ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, in July.
Throughout the broadcast of the championship game, which saw Curacao win their second title over Nevada, numerous tributes were made to Ravech. Longtime MLB co-commentator Eduardo Perez presented Ravech with a framed photograph on air, expressing his gratitude.
"You've been our quarterback. You've been our leader, our mentor, and the best teammate we can all have," Perez said during the emotional moment. "On behalf of the entire ESPN Little League family, we want to present you this, because you mean so much to the people in front of the camera and behind the camera as well. And personally, you've been my rock, so I appreciate everything you've done to make us look damn good on TV. And most importantly, it's the friendship that matters."
Ravech was also honored with an on-field ceremony by the Little League itself. Visibly emotional, he thanked his colleagues and expressed his deep connection to the event.
"Thank you very much. You're the best, and you're all the best," Ravech said. "I've said it to everybody that would listen, this Little League World Series means so much to me, but it's really always been about the kids and it's been about the people in that picture. It's been about my teammates for 33 years and four decades. So that is incredibly sweet, that will be displayed incredibly prominently and proudly in my house. I love what I do and I love the people I do it with, so thank you very much."
Despite the circumstances, Ravech stated in mid-August that he holds no ill will toward ESPN. "I haven't really commented on it much. I think it's sort of apparent what's happened there. I certainly have literally no ill will to a company that's provided me with a life that has exceeded any expectation I had coming out of Needham High School or Ithaca College and the experiences I've had," he said on 'Westwood One Sports Night.'
Ravech continued to work select MLB games for ESPN after the layoffs were announced, with the Little League World Series serving as his final assignment.