When you think of the Little League World Series who comes to your mind? Well for a lot of people it would be the game announcers for ESPN or more specifically, ESPN commentator Karl Ravech. The ESPN commentator spoke about his experiences when it comes to the Little League World Series.

When Karl Ravech speaks, one can immediately think of the Little League World Series. Whenever he is calling another baseball game in the Major Leagues, many instantly think about the Little League World Series due to his impact with ESPN and the tournament.

“I grew up playing Little League Baseball. My boys played Little League. So, to be associated with an event that I think is one of the most important events that we cover is in honor, it’s special, it’s not something I never thought of, but I’m delighted if anybody thinks that way,” Ravech said. “That’s quite a tribute, and I appreciate it.”

Karl has been at ESPN since 1993, so for 32 years, he started out with SportsCenter and Baseball Toonight. He also covers the College World Series, the MLB World Series and he calls the Sunday Night Baseball games as well. When asked out of all of the events that he covers which one was his favorite he responded that it will always be the Little League World Series.

“Have you heard what I said so far? That the majority of people, if not every person that works on the Little League World Series with us at ESPN, many of whom have done this even longer than I have. They love the idea of being in one place for roughly two weeks, watching this unfold, you know, we are all now in a society where we binge watch everything,” Ravech said. “Well, the Little League World Series is binge watching. I mean, you start on a Wednesday, you don’t know anybody. Most people don’t know anybody, and by the time we wrap this up on the last weekend, most people are loyal viewers. They watch every game. They get to know the kids’ personalities. They get to see how the coaches deal with the kids. So, I look forward to all of that, and I know everybody that works on this. It is one of their favorite events. Bar none, if not, their favorite event that they work on.” Ravech said.

Since Ravech first started at ESPN, he knew that he wanted to be a part of the Little League World Series. As with most people, Ravech was hooked on the Series and did his best to be involved.

“I knew early on that the Little League World Series was something that I wanted to be a part of,” Ravech said. “Some of the best broadcasters who’ve ever come through ESPN have been a part of it. I knew it was sort of a flagpole event for ESPN. I know what it means, and I always say this, it means so much to people who are 97-, 37- and 7-years-old. So, it covers every group that is out there watching, and I knew that.”

Ravech has been doing the Little League World Series for almost 20 years and started in 2006, and every year he looks forward to the series. Some of his favorite moments and parts of the series all revolve around the kids and baseball, especially since him and his children played Little League when they were kids.

“I’m involved in every level of baseball at ESPN, and by far, my favorite event is the Little League World Series for a number of reasons. Certainly, most important is the fact that kids are playing, and it’s a joy, and it’s fun and the most predictable part of it is how unpredictable it is because there are 12-year-old boys and girls playing, and who knows what they’re going to do,” Ravech said. “Most of the time, they’re amazing us with their athletic ability. They are putting huge smiles on our faces with their personalities. And unlike professional sports, and I include college now in professional sports, given they get paid to play. You know, it’s the end of the summer, people are going back to school, football is here. We tend to get a little more serious about sports. That’s why I love being associated with and covering this event.”

Not only does Ravech call the games but him and his co-anchors are involved with the players. You would think that them being up in the booth they wouldn’t interact with the kids. They all go down before the game and talk to the kids and coaches.

“I mean, we go down on the field before every game and we get a chance to talk with them, we talk with the coaches. So, yeah, we sure do. I would say that most of the coaches from the U.S are of the age where they probably watched Todd Frazier play. They know who Jessica Mendoza is for her softball work in the Olympics, et cetera,” Ravech noted. “And most of them grew up watching me on SportsCenter and or Baseball Tonight. So, the coaches are probably more familiar with us than the kids are, and the coaches do a great job of explaining when Frazier walks into the dugout they ask the kids, ‘do you know who that is?’

“Like, that’s a Home Run Derby champ. That’s Todd Frasier. He sits up there, and they do the same with me and Jess. So, yes, we interact with them,” Ravech continued. “Between Jess, Todd and I, we all have children who have gone through or are still playing, Little League Baseball. So we can relate to those kids. And there is a kid language. You know, you’ve got to kind of speak their language. It’s changed over the years, but there is a kid’s language.”

Seeing as most people who come to the Little League World Series relive their childhood, is that the same for those who work the Series with ESPN? Do they also feel their childhood come through?

“I want the viewer at home to feel the same way we do this enthusiasm, this unbridled joy, like, this is incredible that they get to do this, we get to do it, and those at home, with all the distractions going on, you know, around the world, we’re going to focus on baseball. And that is one of America’s greatest assets: baseball,” Ravech said. “It’s pastime, and the connection to the past from grandpa or grandma who’s watching to dad or mom who played baseball or softball, to the little boy or girl who’s doing the same thing to our 2-year-old who were now introducing to this game by having them watch the Little League World Series.”